Short answer
Set up a refurbished iPhone for a child in five steps: make sure it starts at the Hello screen, create a Child Account in Family Sharing, sign the phone in with it, turn on parental controls, and share location in Find My. It takes about 20 minutes, and everything is built into iOS.
Step by step
- Check it's ready to set up. A refurbished iPhone should arrive erased and start at the Hello screen. If it asks for someone else's Apple Account or says "iPhone Locked to Owner", it's still linked to the last owner: contact the seller. Also check Settings > Battery > Battery Health once it's set up. Apple: Activation Lock
- Create a Child Account. On your own iPhone, go to Settings > Family, tap Add Member, then Create Child Account, and enter your child's name and birthday. For children under 13, a parent or guardian has to create the account (the age varies by country). Apple: Create an Apple Account for your child
- Sign the new iPhone in with it. Set up the child's iPhone with their new Apple Account. Make sure Find My is on (Settings > their name > Find My) so you can find the phone if it's lost, and so nobody else can use it. Apple: Set up Family Sharing
- Turn on parental controls. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Family and tap your child's name. In iOS 27 you'll find Apps & Websites (Ask to Buy and web filters), Allowed Contacts (who they can message, call or FaceTime) and Communication Safety, Time Allowances (daily limits by app category), Screen Time Schedule, and Content & Privacy Restrictions (age ratings). If not every device can update, the earlier Screen Time settings still work. Apple: Set up parental controls
- Share locations. Turn on location sharing for your family group, and you'll see each other in Find My, Messages and Maps. Family members can also help find a lost device. Apple: Share your location with your family
Settings worth turning on
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Ask to Buy | Your child asks before downloading an app or making a purchase; you approve from your phone. |
| Allowed Contacts | Choose who they can message, call and FaceTime. |
| Communication Safety | Helps protect them from sensitive images in messages. |
| Time Allowances | Daily time limits for categories like games and social media. |
| Screen Time Schedule | Which apps work at which times, for example during school. |
| Content & Privacy Restrictions | Age ratings for apps, films, music and books. |
| Location sharing | See where they are in Find My. |
Before you hand it over
- Put a case and screen protector on it. Our 12-month warranty covers faults, not drops or water. At our checkout, a case is $10, a screen protector fitted before it ships is $10, or both are $15.
- Set a passcode your child knows and you know.
- Add yourself as an emergency contact in the Health app's Medical ID.
Still choosing a phone? The best refurbished iPhone for a kid, from today's stock.
Common questions
How do I set up an iPhone for my child?
Check it starts at the Hello screen, create a Child Account in Family Sharing, sign the phone in with it, turn on parental controls in Settings > Family, and share location in Find My.
Does my child need their own Apple Account?
Yes. For a child under 13, a parent or guardian creates it in Family Sharing (the age varies by country). That's what lets you manage their parental controls.
Where are parental controls on iPhone?
On your own iPhone: Settings > Family, then tap your child's name. Screen Time settings can also be changed on the child's device.
Can I approve the apps my child downloads?
Yes. Turn on Ask to Buy and your child has to ask before downloading or buying; you approve from your phone.
Can I see where my child is?
Yes. Turn on location sharing in Family Sharing and you'll see their location in Find My.
Can I set this up on a refurbished iPhone?
Yes, exactly as on a new one. Make sure it starts at the Hello screen and isn't linked to someone else's Apple Account.