How-to
Hand down
an iPhone
An older iPhone can make a great first phone, if it still gets updates and the battery holds up. Pick the iPhone you're handing down and follow the checklist: check it, reset it, set up a child account and Screen Time, and protect it.
Updated 15 November 2026 · from Apple's support guides
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Pick the iPhone.
1. Check it's worth handing down
- Updates. iOS 27 supports the iPhone 11 and later. A phone with only a year of updates left is a short-term hand-me-down.
- Battery. Settings → Battery → Battery Health. Below 80%, a new battery from Apple ($99) makes it last the school day again.
2. Back it up and erase it
Move your data to your new phone, then sign out of your Apple Account and erase the old one: moving to your new iPhone and Apple's erase checklist.
3. Create a child account
Apple asks parents to create the Apple Account for children under 13 (the age varies by country). You need Family Sharing first. On your iPhone: Settings → Family → Add Member → Create Child Account, then enter their name and correct birthday. Then turn on the hand-me-down and sign in with the child's account.
4. Set up Screen Time
Apple's parental controls live in Screen Time, and you manage them from your own iPhone. The main ones:
- Ask to Buy: they request approval for downloads and purchases.
- Screen Time schedules and time allowances: which apps work when, and daily limits by category.
- Allowed contacts: who they can call and message.
- Communication Safety: warns about or blocks sensitive photos and videos, such as nudity, in Messages and FaceTime.
- Content restrictions and web filtering: age ratings, and limiting adult websites.
Some of these are on by default for children, depending on age and country. With iOS 27, Apple added more controls, such as Ask to Browse for new websites.
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5. Protect it
A tough case
Kids drop phones. A screen repair on this model costs $279 at Apple.
Look for: raised edges and corner protection.
Rugged cases on AmazonA screen protector
The second-cheapest insurance after the case.
Screen protectors on AmazonA charging cable for their room
This iPhone uses Lightning.
Anker USB-C to Lightning cable (MFi)An AirTag for their bag
Shows the bag's location in Find My on your iPhone.
AirTag on AmazonIs the hand-me-down worth a repair? See what fixing it costs.
Check the iPhoneQuestions
How do I set up an old iPhone for my child?
Erase it, create a child account through Family Sharing (Settings → Family → Add Member → Create Child Account), sign in with that account, then set up Screen Time from your iPhone.
Is an iPhone 11 still OK for a kid?
It still runs iOS 27, but updates are likely to end soon, so treat it as a short-term phone and check the battery health first.