Set up your child’s iPad with their own Apple Account in your Family Sharing group, then use Screen Time to choose schedules, app limits, communication rules, and content restrictions. The quickest route is Quick Start from a parent or guardian’s iPad; you can also set up the iPad without another device, though younger children may need a parent or guardian’s device connected.
Before you begin
Check whether your family already uses Family Sharing and whether your child has an Apple Account. If your child already has an account, Apple says it should be part of your Family Sharing group before you use the family setup flow. If they do not, you can create a Child Account during setup or through Family Sharing. Apple requires a Child Account for children under 13 and makes Child Accounts available up to age 18, but the minimum account age varies by country or region. See Apple’s Child Account guidance.
Use a separate account for your child rather than sharing yours. Separate accounts keep personal information distinct and let age-based settings apply. If the iPad was previously used with a parent’s account, sign out of that account before setting up the child’s.
Set up the iPad with Quick Start
Quick Start lets a parent or guardian use their iPad to guide setup and customize controls. Apple says this route requires iPadOS 16 or later on the parent or guardian’s iPad.
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- On the parent or guardian’s iPad, sign in to their Apple Account and turn on Bluetooth.
- Turn on the new iPad and bring it near the parent or guardian’s iPad.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to set up the child’s iPad. Select the child’s age range when asked and complete the account and control prompts.
- If your child does not yet have an Apple Account, use the setup flow to create a Child Account and add it to Family Sharing.
Apple’s setup prompts and age thresholds can vary by region. Follow the options shown for your location. For Apple’s full flow, see Set up a device for a child with Family Sharing on iPad.
Set up without another device
If you do not have a parent or guardian’s iPad nearby, choose Set Up Without Another Device on the new iPad’s Quick Start screen and follow the instructions. Apple notes that children 12 or younger need the iPad connected to a parent or guardian’s device; the precise age rules may vary by country or region. If that applies, use a parent or guardian device for setup.
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- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
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Add or correct the child’s account after setup
If you skipped account sign-in during setup, Apple provides a Settings flow to sign in manually, use a nearby Apple device, or create a Child Account. Use the child’s account, not the parent’s, so family settings and age-appropriate controls can be applied to the right person. Consult Apple’s child device setup instructions for the current on-screen path.
Set up Screen Time and parental controls
A Family Sharing organizer or a parent or guardian in the family can manage a child’s Screen Time from their own device. Start in Family Sharing settings, select the child, and open Screen Time. Use the available controls to make the choices that fit your family:
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- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
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- Downtime: Set a schedule for times when most apps and notifications should be restricted.
- App Limits: Set time limits for individual apps or categories.
- Communication controls: Choose who can communicate with the child and when.
- Content and privacy restrictions: Review limits for age-appropriate content, privacy, and other settings on the child’s iPad.
Apple says Communication Safety and web content limits are on by default for a child under 18 in the configuration it describes, with variations by country or region. Review the settings shown for your family rather than assuming every default is the same. You can adjust restrictions later. Apple’s overview is at Screen Time for a child on iPad.
Know which features and versions apply
Apple’s updated parental-control experience described in its current support article requires relevant family devices to run iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, or visionOS 27 or later. That is a requirement for the updated controls—not for setting up an iPad or using all Screen Time features. If every family device cannot be updated, Apple says families can continue using previous Screen Time controls or adjust parental controls on the child’s device. Not every control is available on every Apple device.
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- PERFORMANCE AND STORAGE — The superfast A16 chip delivers a boost in performance for your favorite activities. And with all-day battery life, iPad is perfect for playing immersive games and editing photos and videos.* Storage starts at 128GB and goes up to 512GB.*
- 11-INCH LIQUID RETINA DISPLAY — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display is an amazing way to watch movies or draw your next masterpiece.* True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room to make viewing comfortable in any light.
- IPADOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive, and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use Apple Pencil to write in any text field with Scribble, and edit and share photos.* iPad comes with essential apps like Safari, Messages, and Keynote, with over a million more apps designed specifically for iPad available on the App Store.
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads, and downloads, and lets you seamlessly stream your favorite shows.
Additional features also depend on the hardware and region. For example, Apple lists Screen Distance support for iPad Pro models with Face ID. It can remind a child when the iPad is held too close for an extended period. Communication Safety can detect nudity in photos or videos in supported contexts, including Messages and AirDrop. Apple notes that availability can vary by model, language, and country or region. Review Apple’s parental-control overview for compatibility details.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Recover a Screen Time passcode
How to reset the Screen Time passcode depends on where you set it up. If you configured Screen Time on the child’s iPad, Apple says the child’s Apple Account can be used to reset it. If you configured it through Family Sharing on your own device, you can reset it there using your device passcode, Touch ID, or Face ID. Apple’s Screen Time instructions explain the current recovery flow.
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