How To Set Up Your Kid’s New iPhone: 2025 Update

Is there anything quite as exciting as a new phone? According to our kids, not really! We’ve updated this guide with the latest iOS 18 features to help you set up iPhones for safer, happier screen time. (If you’re going the Android route, check out How to Set Up Your Kid’s New Android Phone instead!)

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How to set up Family Sharing for iPhone

If your household runs on Apple, Family Sharing is a must. It lets everyone in the family share purchases like music, movies, apps and iCloud storage—without sharing devices or Apple IDs. You can also manage parental controls, location sharing, and Screen Time settings across all connected accounts.

You can start Family Sharing from any iPhone, iPad or Mac. Use an adult’s device to set it up, as this account will be the “Organizer” that can make changes and approve requests.

To set up Family Sharing:

1. Open Settings on your device.
2. Tap your name at the top of the screen.
3. Tap Family, then select Set Up Your Family.
4. Follow the onscreen steps to add family members.
5. Once you’re done, you’ll receive prompts to invite others using their Apple IDs—or you can create one for your child.

Tip: Make sure all family members’ devices are running the latest version of iOS for full access to new parental features.

How to set up Screen Time controls for iPhone

Screen Time helps parents understand how much time kids spend on devices—and gives you tools to set limits or manage access to apps, content, and purchases. You can set up Screen Time through Family Sharing or directly on your child’s device.

If you’re using Family Sharing:

1. On your own device, go to Settings → Family → [Your Child’s Name].
2. Tap Turn On Screen Time.
3. Follow the prompts to set limits, downtime, and content restrictions.
4. Tap Use Screen Time Passcode—and choose a code your child doesn’t know.

If you’re not using Family Sharing:

1. On your child’s device, open Settings → Screen Time → Turn On Screen Time.
2. Tap This is My Child’s iPhone.
3. Follow the prompts to create limits and restrictions.
4. Choose Use Screen Time Passcode, using a code different from their device passcode.

Once set up, you can adjust these settings anytime through Family Sharing or directly on the device.

New in iOS 18, Apple has added a few small but welcome updates:

• Parents now get a notification when a child enters the Screen Time passcode.
• New age-rating categories (13+, 16+, 18+) give parents more precise control over which apps are accessible.
• Improvements to App Limits and Communication Safety now extend to Messages, AirDrop, and content shared through third-party apps.

You can find more information in Apple’s Screen Time support guide.

Some families find it helpful to gradually loosen restrictions as kids show responsible use—like removing app limits or extending downtime windows over time. Every family’s plan will look a little different, so use these tools as part of a bigger conversation about healthy habits.

How to talk to your kids about their new iPhone

No amount of parental controls can replace honest, ongoing conversations about screen use. Kids are smart—and curious—so checking in regularly helps more than strict settings ever could. Ask what they like doing on their phone, what they’re watching, or who they’re talking to, the same way you’d ask about school or sports.

And remember, even with the best settings, new features roll out constantly. Make it a routine to revisit privacy and safety settings together every few months. It’s a great way to help kids build digital responsibility—and remind them that they can always come to you with questions, no matter what they find online.

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Editorial Credit: FellowNeko / Shutterstock

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