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Child on a Family Account Should NOT be able to Erase Parent/Guardian device

My wife just posed a very troubling thing to me that I cannot in my right mind understand. My son's iPhone, of which his Apple ID is managed by me as a child on our Apple One account (family), in the Find My app, has the ability to erase any and all of my wife's devices as well as mine, the account manager.


I do not believe my son would intentionally do this. However, I don't trust any friend of his. Sorry, they're teenagers, I don't have that trust level. Judge me how you will. But at baseline, it doesn't make sense for a child to have the ability to wipe an account owner, guardian, or parent's devices! Especially just by going through the Find My app, of which there's almost no restrictions. And why would I restrict that app when he uses it to locate his watch from time to time?


Apple...seriously...

iPhone 14 Pro Max

Posted on Aug 29, 2023 12:55 PM

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Posted on Aug 29, 2023 1:35 PM

So, I'm partially happy to report that the Erase this Device function requires the parent's password in order to wipe it. I say partially because there are so many combinations of "would this work" scenarios, I just kinda wish it wasn't there at all. But...anyways, like I said, I'm happy that my child cannot wipe my or my wife's devices at will.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Aug 29, 2023 1:35 PM in response to smpowell

So, I'm partially happy to report that the Erase this Device function requires the parent's password in order to wipe it. I say partially because there are so many combinations of "would this work" scenarios, I just kinda wish it wasn't there at all. But...anyways, like I said, I'm happy that my child cannot wipe my or my wife's devices at will.

Aug 29, 2023 1:15 PM in response to Phil0124

I am attaching two screen shots from my son's device (iPhone 11 Pro). I can confirm the only Apple ID logged in or account that is associated with Apple is his account, which on the family plan, is registered as a Child account. I have full management as the organizer of his devices.


My main problem is that, via Find My, it appears he has full ability to erase the devices belonging to the entire family. I am getting my ancient iPhone out to test if he really can do that now, and I will report back. But that option shouldn't be there at all.

Child on a Family Account Should NOT be able to Erase Parent/Guardian device

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