How can the parent (Family Organizer) update their Screen Time PIN if their own ipad is an older iOS version

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Level 1

4 points

How can the parent (Family Organizer) update their Screen Time PIN if their own ipad is an older iOS version

How can the parent (Family Organizer) update their screen time pin if their own ipad is an older iOS version that doesn't have "Settings > Screentime > Family"?

I got a relatively new ipad for my daughter as a present so that she could use it for illustration work. However we are very much not an apple household. When I was setting it up I guess it prompted me for a "screen time pin" and I don't seem to have written down what I picked.

Now we can't change any of those settings, because the official way to change it, is for me the parent to go to *my* apple device and "Settings > Screentime > Family". The trouble is we are not an apple household and "my apple device" is an ancient ipad from about 2013. It does not have any of these sections.

In some places I've seen people say that you can change this setting on the icloud website but I can't find that either.

Which leaves us in a very irritating position that I have to either wipe her ipad and start over, or I have to buy my own newer ipad? which I would never use except to supervise her ipad use. That seems insane.

Am I missing something? It seems very crazy that there is no way to just go to the icloud website to change these account settings. That apple forces you to pay a ton of money to buy one of their devices to make any account changes.

Posted on Jan 29, 2026 7:39 PM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

428,741 points

Jan 31, 2026 3:40 AM in response to nmealy

System requirements for iCloud - Apple Support

says that ScreenTime requires iOS 12 at least. It only mentions requirements when using an iOS device or on a Mac computer.

You do not say which exact model iPad you have but if it is an iPad mini2 which was released in 2013 you should just be able to use ScreenTime.

Complete List of iPads, release year and … - Apple Community

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Answer 2

brbo

Level 8

38,845 points

Jan 31, 2026 12:39 AM in response to nmealy

Hi nmealy,

Welcome to this Apple (user-to-user) Communitty!

Re: "How can the parent (Family Organizer) update their Screen Time PIN if their own ipad is an older iOS version"

Great question! Am not too familiar with older iPads myself, so I don't have a pat answer.

Yet at least we can get your discussion underway, Something below maybe helpful, or this reply may provide more opportunity for others with more expertise to join in and share a solution or suggestions.

_______________________________

Re: "ancient ipad from about 2013".

To find which iPad model you have: See how to: Identify your iPad model - Apple Support

For more info. about your iPad model: A respected community member has compiled a useful list,

eg: see "newest compatible iPadOS version" for your iPad model

Complete List of iPads, release year and … - Apple Community

________________________________

The current user guide allows for iPads using iPadOS 13 and up:

You can choose iPadOS version at the top of articles reached from the "Table of Contents"

Eg: Set up Family Sharing on iPad - Apple Support Complete: iPad User Guide - Apple Support

Else:

To find out what Settings you can use if using an earlier iPadOS version, you may want to see if there is a User Guide for your model available: iPad Manuals and Downloads - Apple Support

___________

On your iPad:

You may want to check whether you can access Settings > General >Software Updates:

There may or may not be a newer update available than the one currently installed on your iPad:

Eg: Apple released iPadOS 12.5.8 a few days ago, to help some of those with some older iPads continue using them.

About iOS 12 Updates - Apple Support

_____________________

If you are signed in to your iPad itself with your Apple Account details, you may want to check if there's some way to change settings there, (or set up Family Sharing if not already set up?):

Try Settings > [your Name] or Try Settings > Sign in to your iPad

If you haven't seen it yet: Wondering if Apple Support's online article (link below) can help:

(As you set the passcode on your daughter's iPad, maybe there's a way you can also change it there ?)

What to do: If you forgot your Screen Time passcode - Apple Support

All the best :-)

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