Set up a child's own phone or tablet

A child’s picture code only works on a device your family has approved. For a shared family tablet, that happens when a grown-up signs in on it. For a child who has their own phone, that would mean putting an adult’s whole Equal House account on a child’s device — which is precisely what you should not have to do.

A setup code is the way round it.

Send the code

1. More → Your Account → Set up a child’s own device.
2. Choose who it is for:
   • A named child — that device will only ever sign them in. This is the right choice for a phone that is genuinely one child’s.
   • Any of my children — for a shared tablet.
3. Send the code however you already message them. There is a link too, which sets the device up in one tap.

On their device

1. Install Equal House.
2. Tap Kids sign in, then I have a setup code.
3. Enter the code — or just tap the link, which does it for them.

They then sign in with the family’s six pictures and their PIN, exactly as on any other device.

What the code does and does not do

It trusts the device. That is all. It does not sign anybody in, and it does not identify anybody — the child still needs the family picture code and their own PIN afterwards. A setup code that went to the wrong person does not open your household.

It works once, and expires after 30 minutes. If it lapses, make another; there is no limit.

Keeping an eye on it

When a code is used, the grown-ups get a notification naming the device. The device then appears under Devices with its name and, if it was bound to one child, whose it is — and removing it takes effect immediately.

If you see a device you were not expecting, remove it. That is the safety net, and it is why the notification exists.

Cancelling a code you have not sent yet

Codes still waiting are listed under the setup button. Tap Cancel on any of them.