OkayTu is now in private beta for Apple Watch families.Follow the beta

Setup & requirements

What your family needs before OkayTu.

The right Watch. The right connection. A little preparation. Here’s how Apple’s family-watch setup, your carrier plan and OkayTu’s beta fit together.

Before-buying checklist Check beta eligibility

Reviewed . Check current details with Apple and your carrier before buying hardware or a plan.

Before you buy

Six checks. Fewer surprises.

Keep the model numbers and the plan name together. It makes questions at the shop, on a carrier call or during setup much easier to answer.

  • Write down the exact Watch model and whether it is GPS + Cellular.
  • Check the adult’s iPhone and both devices’ software against Apple’s current requirements.
  • Prepare the adult and child accounts before setup day.
  • Ask your carrier specifically about Apple Watch For Your Kids, also called Family Setup.
  • Get the full plan price and account conditions before committing.
  • Check OkayTu beta eligibility before buying anything just for the app.

Four separate requirements

Hardware, accounts, connection and the app.

2. Separate family accounts

Apple requires separate adult and child Apple Accounts, Family Sharing and two-factor authentication on the adult’s account. The adult setting up the Watch needs the organiser or parent/guardian role.

Apple’s account and setup guide

3. A connection for adventures

A plan is optional for initial Apple setup. Away from Wi-Fi, the child’s Watch needs a supported family-watch cellular plan and coverage. An ordinary number-sharing Watch add-on is not the same thing.

Apple’s cellular setup guidance

4. OkayTu beta eligibility

Our current build minimums are iOS 18 and watchOS 11. They are not a verified device or installation support list. Family-managed Watch installation through TestFlight and real-world delivery still need physical-device validation.

What’s in beta today

Two different steps

Apple’s setup, then OkayTu pairing.

One gets the Watch ready. The other connects your family inside OkayTu.

Step 1 · Apple

Set up the child’s Watch

For a child without their own iPhone, follow Apple’s family-watch instructions first. Carrier activation and Apple’s parental settings belong to that process, not OkayTu.

A parent’s Watch paired normally to their own iPhone does not need the child’s Family Setup path.

Read the parent setup guide
Step 2 · OkayTu

Pair inside OkayTu

  1. Check beta installation eligibility with us first.
  2. Choose Child in OkayTu on the Watch.
  3. Enter the Watch’s six-digit code in the parent’s OkayTu iPhone app.

The current beta connects a child’s Watch to one paired guardian. The app’s pairing code is separate from Apple’s device setup.

Worldwide, not just one country

Family-watch carrier examples.

Start with your country, then confirm the exact plan directly. These examples from Apple’s family-watch directory were checked on . They are not a complete list, OkayTu partners or a guarantee of beta compatibility.

Example carriers listed by Apple for Apple Watch For Your Kids, checked 1 October 2026
CountryExample carriers
AustraliaBetterRoaming, Telstra

Ask about the standalone family-watch plan and any adult-account conditions.

CanadaBell, Rogers, SaskTel, Telus

Confirm family-watch activation and coverage for your exact model.

FranceBetterRoaming

Check country-specific plan terms before purchasing.

GermanyTelekom, BetterRoaming, Vodafone

Ask specifically for Apple Watch For Your Kids support.

IndiaJio

Confirm account eligibility and activation requirements directly.

SingaporeSingtel, StarHub

Check family-watch plans separately from phone number-sharing add-ons.

United KingdomEE, BetterRoaming

Check the watch model, country of purchase and account conditions.

United StatesAT&T, BetterRoaming, Boost Mobile, Cellcom, C Spire, Cricket Wireless, T-Mobile USA, Verizon Wireless, Xfinity Mobile

Check local coverage and the provider’s family-watch eligibility rules.

Check the Apple Watch For Your Kids section, not just the general Watch carrier list. A provider appearing in the ordinary list does not establish family-watch support.

Open Apple’s current worldwide directory

A little expectation-setting

Before their first adventure.

Test together, close to home

Practise the conversation before relying on it. Agree what your child should do if a message cannot get through, and make a simple meeting plan that does not depend on the app.

Check what’s actually ready

OkayTu’s Find, directions, battery alerts and family Help delivery are planned, not available today. The current Help control does not contact a parent or emergency service.

Not sure where your family fits?

Ask about the current beta before buying anything specifically for OkayTu. A Watch model, country and carrier are enough to start. Please leave out your child’s personal details.

Email about eligibilityContact OkayTu

The email link opens your email app. Online form sending is not available yet.

Keep reading

All parent guides A child’s Watch without an iPhone

Sources

Checked 1 October 2026. Apple’s model, software and regional requirements may change; use its current guidance for your exact devices.