First apple device - setup for child

Question

Level 1

8 points

First apple device - setup for child

Hi, I have purchased my daughter an ipad air 2, it is the first apple device for my family, and I am unsure how to set it up.

It won't create an apple ID for her as she's too young, and have created an account for myself (on the appleid website) but I don't have an apple device on which to use it.

It seems as if I need to swap between her account (to use it) and my account (to manage payments, etc). Is it easy to swap between two accounts on the same ipad? The appleid website doesn't seem to have the features to manage "family sharing", and if I use the ipad then whenever I sign out of the ipad it seems to want to delete everything.

Or is there some other way to manage family sharing without having a second device?

Also, I am struggling to get the payment options to work. I have a VISA debit card that I use for online stuff (I keep a zero balance and transfer money only when I want to buy something), but it won't accept this with family sharing enabled. I want to ensure that if I accidentally sign up for something with ongoing charges then it will reject payment and stop the service, rather than keep billing me for something that I may not understand.

It seems that the easiest way out of this is to lie about her age (maybe put in my birthdate, but her name, sort of as a joint account). Then I won't have any funny payment lock-ins.

Or is there a better way?

Thank you

iPad Air, iOS 9.3.2

Posted on Jun 21, 2016 3:16 PM

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Answer 1

Rysz

Level 8

44,455 points

Jun 21, 2016 3:20 PM in response to GC.

If you have a computer, you can manage everything via your web browser.

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Answer 2

sberman

Level 10

273,192 points

Jun 21, 2016 3:20 PM in response to GC.

Family Sharing and Apple ID for your child - Apple Support

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Answer 3

GC. Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 21, 2016 3:25 PM in response to Rysz

Thanks for the reply, however I was unable to find a way to setup and manage "family sharing" from the website. All the instructions that I have found assume that I have my own ipad or mac.

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Answer 4

GC. Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 21, 2016 3:29 PM in response to sberman

Thanks for the reply. I have previously seen this website, but unfortunately it doesn't answer my question.

Firstly it requires me to also have an ipad or mac (in addition to the one I am trying to setup for my child), which I don't (it was one of the main issues in my post)

Secondly, it appears to be incorrect in that it says that I can change to a different payment method after setting up family sharing, but this was rejected when I tried it.

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Answer 5

sberman

Level 10

273,192 points

Jun 21, 2016 3:31 PM in response to GC.

Why would you not use your child's iPad to set up Family Sharing?

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Answer 6

Rysz

Level 8

44,455 points

Jun 21, 2016 4:13 PM in response to GC.

I had no problems setting up Family Sharing for my wife without ever leaving my computer.

Are you sure it "requires" another iPad, rather than just suggests as one of the methods to set it up?

It would be helpful if you provided the details and exact text of the warnings that you're encountering. You are definitely not the first person attempting to set this up, and we'd like to help,,.

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Answer 7

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Jun 21, 2016 7:20 PM in response to GC.

I am willing to bet if you keep a $5 balance on that debit card, Apple's validation process will keep you in good standing. I am sure it's the zero balance that is causing your issue. In order to provide family sharing, Apple requires, reasonably I feel, a valid payment method be in place at all times. With up to 6 Apple IDs authorized to use a single payment method, that method must be valid at all times. The system will check your payment method by getting approval for, and then refunding, a token $1 purchase. It could be that failure that is causing your issue. I would suggest you call Apple to verify this.

Also, your instinct is correct. You need an iOS or OSX device to manage family Sharing. Can;t be done with a Windows PC. iOS device are not designed for m multiple users. When you sign out of your iCloud "services" no data is removed from iCloud. Only the local data, which means the other user signing in to the iPad has no access to your data unless you use the same Apple ID and enable iCloud services.

Maybe parental restrictions in iOS are better suited for you than Family Sharing.

Use Restrictions on your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch - Apple Support

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Answer 8

GC. Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 26, 2016 2:56 AM in response to sberman

Because it appears to wipe the device when I log out to let her log back in (well, it certainly gives a few messages about things that are being deleted).

If she loses any of her "stuff" (including apps, or any stored work/files/photos/setup/etc) just so that I can log in to approve her purchases, then this will cause major issues.

Of course, I am new to apple gear and may be jumping to conclusions about the impacts of logging in ant out of different appleid account on the same device. If so, please correct me.

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Answer 9

GC. Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 26, 2016 3:10 AM in response to Rysz

Please let me know how you did this. I have looked through the appleid.apple.com website (after signing in with my ID) and cannot find any way to configure or manage family sharing.

The reasons I was assuming that it requires another apple device are a) because all instructions I have found show only how to do it from a parent's device, and b) because I was unable to find a way to do it from the website.

The only error I has was the one that said that a parent needed to set up the account. The rest was my inability to find a way of doing that.

Again, I am new to apple gear and may have missed something. If so, please point me in the right direction.

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Answer 10

GC. Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 26, 2016 3:19 AM in response to LACAllen

Thanks for your reply.

I have a different definition of what is reasonable, I don't see apple as having any need to have a valid payment option until I initiate something that requires payment. Purchasing something is my choice, and not apple's, and I am concerned that they feel the need to have a way of billing me at their leisure. I will look into this further when I have resolved the account setup issues.

Regarding your second paragraph. This lines up with what I have seen so far. Unless one of the other peple who have responded can point me in the right direction, then I'll probably set up an appleid account and email address that I can hand over to my daughter when she turns 13, and look into what options I have to require extra passwords to make purchases, etc.

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Answer 11

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Jun 26, 2016 6:55 AM in response to GC.

I have a different definition of what is reasonable, I don't see apple as having any need to have a valid payment option until I initiate something that requires payment. Purchasing something is my choice, and not apple's, and I am concerned that they feel the need to have a way of billing me at their leisure. I will look into this further when I have resolved the account setup issues.

Well, you know where the bar is set. It is entirely your choice not to meet it.

It's not about any potential payment, it's about fraud. Prove you are who you are, by entering a verifiable payment method, and they will provide you all the free apps you desire. They can not and will not "bill you at their leisure" and to fear that is absurd.

Apple also uses a verified payment method to comply with COPPA regulations.

I think you will find, most, if not all, of the major companies require the same.

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Answer 12

LACAllen

Level 8

43,590 points

Jun 26, 2016 6:58 AM in response to GC.

You are indeed jumping to conclusions.

Read the prompts carefully. Content that is already synced to her iCloud account is removed from her iPad to be replaced once she signs back in. She will lose nothing.

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