This guide is for iPhone and iPad devices running iOS 18 or iOS 26, or iPadOS 18 or iPadOS 26. If your child’s device runs iOS 27 or iPadOS 27, click here for the correct guide.
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 7-15 minutes. You’ll need:
- Your child’s iPhone or iPad
- A Mac computer
- A USB cable to connect the device to your computer
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.
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 need to be temporarily turned off before Advanced Protection can be enabled.
For an iPhone:
- Encrypt local backup
- Stolen Device Protection
- Find My
For an iPad:
- Encrypt local backup
- Find My
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 name, device name, software version and Advanced Protection status.
Check that this is the correct device, then select Enable Advanced Protection on this device.
Step 5 - Turn off Encrypt local backup
If Encrypt local backup is enabled, open Finder on your Mac and:
- Select your child’s iPhone or iPad from the sidebar.
- Select General.
- Untick Encrypt local backup.
- Enter the backup password if prompted.
Return to the Young Minds Advanced Protection app, confirm that Encrypt local backup is turned off, then select Continue.
Step 6 - 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 Young Minds 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 Young Minds 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 7 - 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.
Select Enable Advanced Protection. The process usually takes 7-15 minutes.
Important: Keep your child’s device connected to the Mac. Do not unplug the USB cable.
Your child’s device will restart during setup.
Step 8 - Finish setup on your child’s device
After the device restarts, complete the remaining steps on the iPhone or iPad:
- Wait for the device to restart.
- Select your Wi-Fi network if prompted.
- When the Remote Management screen appears, tap Continue, then Enroll.
- 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 Home Screen, return to the Young Minds 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 9 - 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 security 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
Note: Turn Find My back on before Stolen Device Protection. iOS will not let you switch Stolen Device Protection on while Find My is off.
For iPad:
Find My: Settings → Apple Account name at the top → Find My → Find My iPad → On
Advanced Protection is now active
Your child’s device will show Advanced protection, and Advanced protection will show as Enabled in the Young Minds 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.
