Set Up Your Child Apple Account for Family Sharing

Apple only lets a parental control app manage a device that is signed in with your child's own Apple Account, inside your Family Sharing group. It will not work with your account on their device. This is Apple's rule, and it applies to every parental control app.

These are the same steps the ParentalEdge app shows on your child's device. Find the section that matches your situation.

Your child has no account, or uses yours

You create it on your phone, whatever their age. Apple lets parents create a Child Account for any child under 18.

1. Create your child's Apple Account (on your, the parent's, phone)

• Open Settings → Family
• Tap Add Member → Create Child Account → Continue
• Enter your child's name and real birthday
• Follow Apple's steps. It can make a new @icloud.com email for them

2. Sign in on your child's device

• Go to Settings → tap your name → scroll down → Sign Out
• Choose Sign Out But Don't Erase
• Sign in with your child's new Apple Account
• Return to ParentalEdge and tap the button at the bottom of the screen

Your child has their own Apple Account

No sign-out needed. We just need their account to be a child account in your family.

1. Add them to your family (on your, the parent's, phone)

• Open Settings → Family
• If your child isn't listed, tap Add Member → Invite Others. Your child accepts the invite, or enters their password on your phone

If their account says they're an adult, fix the birthday on your child's device: Settings → their name → Personal Information → Birthday, and correct it. You may be asked to approve it. Otherwise you're done. Return to ParentalEdge and tap the button at the bottom of the screen.

2. Only if the device is signed in as you (on your child's device)

• Go to Settings → tap your name → scroll down → Sign Out
• Choose Sign Out But Don't Erase
• Sign in with your child's Apple Account
• If their account says they're an adult: Settings → their name → Personal Information → Birthday, correct it. You may be asked to approve it
• Return to ParentalEdge and tap the button at the bottom of the screen

Not sure whose account is on the device?

Open Settings on your child's device and tap the name at the very top. That is the Apple Account it is signed in with. If it is your child's name, you are on the right track. If it is yours, use the steps above.

Still stuck?

Email support@parentaledge.com and we will set it up with you.

Back to the full setup guide →