Customize iPad for your child

You can set up your child’s iPad with parental controls and kid-friendly features. Set downtime and app limits, guard your child’s vision health, protect them from explicit photos, review and approve purchases, and more. You can even keep your child focused on a single app with Guided Access.

The screen for Create a Child Account with fields for the child’s first name, last name, and birth date.

Create an Apple ID for your child

Instead of sharing an account with your child, which can give them unwanted access to your personal data, you can create an Apple ID for them. If you’re the family organizer, you can easily set age-based parental controls from your own device, and they can use Family Sharing, Messages, the App Store, and other Apple services. Go to Settings > Family, tap Add Member, then tap Create Child Account.

A screen with a description of features to track a child’s screen time with options such as scheduled downtime.

Set some boundaries with Screen Time

With Screen Time, you can set downtime and app limits on your child’s iPad. Go to Settings > Family, tap your child’s name, then tap Screen Time.

A screen with a warning that iPad is too close and a suggestion to keep iPad at arm’s length. When iPad moves farther away, the Continue button at the bottom appears so you can return to the previous screen.

Help protect your child’s vision health

To help reduce eye strain and the risk of myopia, Screen Distance reminds your child when iPad is held too close for an extended period of time (available on iPad Pro models with Face ID). Go to Settings > Family, tap your child’s name, tap Screen Time, then tap Screen Distance.

A screen with a warning that a message may contain sensitive images. At the bottom are options to get help or dismiss the warning.

Protect your child from explicit photos and videos

iPad can detect nudity in photos and videos before they’re sent or viewed in Messages , AirDrop, and other apps. Your child can get guidance and age-appropriate resources to help them make a safe choice. Go to Settings > Family, tap your child’s name, tap Screen Time, then tap Communication Safety.

The Settings screen showing features available for a teenage family member, such as Ask to Buy and Apple Cash.

Set up Apple Cash (U.S. only)

You can set up Apple Cash for the kids in your Family Sharing group, so they can make purchases and send and receive money in Messages . You can even limit who your child can send money to, get notified when they make transactions, or lock their account. Go to Settings > Family, tap your child’s name, tap Apple Cash, then follow the onscreen instructions.

The setup screen for a Guided Access session. You can circle areas on the screen you want to disable before starting the session.

Keep your child focused

You can help your child avoid distractions and stay on task with Guided Access, which limits them to a single app—like Books or Freeform . Go to Settings > Accessibility, then scroll down and tap Guided Access to get set up.

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iPad User Guide