Solution: Fix for iPad Showing Parent’s Name/Memoji Instead of Child’s (Apple ID Mix-up)

TL;DR: If your child’s iPad shows the parent’s name, Memoji, or monogram even though it’s signed in with the child’s Apple ID, the fix is usually simple: create a contact card for the child on the iPad, then delete the parent’s contact card from the child’s iPad. This forces the child’s card to become “My Card” and immediately corrects the identity mix-up. If that doesn’t fix it, erase the iPad, set it up again as a child without using Quick Start, restore from the child’s iCloud backup, and (if needed) delete the parent’s card again.

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I’m posting this because I finally found the fix for a widespread and confusing issue with child Apple IDs, and I want to help other parents who run into the same problem.

Fix for Child’s iPad Showing Parent’s Name or Memoji Even With Correct Child Apple ID

After a long and very confusing process, I found a reliable solution to an issue affecting many families using child Apple IDs:

A child’s iPad may show the parent’s name, the parent’s Memoji, or the parent’s monogram in Settings and Contacts, even though the device is signed in with the child’s own Apple ID. Sometimes even a full erase and restore does not fix it.

This can cause:

- The child’s Memoji to overwrite the parent’s

- The wrong name or monogram in Settings

- The wrong avatar in Family Sharing

- “My Card” stuck on the parent’s identity

- The device repeatedly reverting to the parent’s identity after setup

The underlying cause is not documented by Apple but turns out to be simple:

If the parent’s contact card exists on the child’s iPad, the system may treat the parent as the “owner identity,” even if the child is correctly signed in with their own Apple ID. This overrides multiple identity layers including Memoji, monogram, Family Sharing avatar, and the “My Card” assignment.

THE FIX (usually no erase needed)

1. On the child’s iPad, open Contacts and make sure the child has their own contact card with their Apple ID email.

2. Then delete the parent’s contact card from the child’s iPad completely.

As soon as the parent’s card is removed, the child’s card becomes “My Card” automatically. The correct name, photo, Memoji, and identity information appear instantly in Settings and Contacts.

This resolved:

- My Card

- Memoji

- Monogram

- Family Sharing avatar

- Apple ID display in Settings

- Messages identity

IF THIS DOES NOT FIX IT

In some cases the iPad still holds the parent identity from an earlier setup. If so:

1. Erase the iPad.

2. Set it up again as a child, but do not use Quick Start or bring the parent’s iPhone near it. Enter the parent Apple ID manually when asked for approval.

3. Restore from the child’s iCloud backup.

4. If needed, delete the parent’s contact card again.

This resets all identity layers properly.

Posting this so others can find it, because the issue is confusing, persistent, and not well documented anywhere I’ve seen.