How do I set up multi-device parental controls

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How do I set up multi-device parental controls

My daughter has had an iPad for several years. She uses it to play games and exchanges iMessages with friends and family. I manage her device usage via Screen Time on my iPhone. From the Settings app on my iPhone, I can change Downtime settings, enable and disable the App Store, etc. I have to the iPad Screentime settings frequently, because our model is that Downtime is always on (no iPad games) except when she has permission to play games or whatever, and then I turn Downtime off from my iPhone, for a specific amount of time.

Now we are giving her an iPhone. We want the iPhone to be very locked down. No games. No Youtube. Basically just phone calls, text and iMessages, FaceTime, Maps, Camera, maybe a couple of other select apps like plant identification. No access to the App Store. I know how to choose these settings on my daughter's iPhone.

The problem is that if both devices use the same Apple ID, any time I make changes from my iPhone, those changes will take effect on all her devices. So if I turn on App Store access (so she can install or update some games on her iPad), it will also be enabled on her iPhone. This will be a mess.

I think the answer is to set up a new Apple ID for her iPhone, and add that to our family grouping. Then I could have different Screentime settings for her iPad and her iPhone, and I can change the iPad Screentime settings from my iPhone without having impact on her iPhone screen time settings.

So where's the question? The question is whether her iPhone and iPad can share the same FaceTime accounts, iMessages accounts, and ideally the same Photos iCloud account. If so, how do I set that up?

I would prefer to keep both her devices on the same Apple ID, but I don't think that's possible unless I'm willing to give up managing her Screen Time settings from my iPhone, and just manage them locally on both her devices.

Thanks for any help and insights you can give.

iPhone 8

Posted on Jun 26, 2024 2:21 PM

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Answer 1

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Limnos

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Jun 27, 2024 8:45 PM in response to Andrew Shalit

There are several places where you can use a different Apple ID from the main one signed into an iPhone:

1. In Mail if you want to use a different, or more than one, iCloud account. Settings -> mail -> accounts -> add account -> iCloud

2. Messages and Facetime. Sign into a different Apple ID for these services in Settings. Note this has to be the same ID for both. Go to Settings > Messages > Send & Receive, and make sure both your telephone number and Apple ID are input there and both show a checkmark. If you need more help, check this link: Add or remove your phone number in Messages or FaceTime - Apple Support .

3. In the support article: If you subscribe to Apple One and use a different Apple ID for iCloud - Apple Support Apple alludes to using a different Apple ID just for media, subscriptions, and purchases, but doesn't describe how to do this. See if these work:

In iOS/iPadOS: Go to Settings > [your Apple ID] > Media & Purchases. Sign out of the current ID and sign in with a different one.

In Ventura or later: First, quit Settings. Then, in App Store, choose “Sign Out” in the Store menu, then click on the “sign in” button that appears in the main window. You can then sign into the other account. (from: Using different Apple ID for media & … - Apple Community )

4. Use a different Apple ID to share purchases with Family Sharing as outlined in Use a different Apple ID to share purchases with Family Sharing - Apple Support

For photos, she will have to share them. Shared Albums lets you share photos and videos with just the people you choose — and they can add their own photos, videos, and comments. Read this support article for more information --> How to use Shared Albums in Photos on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Apple Support

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How do I set up multi-device parental controls

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