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Setting Up iPad for My Young Child

Hi. I am buying a new iPad for my young son. He has been using an old 3rd generation iPad, but that iPad has become obsolete as it's 8 years old now. Right now my son, shares my wife's Apple ID and account on his iPad, but we'd like to set him up with his own account so we can separate it from my wife. However, over the last couple of years we have bought a few games and subscriptions for him on my wife's account. Is there a way to transfer these purchases to his new account when I set that up? Thanks for your help.

iPad Pro 10.5-inch, Wi-Fi

Posted on May 20, 2020 5:52 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 20, 2020 6:05 PM

Set up your son with his own child Apple ID, then set up Family Sharing on the Apple ID with the purchases. Family Sharing allows up to six family members to share apps, etc., but not In-App purchases.


Apple ID for children under 13

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201084


Setting up Family Sharing

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201060

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 20, 2020 6:05 PM in response to CoachCasa

Set up your son with his own child Apple ID, then set up Family Sharing on the Apple ID with the purchases. Family Sharing allows up to six family members to share apps, etc., but not In-App purchases.


Apple ID for children under 13

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201084


Setting up Family Sharing

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201060

May 22, 2020 8:34 AM in response to CoachCasa

Unfortunately almost all in-app purchases (including subscriptions) are non-shareable for non-Apple apps and services. Most Apple ones are. You can check in the App Store - there’s a Family Sharing icon under the app description if it is. This article has more details:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203046


As I understand it:

  • Almost all apps, free and paid, are shareable; game progress might be lost, depending on the app;
  • Most in-app purchases of “consumables” will not transfer;
  • Subscriptions can be stopped under your wife’s ID and then purchased afresh under his ID (she’ll still pay for them).


What types of content can I share with my family using purchase sharing?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203046

May 22, 2020 5:47 AM in response to Rysz

Thanks Rysz. I have a couple questions for you about your response. So if I understand correctly, when we set up his new Apple ID and family sharing, he will still be able to access the old apps and subscriptions we bought him on the new iPad, correct? Can I set up the family sharing under my Apple ID or will it need to be under my wife's ID, as we made the purchases for him under her ID? I would prefer to set it up under my ID, since I'm the one who handles all of our technology and generally give my old devices to my wife and son when I upgrade. You mention that in-app purchases don't apply here. There have been a few apps that are free, but we made in-app purchases to unlock content for him-does this mean that we would have to re-purchase these in-app features? We also have one big subscription for him-I presume this would just be under my wife's Apple ID/email-would this work under family sharing? Thanks for your help.

Setting Up iPad for My Young Child

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