What Was Happening
The iPad was an older family device being repurposed as a child’s first tablet. The owner wanted:
- A clean device with nothing of the previous user’s data, photos or accounts
- A separate Apple ID for the child that the parent could manage
- Sensible parental controls — screen-time limits, content age restrictions, approval-required app downloads
- Confidence that if anything went wrong, the device could be remotely located or wiped
This is a common request and the wrong approach to it can leave a device unusable. The most frequent mistake we see is wiping an iPad without signing the previous Apple ID out first.
Our Diagnosis
The right sequence matters because each step depends on the previous one:
- Sign out the previous Apple ID first (Settings → Apple ID → Sign Out). This removes the iPad from the previous user’s Find My and disables Activation Lock for the next owner. Skipping this step is the single most common cause of a “locked” iPad after a reset — the device asks for the previous owner’s Apple ID and password to activate, and most people don’t have those any more.
- Back up anything the previous user might still want — photos, messages, app data — before erasing.
- Erase all content and settings (Settings → General → Transfer or Reset → Erase All Content and Settings). This is the proper reset, not the partial one some guides recommend.
- First-time setup as if it were a new device.
- Create or sign in to the child Apple ID under Family Sharing.
- Configure Screen Time with appropriate limits.
- Apply content restrictions — age-appropriate app store filtering, web content limits, in-app purchase blocks.
How we set it up
Apple ID — child account with Family Sharing. Apple’s Family Sharing lets a parent’s Apple ID act as the organiser for a child’s Apple ID. The child gets their own iCloud, App Store access and iMessage but the parent gets:
- “Ask to Buy” requirement for app downloads and in-app purchases
- Screen Time visibility from their own device
- Location sharing in Find My
- The ability to reset the child’s password if they forget it
For an under-13 child, a child Apple ID is the correct setup. For a teenager, a standard Apple ID with parental controls is usually a better fit.
Screen Time configured at setup. Set during the initial walkthrough because it is much easier to introduce on day one than to negotiate later. We configured:
- Downtime windows (no app access during evening hours)
- App limits for categories like Games and Social Networking
- Always-allowed apps (calls, messages, education)
- Communication limits (who can contact during downtime)
Content & Privacy Restrictions. Set web content to “Limit Adult Websites”, App Store ratings appropriate to the child’s age, blocked in-app purchases and required parental approval for new app installs.
Find My iPad enabled under the parent’s organiser account so the device can be located, locked or wiped from the parent’s phone if it gets lost.
The Result
iPad ready for handover with appropriate parental controls in place from day one. Activation Lock now points to the correct family account, so if the device is ever lost or stolen the right person can recover or wipe it.
Why This Happens
The Apple ecosystem has very effective parental controls but they are only effective if they are set up correctly. The two most common mistakes:
- Resetting without signing out. Triggers Activation Lock with the wrong account. Recovery requires contacting Apple Support with proof of ownership and can take weeks.
- Setting up the child’s iPad with a parent’s Apple ID for convenience. Means the child has full access to the parent’s email, messages, payment methods and saved passwords. Always set up a separate child Apple ID under Family Sharing.
Local Help in Barnes SW13
If your laptop is showing similar symptoms, a workshop diagnosis is the cheapest way to find out what’s actually wrong before any parts get ordered.
We work on Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, Lenovo, Samsung and the rest of the major laptop brands from our Putney bench.
Drop in to SW15, call 020 7610 0500, or use our contact form for a quick estimate before you bring the machine in.