This guide is for iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 27 or iPadOS 27. If your child’s device runs iOS 18 to iOS 26 or iPadOS 18 to iPadOS 26, click here for the correct guidance.
Advanced Protection helps prevent your child from removing the Young Minds Kids app or turning off its protection. Once Advanced Protection is enabled, you can also use additional iOS Settings to manage app access, purchases, content restrictions and other controls on your child's iPhone or iPad. Learn more about iOS Settings.
Setup usually takes 7-15minutes. You'll need:
- Your child's iPhone or iPad running iOS 27 or iPadOS 27
- A Mac computer
- A USB cableto connect the device to your computer
- Your child's device passcode and child's Apple Account password
Before you begin
Before you start, make sure the Young Minds Kids app is installed on your child’s device and paired with the correct child in the Young Minds Parent app.
We recommend completing the setup at home. If you’re away from a familiar location, Apple may apply a Security Delay, which can require you to wait for up to one hour before continuing.
Have your child's device passcode and child's Apple Account password to hand. The device restarts during setup and asks for both.
Recommended: Back up your child's device
We recommend making a backup before you begin. This is optional, but gives you an up-to-date copy of the device’s data if you need it.
You can use iCloud or your Mac to back up the device.
Step 1 - Download the Young Minds Advanced Protection app
Download the Young Minds Advanced Protection app for Mac.
Open the downloaded file and launch the app. If macOS asks you to confirm that you want to open it, follow the instructions on your Mac.
Step 2 - Log in
Log in to the Young Minds Advanced Protection app using your Young Minds Parent account. Use the same email address and password you use for your Young Minds account.
The app will guide you through the rest of the process.
Note: Each step includes instructions and screenshots showing you exactly what to do. You can click the screenshots to enlarge them.
Step 3 - Check the setup information
The app will explain which settings you need to temporarily turn off before you can enable Advanced Protection.
For an iPhone:
- Stolen DeviceProtection
- Find My
- Private Relay(only if iCloud+ is enabled on your child’s device)
For an iPad:
- Find My
- Private Relay(only if iCloud+ is enabled on your child’s device)
The device also needs to stay unlocked while setup runs.
Step 4 - Connect your child's device
Connect your child's iPhone or iPad to your Mac using a USB cable.Unlock the device and tap Trust if prompted. The Advanced Protection app will automatically recognise the device and show the child’s name, device name, software version and Advanced Protection status.
Check that this is the correct device, then select Enable AdvancedProtection on this device.
Step 5 - Turn off Find My
Find My must be temporarily turned off before Advanced Protection can be enabled.
On iPhone
If Stolen Device Protection is enabled, turn it off first:
Settings → Face ID &Passcode → Stolen Device Protection→ Off
Then go to:
Settings → Apple Account name at the top → Find My → Find My iPhone → Off
Enter the Apple Account password if requested.
On iPad
iPad does not use Stolen Device Protection. Go directly to:
Settings → Apple Account name at the top → Find My → Find My iPad → Off
Enter the Apple Account password if requested.
Once Find My is off, return to the Advanced Protection app and continue.
Only if Apple requires a Security Delay
This can happen on an iPhone when Stolen Device Protection is enabled and Apple does not recognise the current location as familiar.
- Tap Start Security Delay on the iPhone.
- Wait one hour. You can continue using the iPhone, but do not restart it or turn it off.
- After the delay, confirm with Face ID or Touch ID and turn Stolen Device Protection off.
- Return to the Advanced Protection app and continue with turning off Find My.
Tip: Completing this step at home or another familiar location can usually avoid the one-hour delay.
Step 6 - Turn off Private Relay (only if your child uses iCloud+)
This step only applies if iCloud+ is enabled on your child’s iPhone or iPad. If your child does not use iCloud+, skip turning off Private Relay and continue in the app.
- If your child uses iCloud+, open Settings on their device and tap their Apple Account name at the top.
- Tap iCloud → Private Relay and turn Private Relay off.
If Private Relay is not available on your child’s device, you do not need to change anything.
In the Advanced Protection app, tick the box to confirm that Private Relay is off, or that yourchild does not use iCloud+. Thenselect Continue.
Step 7 - Unlock the device
Your child’s device must be unlocked to continue.
1. Unlock your child's iPhone or iPad with its passcode and leave it on the Home Screen.
2. Have the device passcode and Apple Account password ready. You'll need both during setup.
3. Keep the USB cable connected. Do not disconnect the device until the app tells you it has finished.
If the device locks itself while you are on this screen, unlock it again and select Re-check.
Step 8 - Enable Advanced Protection
Once all required settings are off, you'll see Ready to Enable Advanced Protection and a checklist confirming that everything is ready:
- Find My is turned off
- Private Relayis off (if your child uses iCloud+)
- The device is unlocked
Select Start setup.
Important: Keep your child's device connected to the Mac. Do not unplug the USB cable.
Your child's device will restart during setup and will ask for its passcode.
Step 9 - Finish setup on your child's device
After the device restarts, complete the remaining steps on the iPhone or iPad:
- Swipe up to upgrade. Enter the device passcode and wait for the device to start.
- Unlock the device as usual. If you see Restore Completed, tap Continue.
- When the Remote Management screen appears, tap Continue, then Enroll.
- Enter the Apple Account password when prompted.
- Continue through the remaining setup screens until you reach the Home Screen, where you can see the normal app icons.
Keep the device connected to your Mac throughout this process. The I've Reached the Home Screen button will remain unavailable while setup is still in progress.
Once you can see the HomeScreen, return to the Advanced Protection app and select I've Reached the Home Screen. When asked to confirm, select Yes, I'm on the Home Screen.
Important: Do not confirm before the device reaches the Home Screen.Confirming too early may prevent Advanced Protection from being enabled correctly.
Step 10 - Complete the setup
Once setup is complete, you'll see Advanced Protection Enabled.
Select Done in the Young Minds Advanced Protection app.
Before you finish
Don't forget to turn the settings you temporarily disabled back on.
For iPhone:
Find My: Settings → Apple Account name at the top → Find My → Find My iPhone → On
Stolen Device Protection: Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Stolen Device Protection → On
Private Relay (only if previously turned off): Settings → Apple Account name at the top → iCloud→ Private Relay → On
For iPad:
Find My: Settings → Apple Account name at the top → Find My → Find My iPad → On
Private Relay (only if previously turned off): Settings → Apple Account name at the top → iCloud→ Private Relay → On
Note: Turn Find My back on before Stolen Device Protection. Turn Private Relay back on only if you turned it off during setup and want to use it again. Private Relay is available only with iCloud+.
Advanced Protection is now active
Your child's device will show Advanced protection is active, and Advanced Protection will show as Enabled in the YoungMinds Parent App.
The Young Minds Kids app and its protection can no longer be removed or disabled by your child without your knowledge.
About Remote Management
During setup, you’ll see an Apple Remote Management screen showing YoungMindsApp Ltd. This is expected and is part of enabling Advanced protection. After setup, iOS or iPadOS Settings will also show that the device is managed by YoungMindsApp Ltd. This is a normal Apple system message and means Advanced protection device management is active.
