Hand-Me-Down Phone Checklist Before Giving It to Your Kid

A hand-me-down phone can be a great first connected device, but only if it is safe, reset, compatible, and still healthy enough for daily use.

Use this checklist before giving it to your child.

1. Check the battery

An old phone with a weak battery can look fine at home and fail when your child actually needs it.

Check battery health if the phone supports it. On iPhone, go to Settings → Battery → Battery Health & Charging. For Android, battery health varies by brand, but you can still watch whether the phone drains quickly during a normal day.

2. Confirm it still gets software updates

Install the latest available operating system update. A phone does not need to be brand new, but it should still be secure enough for a child to use.

If the device is many years out of update support, think carefully before using it as a connected device.

3. Factory reset it

Back up anything important, then erase the phone. A clean reset avoids old messages, old accounts, stale restrictions, and weird app settings.

4. Check carrier unlock status

A locked phone may reject a new eSIM. Check unlock status before signing up for service.

See How to Check If Your Old Phone Is Unlocked.

5. Check eSIM support

Confirm the phone:

• Appears on the supported devices list.
• Has an EID.
• Shows an Add eSIM, Add SIM, or Add mobile plan option.

Support can vary by country, region, carrier SKU, or exact model.

6. Inspect the basics

Check:

• Screen cracks.
• Camera function.
• Speaker and microphone.
• Charging port.
• Wi-Fi.
• Bluetooth.
• Buttons.
• Case fit.

The phone does not need to be perfect, but it should be reliable.

7. Add a case and screen protector

Kids drop phones. A basic case and screen protector are usually cheaper than replacing the device.

8. Create a child account

Use a child Apple ID for iPhone or a supervised Google Account for Android. Avoid using your own personal account as the child's daily account.

9. Turn on parental controls

Set up Screen Time, Family Link, or Samsung Kids before the phone leaves your hands.

10. Test away from Wi-Fi

Before your child relies on it:

1. Turn off Wi-Fi.
2. Send a message.
3. Make a video call.
4. Open maps.
5. Check location sharing from the parent's phone.

If those work, the hand-me-down phone is much closer to being ready.