setting up my child's iPhone

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setting up my child's iPhone

I need help with setting up my child's new iPhone. I am currently unable to complete the setup process.

First, I want to clarify my situation: I, as the parent, use an Android phone. However, I have an Apple Mac computer and my own Apple ID. Is it possible for me to manage my child's iPhone settings, such as Screen Time, from my Mac computer without owning an Apple phone myself?

My main and most pressing problem is with the setup process itself. I am stuck in a constant loop with the verification codes:

I receive a verification code on my Mac.
As soon as I try to enter that code on my child's new iPhone, a new code is sent to my Mac.
This cycle repeats, and the session times out before I can successfully enter a single code.

I am completely blocked from completing the initial setup of my child's device.

So Im curious with two things:

Is it possible to manage my child's iPhone from my Mac is possible in my situation.
More importantly, help me find a solution to get past this verification code loop so I can finish the setup.

Thank you!

Posted on Aug 14, 2025 9:13 AM

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Answer 1

Aug 14, 2025 9:35 AM in response to nikolina101

How are you setting up your child's phone with regards to the Apple Account / Apple ID? Are you, by any chance, using the same Apple Account for the phone as for your Mac?

Apple recommends that each person have their own Apple ID / Apple Account. The articles seem to suggest that you would create an Apple account for the child first, then add that account to a Family Sharing group.

Some Support articles that may be of interest:

What is Screen Time on Mac? - Apple Support

"Family Sharing makes it even easier to set up Screen Time for children. Parents can use any device—Mac, iPhone, or iPad—to set up Screen Time for a child on all their devices."

What is Family Sharing? - Apple Support

Create an Apple Account for your child - Apple Support

Set up Family Sharing - Apple Support

Use parental controls on your child's iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

Use Screen Time on your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support

"You can create a Screen Time passcode to make sure the Screen Time settings you've set for yourself or a child's device stay in place. Once you set a passcode for yourself or a child's device, you can change or remove it later in your settings. In iOS 18.5, you can also get notifications when your child enters the Screen Time passcode."

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