WhatsApp Parent-Managed Accounts: Setup, Parental Controls and Fixes

Does this match what you see?

• Your child can’t see Status, Channels, Meta AI or location sharing.
• A friend or relative can’t message or call your child.
• Your child can’t use WhatsApp after the account was unlinked.
• Your child’s account was deactivated after a problem with your own account.
• Your child’s account was disabled after they entered their age.

iPhone & iPadAndroid

Based on WhatsApp Help Center “About parent-managed accounts” (web, Android, iPhone), “How to set up a parent-managed account” (Android, iPhone), “About parental controls for parent-managed accounts” (Android, iPhone), “About parent PINs” (Android, iPhone), “How to review and receive activity alerts” (Android, iPhone) and “How to re-link to an unlinked account” (Android, iPhone), supplied by the site owner, 2026-10-30. WhatsApp says the feature is rolling out gradually.

Why this happens: the possible causes

Why something might not work on a parent-managed account, according to WhatsApp.

• Built-in limitsCheck this first

  WhatsApp says these accounts focus on messaging and calling, so some features aren’t available.

• Not linked to an active parent accountPossible

  WhatsApp says the account must be linked to a parent or guardian’s account to work.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

Features parent-managed accounts can’t use

WhatsApp says these accounts focus on messaging and calling, so they can’t use:

• Meta AI, Channels and Status.
• Chat Lock and App Lock.
• Linked devices (no WhatsApp Web or computer).
• Location sharing.
• View once messages, and disappearing messages in one-to-one chats.

WhatsApp also says ads aren’t shown to parent-managed accounts. Our note: these are built-in limits, not a fault, so there’s nothing to fix.

Who can message, call or add your child to groups

• WhatsApp says by default only saved contacts can message and call your child, and only parents can add them to groups.
• Messages and group invites from unknown contacts go to a requests folder for the parent to approve.
• WhatsApp says groups can include people your child doesn’t know. If you let your child join a group with unknown contacts, they’ll be able to see those members’ group messages.
• Personal messages are end-to-end encrypted: WhatsApp says no one, not even WhatsApp, can read them.

Approve message requests and group invites

WhatsApp says if your child wants to message someone new, they must add them as a contact first, which alerts you. Your child can’t create groups. You review requests and invites on your child’s phone with your parent PIN:

• Message requests: Settings > Parental controls, enter your PIN, open the Requests folder, tap the chat, then Approve (adds the person to your child’s contacts and lets them chat with your child) or Decline.
• Group or community invites: open WhatsApp on your child’s phone, go to the Requests folder, tap the invite, enter your PIN, then Join group or Join community. WhatsApp says this applies even when the invite is from a saved contact.
• Block or report: WhatsApp says your child can block or report a contact, group or community, and report a message, image or contact. In the chat, tap the menu (iPhone: the contact’s name) > Block > Block, or the menu > Report (you can also block the sender or leave the group and delete the chat), then Report. WhatsApp says reporting sends the last 5 messages sent to your child to WhatsApp, and you get an activity alert when your child blocks, unblocks or reports. See also block and report on WhatsApp.

Privacy settings

• WhatsApp says by default only saved contacts can see your child’s profile photo, About and when they’re online, and only parents can change these settings, which start with age-appropriate defaults.
• To change a setting: on your child’s phone, open WhatsApp > Settings > Privacy, enter your parent PIN, tap the setting, then choose who it applies to: Everyone, your child’s contacts, contacts except…, selected contacts, or Nobody.

See your child’s activity and choose alerts

WhatsApp says parents can see updates about their child’s activity, like adding a contact or a group growing in size, and get notifications about important activity, like a message request from an unknown contact. WhatsApp says personal messages are end-to-end encrypted, so not even the parent or WhatsApp can read them.

• View activity: on your phone, open WhatsApp > Settings > Parental controls and select your child’s account. WhatsApp says you can also view it on your child’s phone in Settings > Parental controls by entering your parent PIN.
• Choose alerts: Settings > Parental controls > your child’s account > More options > Manage notifications, then turn each type on or off.

WhatsApp’s alert types:

• Critical alerts (always on): a contact is added, blocked or reported.
• Chats and contacts: a new chat request, or a chat or contact is deleted.
• Groups: a group chat is created, joined or left.
• Disappearing messages: turned on in a group chat.
• Account updates: your child’s name or profile picture changes.

Account unlinked or deactivated

WhatsApp says a parent-managed account must be linked to a parent or guardian’s account to work, and your child can’t use it until it’s linked again.

• Parent account banned or deactivated? WhatsApp says every linked parent-managed account is deactivated until it’s linked to an active parent account.
• Handing over to another parent: WhatsApp says a parent may unlink so another parent can manage the account. To unlink from your phone: Settings > Parental controls > your child’s account > More options > Unlink account. Our note: only unlink when the other parent is ready to re-link. Your child can’t use the account until then, and WhatsApp says it’s deleted if it isn’t re-linked within 30 days.

Re-link your child’s account

1. Open WhatsApp on your child’s phone and tap Continue.
2. Scan the QR code with your phone’s camera and tap the link (or send an invite link).
3. Tap Agree and continue, verify you’re an adult, create and confirm a 6-digit parent PIN, then tap Next.
4. Tap Done, then finish setup on your child’s phone.

Don’t see parent-managed accounts or parental controls yet?

WhatsApp says parent-managed accounts and parental controls for teens are rolling out gradually and may not be available in your region. In the meantime, it recommends keeping WhatsApp updated through the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, and following its blog (external site, opens in a new tab), social media and Help Center (external site, opens in a new tab) to find out when these features reach you.

Teens: WhatsApp says parental controls for teens are optional: they let parents manage a teen’s privacy settings and how they can use some features, aren’t required for teens to use WhatsApp, and need the parent to link their WhatsApp account to the teen’s.

Your child’s account was disabled after entering their age

WhatsApp says that as a parent or guardian, you can set up a parent-managed account for your child where the feature is available. It also says WhatsApp Support can’t confirm your child’s age or make an exception to the age requirement.

Delete a parent-managed account

WhatsApp says a parent or guardian can delete their child’s parent-managed account:

1. Open WhatsApp on your child’s phone and tap Account > Delete account.
2. Tap Continue, choose a reason, then tap Continue again.
3. Enter your child’s phone number in full international format, then tap Delete account > Delete account.

WhatsApp also says accounts are generally deleted after 120 days without connecting to WhatsApp. Our note: back up anything you want to keep first, and for an account that isn’t parent-managed, see delete a WhatsApp account.

When your child turns 13

WhatsApp says parents get a notification as their child reaches 13 (or a higher age where local rules require it) to move out of a parent-managed account. After that, WhatsApp says:

• Features including Channels, Status and Meta AI become available.
• Privacy settings are set to safe WhatsApp defaults, and your child can manage them on their own.
• Parental controls, including activity alerts, are no longer available on your phone.

WhatsApp encourages open, ongoing conversations with teens about staying safe, and points to its Teen Information Center (external site, opens in a new tab). Our note: going through WhatsApp privacy settings together is a good start.

How to know it worked

• Our check: your child can message and call the people you’ve approved, and their account shows under Parental controls on your phone.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Code not arriving when you register your child’s number? See WhatsApp verification code not received.
2. Need to update WhatsApp? See how to update WhatsApp.

Frequently asked questions