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.
Use the Young Minds Advanced Protection app on on your Mac computer to remove Advanced Protection from your child’s iPhone or iPad.
Important: Removing Advanced Protection will also delete the Young Minds Kids app from your child’s device. Young Minds protection and monitoring will stop until you reinstall and pair the Young Minds Kids app again.
Removal 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
We recommend completing the removal 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.
The screens may look slightly different depending on the iOS or iPadOS version installed, but the steps are the same.
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 showing you exactly what to do.
Step 3 - 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 Protectiona status.
Check that this is the correct device. If Advanced Protection is enabled, select Disable Advanced Protection.
Step 4 - 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 5 - Turn off Find My
Find My must be temporarily turned off before Advanced Protectioncan be removed.
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 Anti-Tampering 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 - Remove Advanced Protection
Once all required settings are off, you’ll see Ready to Disable Advanced Protection and a checklist confirming that everything is ready.
Select Disable Advanced Protection.
Important: Keep your child’s device connected to the Mac. Do not unplug the USB cable until the process is complete. Your child’s device will restart during removal.
Step 7 - Confirm removal
The app will explain what happens when Anti-Tampering is removed. Anti-Tampering protection will be disabled and the Young Minds Kids app will be deleted from your child’s device. If you want to continue, select Disable Anti-Tampering.
Step 8 - Unlock your child’s device
Wait for the device to fully restart, then unlock it. Keep the device connected to your computer while the Advanced Protection app finishes the removal.
You do not need to change any settings on the device. Simply unlock it and wait for the process to complete.
Step 9 - Complete the removal
Once removal is complete, you’ll see Advanced Protection Disabled.
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
For iPad:
Find My: Settings→ Apple Account name at the top → Find My → Find My iPad → On
What happens after Anti-Tampering is removed
Advanced Protection will no longer protect the device, and the Young Minds Kids app will have been deleted.
If you want to continue using Young Minds on this device, reinstall the Young Minds Kids app and follow the normal setup instructions. You can continue using the Young Minds Kids app without Advanced Protection, but your child will no longer have the additional protection that prevents the Kids app or its protection from being removed. Additionally, some iOS settings will not be available.
Check whether the Young Minds Kids app has been removed
In most cases the Young Minds Kids app is removed from your child's device automatically as part of the removal. Occasionally Apple leaves the app on the device. This is harmless - the app no longer protects or monitors anything once Advanced Protection has been removed - but you may want to tidy it up.
Check your child's Home Screen and App Library. If the Young Minds Kids app is still there, delete it in the usual way: touch and hold the app icon, tap Remove App, then Delete App.
