How to Set Up Apple Watch for Your Kids: A Step-by-Step Guide

Hey there! Thinking of setting up an Apple Watch for a family member who doesn’t have their own iPhone? You’ve come to the right place. With Apple Watch for Your Kids, formerly known as Family Setup, even those without an iPhone can enjoy the many perks of an Apple Watch. Let’s dive in and see how it works and what you need to get started.

Unlocking Apple Watch Features Without an iPhone

Imagine your family member making calls, sending messages, and even sharing their location—all from their Apple Watch, without the need for their own iPhone. Sounds cool, right? After setting it up, you can manage some of the watch’s functionalities using your iPhone. Keep in mind, though, that some watch features do require a paired iPhone and might not be available with Apple Watch for Your Kids.

Heads up! This feature isn’t available everywhere. You’ll need to check what’s available in your country or region. For instance, it’s not available in places like Italy and Korea.

Here’s What You’ll Need

  • An Apple Watch Series 4 or later with cellular or the Apple Watch SE with cellular, running watchOS 7 or later.
  • An iPhone 6s or later with iOS 14 or later for setting up the watch.
  • Your own Apple ID and one for the family member using the watch, both with two-factor authentication.
  • A Family Sharing group that includes your Apple Watch user, with you in the organizer or parent/guardian role.

*Note: While a cellular plan isn’t mandatory, some features won’t work without it.

Setting Up the Apple Watch

Ready to set up the watch? Great! Here’s a step-by-step guide.

Getting Started

  • Put on the Apple Watch and turn it on. If it’s not new, remember to erase it first.
  • Press and hold the side button until you see the Apple logo.
  • Hold the watch close to your iPhone and wait for the setup prompt. If it doesn’t appear, tap ‘Add Watch’ in the Apple Watch app and select ‘Set Up for a Family Member.’
  • Pair the watch with your iPhone by centering its face in your iPhone’s viewfinder or use manual pairing if needed.

Securing the Apple Watch

Next, you’ll need to agree to the terms and conditions, pick a text size, and set a secure passcode for the watch. Don’t forget to select a family member who’ll use the watch and enter their Apple ID password.

Finalizing the Setup

  • Enable ‘Ask to Buy’ if you want to approve purchases made on the watch.
  • Set up cellular and Wi-Fi. If your carrier supports the feature, add the watch to your plan—if not, you can choose a different carrier.
  • Activate additional features such as Location Services, Siri, Health Data, and more.
  • Set up shared contacts and enable Schooltime for uninterrupted learning hours.

Managing After Setup

Once set up, you can customize and adjust settings through your iPhone. Just open the Apple Watch app, go to ‘All Watches,’ select the family watch, and tweak as needed.

Feature Availability Highlight

  • Health Features: Notifications for heart rates available for users 13 and older.
  • Apple Pay: Apple Cash Family for users under 18 in the US, but no credit/debit card usage via Wallet.
  • Unavailable Features: Some functions such as ECG, Sleep, and Audiobooks are missing.

Curious about more? You can explore how the Activity app sets goals or how Schooltime enhances focus. Happy Apple Watch setting!

FAQ

Can I set up an Apple Watch for a child without an iPhone?

Absolutely! The Apple Watch for Your Kids feature allows you to do just that and manage it via your iPhone.

Do I need a cellular plan to use all features of Apple Watch for Your Kids?

While a cellular plan isn’t needed for setting up, some features do require it to function fully.

Which Apple Watch models support this feature?

You’ll need an Apple Watch Series 4 or later with cellular or the Apple Watch SE with cellular.

Looking for Cellular Plans for Apple Watch?

Here’s a breakdown of all the plans that are currently available in the US.

CarrierCost (per month)Additional Details
US MobileFREE with Unltd Premium
Or $6.5/mo annually
Or $9.5/mo
Taxes & fees included!
Standalone coming soon.
Works with any plans.
Verizon$15 + tax & fees$7.50 credit with certain plans​Verizon
AT&T$10 + tax & fees
T-Mobile$12 + tax & feesOnly works with certain plans​www.iphonelife.comiMore
Xfinity Mobile$10 + tax & feesPairs well with Xfinity home internet​ www.iphonelife.comCoverage Critic
C Spire$10 + tax & feesOnly available in select regions​Wear To TrackiMore
How to Set Up Apple Watch for Your Kids: A Step-by-Step Guide