How to Set Up an Apple Account (Apple ID) for an Older Parent in Australia
Before an iPad or iPhone can do much, it needs an Apple Account. This is the single login that lets your parent download apps, make video calls, use iCloud and keep their photos safe. You may still hear it called an Apple ID, which is the old name for the same thing. Apple renamed it Apple Account a little while back, but the two mean exactly the same.
Setting one up takes about ten minutes, and it is well worth doing carefully, because this account is the key to the whole device. Here is how to do it, and the few things worth getting right the first time. For the wider view, our guide to the best tablets for seniors in Australia compares the main options.
Quick answer
Open Settings, tap “Sign in to your iPad” at the top, then choose to create a new Apple Account. You will need an email address, a password and an Australian mobile number for the security codes. You do not have to enter a card. The most important step is to write the email and password down somewhere safe, because your parent will need them again, and the device can lock them out without them.
Step by step: create an Apple Account
1. Open the sign-in screen
If you are setting up a brand new iPad, the setup assistant will offer this as you go, and our guide on how to set up a new iPad for a parent covers the whole process. On an iPad that is already running, open Settings and tap “Sign in to your iPad” at the very top of the screen.
2. Choose to create a new account
Tap the line that says you do not have an account or have forgotten it, then choose to create a new Apple Account. It will ask for a date of birth and a name. Use your parent’s real details, since these help recover the account later if anything goes wrong.
3. Use an email and set a password
You can use an email address your parent already has, or let Apple create a new free iCloud one. Either is fine. Then set a password. Make it strong but memorable, and avoid reusing one from another account. If you would like a hand with that, see our guide on how to create a strong password.
4. Add a mobile number for security codes
Apple will ask for a mobile number. This is how it sends a verification code when your parent signs in on a new device, which keeps the account safe. It is fine to use your parent’s own Australian mobile. If they do not have one, you can use a trusted family member’s number, as long as that person will always be reachable to read out a code.
5. Write down the details and store them safely
This is the step that saves the most heartache. Write the email address and password on paper and keep it somewhere safe at home, or save it in a password manager. If your parent ever forgets their iPad passcode and the device has to be reset, it will ask for this Apple Account password to switch back on. Without it, even a working iPad can be locked for good. A minute now prevents a real headache later.
6. Consider adding yourself as a recovery contact
Apple lets you name a trusted person as a recovery contact, so if your parent ever gets locked out, you can help them back in. It is an optional extra, found in the account settings under Sign-In and Security, and it is genuinely useful for families. Setting it up now means one less thing to panic about down the track.
Paying for apps and storage in Australia
This is the part that worries families most, so it is worth being clear. You do not need to put a credit card on the account to set it up. When Apple asks about payment, you can choose None and skip it. Most of what your parent will want, from family video calls to the library and the news, is free anyway.
When they do want to buy something, the safest way in Australia is an Apple Gift Card. You can pick one up for a set amount at Coles, Woolworths, Australia Post, JB Hi-Fi, Officeworks and Big W, or buy a digital one online. Redeem it in the App Store and that becomes their spending balance. It caps what can be spent, needs no bank card linked to the device, and makes a tidy gift. Prices in the App Store are shown in Australian dollars, so there are no surprises.
If you do prefer to link a payment method, Apple accepts an Australian credit or debit card or a PayPal account. Either way, turn on Family Sharing with “Ask to Buy” if you want to approve anything your parent tries to buy before it goes through. It is a gentle safety net, not a leash.
Your rights on App Store purchases
Apps and subscriptions you buy in Australia are covered by the Australian Consumer Law, the same consumer guarantees that apply to anything else you buy. If an app is faulty, never works, or was charged by accident, you can ask Apple for a refund at reportaproblem.apple.com, and these rights sit on top of Apple’s own policy. The one to watch is auto-renewing subscriptions: a free trial can quietly become a monthly charge, so check Settings, then your name, then Subscriptions every so often and cancel anything you do not use. The ACCC has made hard-to-cancel subscriptions a priority, but a quick look is still the best protection.
Get these right and the rest is easy
- One account per person. Do not share your own Apple Account with your parent, as their messages and photos would mix with yours.
- Record the email and password somewhere safe the day you set it up.
- Use a phone number that someone can always reach, for the security codes.
- No card needed. Choose None, and use an Apple Gift Card from Coles or Woolworths when you want a balance.
- Keep the same account on every Apple device your parent owns, so everything stays in sync.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: Apple Accounts for an older parent
Is an Apple Account the same as an Apple ID?
Yes. Apple renamed Apple ID to Apple Account, so the two are the same thing. You may still see the old name in a few places, but nothing has changed about how it works.
Does it cost anything?
No. Creating an Apple Account is free, and you can set it up with no card at all by choosing None for payment. You only pay if you choose to buy an app or extra iCloud storage, and you will always be asked first.
How do we pay for an app without linking a bank card?
Buy an Apple Gift Card at Coles, Woolworths, Australia Post, JB Hi-Fi or Officeworks, then redeem it in the App Store. That gives your parent a set balance to spend, with no card on the account.
Can my parent use my Apple Account?
It is better not to. Each person should have their own, or their photos, messages and contacts will get tangled up with yours. You can still share purchases through Family Sharing.
What if they do not have a mobile number?
You can use a trusted family member’s number to receive the security codes. Just make sure that person is easy to reach, since a code may be needed at sign-in.
What happens if we lose the password?
You can reset it, but it is far easier if you saved it at the start. Adding a family recovery contact also makes getting back in much simpler, which is why both steps are worth doing.
