iPad How to set up a iPad for a child

[ger19]

I have my old iPad Pro 10.5 that I want to erase and set up for my grandchild for when they come over. Can you help me understand how that works. I've read about family sharing but have never done it. It sounds like I have to be logged in under my Apple ID and then set the child up. Does the child have to have their own Apple ID? Their own email address? I'd like not to attach the child's current email address as it is mostly just used for school. Child is under 13.

Second, how best to prepare the iPad for the grandchild? I was thinking about doing a complete reset but after some thought, I'm wondering if I'll have trouble with it given how old it is and that it will try to update it to the most recent OS which it won't be able to do because the most recent OS is not supported on this older iPad. Will it update to as recent of an OS as it can?

 

[bluespark]

I have my old iPad Pro 10.5 that I want to erase and set up for my grandchild for when they come over. Can you help me understand how that works. I've read about family sharing but have never done it. It sounds like I have to be logged in under my Apple ID and then set the child up. Does the child have to have their own Apple ID? Their own email address? I'd like not to attach the child's current email address as it is mostly just used for school. Child is under 13.

Second, how best to prepare the iPad for the grandchild? I was thinking about doing a complete reset but after some thought, I'm wondering if I'll have trouble with it given how old it is and that it will try to update it to the most recent OS which it won't be able to do because the most recent OS is not supported on this older iPad. Will it update to as recent of an OS as it can?

You would set up an iCloud account for them that is part of your family group. Use the Apple ID you create as the e-mail address (and yours for recovery purposes). The mail app supports multiple e-mail addresses, so no problem also having it check e-mails for the school account.

You can then adjust screen time and other limitations from your device. Also, resetting the iPad for the grandchild is fine. Unless it is obsolete (in which case I am not sure what happens), it will download the newest software version it can run.

 

[rui no onna]

Second, how best to prepare the iPad for the grandchild? I was thinking about doing a complete reset but after some thought, I'm wondering if I'll have trouble with it given how old it is and that it will try to update it to the most recent OS which it won't be able to do because the most recent OS is not supported on this older iPad. Will it update to as recent of an OS as it can?

Yes, it will update to the most recent OS available for that model. The highest firmware version for the 2017 iPad Pros is iOS 17 and I believe it’s actually still getting security updates. If it’s already updated before reset though, you won’t need to do anything.

The only caveat during initial setup is you can’t restore from iOS backups on newer iOS versions (18+). That should be no issue as you should be setting up your grandchild’s iPad as new.