How to turn an old iPhone or iPad into a kids’ audio player

Most families have an old phone or tablet in a drawer. With a few settings it can become a dedicated audio player for a toddler: big buttons, only the songs you picked, and, once the device’s own lock is on, no easy way to wander off into videos, games or the browser. TotPlayer cannot lock the device itself; that part is a built-in phone setting. This guide walks through the whole setup.

Why an old device works well

• No extra hardware to buy. A device that is too slow for daily use is usually more than fast enough to play audio.
• It already has a speaker, a headphone option and a battery that lasts through a nap or a car ride.
• You stay in control of what is on it, instead of relying on an endless feed.

Step 1: Reset and tidy the device

1. Back up anything you want to keep, then consider erasing the device so old apps, photos and accounts are gone.
2. Install the latest system update it supports.
3. Remove or hide apps you don’t want a child to see, and turn off notifications so nothing pops up mid-song.
4. Set a passcode that only adults know.

Step 2: Turn on Screen Time limits (iPhone and iPad)

In Settings > Screen Time you can switch on Content & Privacy Restrictions to block app installs, in-app purchases and explicit content. Set a separate Screen Time passcode so the settings can’t be changed by curious fingers.

Step 3: Pick one simple player app

The key is a single app that shows only the music you chose, with large tiles a toddler can recognise without reading. Avoid apps with autoplay recommendations or video thumbnails, since those pull attention away from listening.

TotPlayer was built for exactly this: you choose the songs, add it to the Home Screen from the browser, and your child sees a calm shelf of picture tiles. Songs can be saved for offline listening, so it keeps working in the car or on a plane.

To install it, open Safari on the device, go to totplayer.com and create your parent account. New accounts start with a 7-day free trial of the full library, no card required, so you can test everything on this exact device before paying anything. Then tap the Share button (the square with an arrow) and choose “Add to Home Screen”. The player now opens full screen like a native app. Any iPhone or iPad that still runs a reasonably recent iOS or iPadOS with an up-to-date Safari is fine; TotPlayer is a web app, so there is nothing to download from the App Store.

Once you are signed in, open the parent section and add songs to your child’s shelf. The shelf lives on this device, so what you pick here is exactly what your child sees, and nothing else.

Step 4: Save the songs for offline listening

A dedicated player should keep working in the car, on a plane or anywhere without wifi. Adding a song to the shelf is not quite the same as saving its audio, so check this once before you hand the device over.

• By default, TotPlayer automatically saves the songs on the current shelf while the device is connected, so they are ready offline.
• Open Offline listening in the parent section and check that the shelf says “Ready offline”. A download still needs to finish before a song counts as saved.
• For a larger selection, use “Save all My songs”, or save missing shelf songs manually if you have turned automatic saving off.
• If the browser can tell the device is on a mobile connection, an “Avoid mobile data” option appears so saving waits for wifi.
• Songs and files you add yourself from the device are already available offline and need no download.

Tip: Do a test run before the first trip: turn on airplane mode, open the player from the Home Screen and play a few songs. If they play, the device is ready.

Step 5: Lock the device to that one app

This is the step that turns a phone into a kids’ player. The built-in Guided Access feature keeps the screen in a single app until an adult unlocks it.

1. Open Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access, switch it on and set a passcode that only adults know.
2. Open your player app, triple-click the side button (or the Home button on older models) and tap Start.
3. To finish, triple-click again and enter your code.

Tip: In Guided Access you can also disable the volume buttons or parts of the screen, and set a time limit so listening ends on its own.

Step 6: Make it comfortable to use

• Set a sensible maximum volume. On iPhone, Settings > Sounds & Haptics > Headphone Safety can reduce loud audio.
• Turn on auto-brightness or lower the brightness, especially for bedtime.
• A sturdy case and a short charging cable make the device easier for small hands.
• Keep a few calm songs for bedtime and livelier ones for play, so the device fits the moment.

A quick checklist

• Device reset and updated
• Notifications off, adult passcode set
• One simple player app with your chosen songs
• Songs saved for offline listening, tested in airplane mode
• Guided Access switched on
• Volume and brightness set for little ears and eyes

That’s it. The old device in the drawer is now a player your child can use on their own, while you decide everything that’s on it.