Guides
Setup guides
Step-by-step walkthroughs for turning a phone you already own into your kid’s first connected device. New to this? Start with our parent’s guide.
Device setup
How to Turn an Old iPhone Into a Kid's First PhoneA step-by-step guide to setting up a hand-me-down iPhone with Family Sharing, Screen Time, a NextRange data eSIM, Find My, iMessage, and FaceTime.How to Turn an Old Android Phone Into a Kid's First PhoneA step-by-step guide to setting up a hand-me-down Android phone with Google Family Link, a NextRange data eSIM, Find My Device, and messaging that doesn't need a phone number.How to Turn an Old Samsung Galaxy Into a Kid's First PhoneA step-by-step guide to setting up a hand-me-down Samsung Galaxy phone with Google Family Link or Samsung Kids, a NextRange data eSIM, and Find My Device.First Phone Safety Setup Checklist for ParentsA practical parent checklist for setting up a child's first connected phone with accounts, parental controls, location sharing, app limits, contacts, and data rules.Hand-Me-Down Phone Checklist Before Giving It to Your KidWhat to check before turning an old phone into a child's first connected device: battery, unlock status, eSIM support, updates, reset, parental controls, and accessories.
eSIM & compatibility
eSIM vs. Physical SIM for a Child's First PhoneWhat parents need to know about eSIM, physical SIM cards, EID, unlocked phones, QR code installation, and common setup issues.How to Check If Your Old Phone Is UnlockedBefore adding a NextRange eSIM to a hand-me-down phone, confirm it's carrier-unlocked. Here's how to check on iPhone and Android, and what to do if it isn't.What to Do If eSIM Installation FailsTroubleshooting steps for failed eSIM installation, including locked phones, missing EID, region/SKU mismatch, used QR codes, Wi-Fi problems, and software updates.
Messaging & calling
Messaging Apps for Kids: Phone Number & Parental Control ComparisonWhich messaging and video-calling apps work for a kid's first connected device without a phone number, and what parental controls each one actually has.Can My Child Use iMessage Without a Phone Number?How iMessage works with an Apple ID and email address, what works on a data-only iPhone, and what still requires a traditional phone number.Can My Child Text on Android Without a Phone Number?Why Google Messages and RCS usually need a phone number, and which messaging apps work better for kids on a data-only Android phone.
Data, pricing & coverage
Data-Only Phone Plans for Kids: What Works and What Doesn'tA clear guide to what a child can and cannot do with a data-only phone plan, including messaging, calls, maps, location sharing, apps, and emergency expectations.How Much Data Does a Kid's First Phone Need?Practical estimates for how much mobile data kids use for messaging, maps, video calls, location sharing, app updates, and streaming.Rollover Data and No Overages ExplainedHow NextRange's rollover data, shared family data bank, top-ups, and no automatic overage model work for a kid's first phone.Standard vs. Max Coverage vs. Max Pass: Coverage Options ExplainedHow NextRange's Standard and Max Coverage plans compare, plus how the separate Max Pass add-on temporarily boosts coverage for trips.
Safety & location
How to Set Up Location Sharing on a Kid's PhoneHow parents can use Find My, Find My Device, Google Maps location sharing, and family accounts to locate a child's first connected phone.Can a Data-Only Phone Call 911?A careful parent guide to emergency expectations for data-only phones, including why a full phone plan may be safer when emergency voice calling is required.