Help your child set up a Mac
- June 7, 2024
- Apple
Table of Contents
Help your child set up a Mac
Set up a Mac so that your child can use it securely and with their own user account and Apple ID, but with the usage limits you specify.
Set up a standard macOS user account
Set up a standard user account for your child. Using an administrator account would allow them make changes that affect all accounts on this Mac, and work around usage limits you might set as a parent.
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Users & Groups.
- Click the lock , then enter your administrator password.
- Click the add button below the list of users.
- Choose Standard from the New Account pop-up menu.
- Complete the name and password fields, then click Create User.
- Either restart your Mac or choose Apple menu > Log Out.
- At the login window, choose the new account you created, then log in with its name and password.
- A setup assistant will guide you through the remaining steps to set up the account. When it asks you to sign in with your Apple ID, enter your child’s Apple ID, not your own Apple ID.
If both you and your child will use the same Mac, just remember to log out of your account when you’re done. Your Mac offers several ways to quickly switch between users.
Set usage limits
With Screen Time, you can monitor usage, schedule downtime, and set usage limits. Set up Screen Time.
Set up Apple ID and Family Sharing
Everyone, including your child, should use their own Apple ID. And with Family Sharing, your family can share subscriptions like Apple Music, iCloud storage, and more without sharing personal information like email, text messages, or passwords. Family members can also share purchases from the App Store, iTunes Store, Apple TV app, and Apple Books. Learn more about Family Sharing and Apple ID for your child.
Turn on Find My
Find My helps find and protect your child’s device if it’s ever lost or stolen. Any member of your Family Sharing group can help find another member’s device. Turn on Find My.
Turn on Ask to Buy
If you want your child to get permission before they buy items, download free apps, or sign up for a subscription, set up Ask to Buy. It’s automatically turned on for children under 13. Turn on Ask to Buy.
Published Date: March 16, 2021
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