Whether it’s for staying in touch, sharing apps and music, or just keeping up with friends, setting up an iPhone for a kid takes more than handing over the box. With a few smart steps, you can protect your child’s privacy, set healthy limits, and avoid surprise charges on your Apple account. This guide walks you through everything from setting up their Apple ID to using built-in parental controls so the whole family can enjoy the benefits of an iPhone, worry-free.

Set Up a Child Apple ID

The iPhone requires an Apple ID for setup and to allow downloads from the App Store. An Apple ID is also used for features such as iMessage, FaceTime, Apple Music, and Find My iPhone.

Your child can use your Apple ID, but it’s a better long-term plan to set up a separate Apple ID for them (especially if you’re using Family Sharing).

After you set up an Apple ID for your child, use that account when setting up the iPhone for them.

Set Up the iPhone

With the Apple ID created, the next step is to set up the device. Among the things you can do to keep the iPhone you’re giving your child safe is to create a special family calendar or make a group of contacts that syncs on the child’s device. This is easier when you give your child their own Apple ID. That ensures that your child’s device only contains information intended for them, and not your business contacts.

You can also turn on Emergency SOS (Settings > Emergency SOS), which lets your child quickly contact emergency services by pressing the side button five times.

Set a Passcode to Protect the Device

A passcode is an important way to protect the contents of an iPhone from prying eyes. It’s a security code that you or your child enters every time the device is used from the Lock screen.

Set a passcode on the iPhone in case the device is lost or stolen. That way, strangers won’t have access to any family information. Be sure to use a passcode that you and your child can remember. It’s possible to reset an iPhone if you’ve lost your passcode, but you’ll lose data from the device in the process.

If the device offers it, use the Touch ID fingerprint scanner or the Face ID facial recognition system for an added layer of security.

Set Up Find My iPhone

If your child’s iPhone is lost or stolen, you won’t need to buy a new one if Find My iPhone is set up. Find My iPhone (also available for the iPad) is a web-based service from Apple that utilizes the device’s built-in GPS features to track and recover it.

You can also use Find My iPhone to lock the device over the internet or delete all of its data to keep it away from thieves.

Once you’ve set up Find My iPhone​, which can be done as part of the initial setup process or later on, you can use it to locate your iOS device.

Set Up Family Sharing

Family Sharing is a great way for everyone in a family to access each other’s Apple Music, App Store, and Apple Books purchases without having to pay for them more than once. With Family Sharing, you can, for example, buy an e-book on your iPhone, and your kids can open their Apple Books app to download the book for free.

Family Sharing lets you save money and make sure everyone has the same content and apps. You don’t have to share all of your Apple Music downloads with your kids. You have the option to hide content from Apple Family Sharing that you don’t want your kids to see.

Block Adult Content and In-App Purchases

Use the Restrictions tools to protect your kids from inappropriate content and from doing things like having video chats.

The restrictions you enable depend on your child’s age and maturity, your values and preferences, and other factors. Consider limiting access to mature content, turning off in-app purchases, and monitoring their iPhone data use.

Use the parental controls built into Apple Music to prevent them from accessing mature material.

Use Screen Time to Set Limits and Monitor Use

Want to make sure your kids aren’t staring at the screen 24/7? Use the built-in Screen Time feature to set limits on how long they can use their device each day, how much time they can spend in certain apps, and to get reports on their device usage.

Starting with iOS 13.3, and improved in subsequent versions, you can set Communication Limits to control who your child can contact during allowed screen time and downtime, ensuring they can still reach out during emergencies.

Add Kid-Friendly and Safety Apps

The App Store is full of educational apps kids can use, plus things like free texting apps for devices without a texting plan, location trackers, homework apps, driving apps for older kids, and apps for your young ones.

There are also a number of apps that can monitor your child’s internet use and block them from accessing adult and other inappropriate sites. These apps may have upfront and service fees. Search the App Store with your child to find some options.

Consider a Family Subscription to Apple Music

If you plan to listen to music as a family, or if you have an individual Apple Music subscription, consider a family subscription. With it, your entire family can enjoy unlimited music for a monthly fee.

On the Apple Music family subscription, you can stream any of the over 60 million songs in Apple Music and save them to your device for offline listening when you’re not connected to the internet.

This makes for a great way to provide a ton of music to your kids without spending a lot. Plus, since up to six people can share a family subscription, you’re getting a great deal.

Get a Protective Case

With a device as expensive as an iPhone, you’ll want a good case to protect it. The case won’t stop drops from happening, but it can protect the phone when they inevitably do.

Cases cost between $30 and $100. Shop around for something that looks good and meets your needs and your child’s wants. There are also waterproof phone cases and strong OtterBox cases.

Consider a Screen Protector

Most cases don’t protect the screen of the iPhone. That means it can be damaged in falls or when stored in pockets or backpacks. Consider further protecting the device by adding an extra layer of defense with a screen protector.​​

Screen protectors prevent scratches, ​avoid cracks in the screen, and reduce other damage that makes the device hard to use. To get the best protection, ​make sure you apply the screen protector correctly.

A package of screen protectors is between $10 and $15. While not as essential as a case, the low cost of screen protectors makes them a smart investment to keep an iPhone in good working order.

Consider an AppleCare Extended Warranty

While the standard iPhone warranty is solid, a child may accidentally do more damage than an adult to an iPhone. One way to address this issue and ensure your wallet doesn’t get damaged at the same time is to purchase an extended warranty from Apple.

AppleCare+ costs $10.49 per month for the standard plan and $13.99 per month for the Theft and Loss plan.

Many people warn against extended warranties, saying that these warranties are a way for companies to get extra money for services that are often never used. But you know your kid better than anyone. If your child tends to break things, an extended warranty might be a good investment.

If you protect the phone with a case and buy an extended warranty, phone insurance isn’t necessary. Phone companies push phone insurance that adds a small cost to your monthly bill, but it’s rarely a good deal. The deductibles for some insurance plans cost as much as a new phone, and many insurance companies replace your new phone with a used one without telling you.

Phone insurance may seem tempting, but it’s a wasted expense that will frustrate you in the long run. If you want extra protection for your phone, AppleCare is a better and often cheaper choice.

Learn About and Prevent Hearing Damage

The iPhone ​can be addicting, and your child may end up using it all the time. This can be a problem, especially for young ears that spend a lot of time listening to music.

As part of giving the gift, learn how using the iPhone can damage hearing, and talk with your kids about ways to avoid hearing loss. Not all uses are dangerous, so pick up some tips and stress the importance of good hearing to your child, especially since their hearing is still developing.

Does Your Child Need an iPhone?

The iPhone is popular among kids and teens, so they’re commonly requested as holiday and birthday presents. These devices are also appealing to parents as a way to stay in touch with and keep track of their kids. If your kid wants an iPhone, there are steps you can take to supervise their access to the internet, limit their time on social networking apps, and decide which text messages and calls can be made.