Adding apps to your child's Apple Watch, particularly when set up using Family Setup, involves ensuring the child's Apple ID is properly authorized for purchases and downloads. While apps are typically downloaded directly from the watch's App Store, sometimes an interim step on the supervising iPhone is needed to facilitate this.
According to one method, you can manage app installation for your child's watch by temporarily signing into their account for Media & Purchases on your iPhone. This process helps authorize their Apple ID for downloads on their paired watch.
Steps to Add Apps Via Apple ID Adjustment
Here is the process outlined in the reference to enable app downloads on your child's watch:
- Access Settings: On your (the parent's) iPhone that manages the child's watch, open the Settings app.
- Go to Apple ID: Tap on your name or Apple ID at the very top of the Settings screen.
- Find Media & Purchases: Scroll down and select the Media & Purchases option.
- Sign Out of Your Account: Tap on your current Apple ID displayed here and then select Sign Out. Confirm the sign-out if prompted.
- Sign In with Child's Account: Tap Sign In on the Media & Purchases screen. Enter your child's Apple ID and password.
- Authorize with Child's Watch: Keep your child's Apple Watch nearby. The login process might require interaction on the watch itself, such as accepting the login or providing a 6-digit verification code displayed on the watch.
- Go to the Watch App Store: Once the child's Apple ID is signed in for Media & Purchases on your phone, navigate to the App Store directly on your child's Apple Watch.
- Install Apps: You should now be able to browse and install apps directly from the App Store on the child's watch.
This method helps ensure that the App Store on the child's watch is linked to their Apple ID for downloading apps. Remember to sign back into your own Apple ID for Media & Purchases on your iPhone after you have finished installing apps on the child's watch.
While this process helps enable app downloads, availability may vary based on the child's watch model, watchOS version, and restrictions set via Screen Time or Family Sharing.
