Child Account cannot be created

Question

Child Account cannot be created

I have been trying to create an Apple Account for my 12 year old child.

I use my Macbook to setup the Account.
no subscriptions, purchases or location sharing selected
I verify that I'm an Adult by providing updated credit card and contact information.
I enter my kid's email address (he has an existing one).
I enter the code that gets send to that address
In the very last step where they inform that my phone will be contacted when he performs certain actions I get this error message, that gives no indication what went wrong exactly.

Side note: I don't use an IPhone with the phone number provided. Could it be that verification step fails when using non IOS device?

MacBook Pro 14″

Posted on Oct 8, 2025 2:01 AM

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Answer 1

Oct 8, 2025 2:39 AM in response to JoachimTillessen

Maybe the problem is broader and has to do with the fact, that I already started to setup a refurbished macbook with the same mail address.

It was only after being halfway through setting up the system that I realized that I needed to manage that account through my main (adult) Apple account.

Then I went ahead and tried to setup the child account via the family settings.

Now I cannot login in on the macbook with the account I created either. I'm pretty sure I'm using the correct password, so I suspect this might be because the account (mail address) is marked as belonging to a minor and not having the proper permissions.

There is not password reset option provided. The device is completely locked.

Now I'm sitting on newly purchased hardware an cannot do a thing. Also there is a birthday coming up.

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