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Updated November 3, 2026

The BitLife orphanage

How the BitLife orphanage works: how kids end up there, the Love bar, how to adopt a child, adoption costs, and how to abandon or reconnect with a child.

Lifesim, Inc.

What is the orphanage in BitLife?

The BitLife orphanage is where a child goes when no adult guardian is alive to raise them. The child stays there until age 18. You cannot pick the orphanage from a menu. The game sends you there.

Candywriter added the orphanage in version 1.31, the Challenges Update. Level Winner wrote about it on March 1, 2020. It says that older versions “essentially left orphaned children to their own devices” when the parents died.

Many players search for the orphanage to adopt a child. That is a different feature. The adoption agency is a menu for adults, and it lists children who need a home. This guide covers both sides.

We opened every source on November 3, 2026. The guides date from 2018 to 2026. The App Store page shows BitLife version 3.26 today. BitLife changes with each update, so check the options in your own game.

New to the game? Read what BitLife is and how it plays first.

How do you go to the orphanage in BitLife?

Your character goes to the orphanage when all adult guardians are dead before age 18. Level Winner says that you “will automatically be placed” in an orphanage until the age of 18.

Death in BitLife is mostly random. So you cannot plan an orphan life with one button. You age up and wait for events.

Can you start BitLife as an orphan?

We found no guide that shows a “start as an orphan” option in the new life screen. One App Store review from February 2020 talks about a life that starts as an orphan. That review is a player wish list, not a guide. Treat it as a hint only.

Can the next generation go to the orphanage?

Yes. Level Winner gives an example for paid players. The parent kills the partner and then surrenders to the police. The child, who is the next character, then has no guardian. The game places that child in the orphanage.

How to become an orphan in BitLife

  • Start a new life and play the childhood years.
  • Age up one year at a time.
  • Watch for an event that kills both parents or all guardians.
  • If no such event comes, start a new life and try again.

There is no sure method. If you try to cause the death of a parent, expect a crime and a prison sentence. Our prison escape guide covers what comes after.

What happens in the BitLife orphanage?

Life in the orphanage is mostly normal school life. The big change is the Love bar. It shows how well the staff treat you.

Level Winner says that orphans can still go to school, make friends, join activities, and deal with bullies. The game also adds events that only orphans get.

What does the Love bar do?

Love bar colorWhat it means
RedLevel Winner says that “red means you’re practically unloved”
OrangeA middle level between red and green
GreenLife in the orphanage goes well

The Love bar affects Happiness. Level Winner says that the effect is not large. Strong friendships at school can make up for a low bar.

What orphanage events can you get?

  • A choice of food for your birthday.
  • A choice about what to do when you are hungry at a meal.
  • A fellow orphan who wants to run away and asks for your advice.

Level Winner says that it saw no orphanage event with a serious effect on adult life. So the orphan years do not ruin the rest of the life.

Can you run away from the orphanage?

We found no guide that shows a run away option for your own character. The only run away event that we found is the event about another orphan. You give advice. You do not leave.

Can you get adopted from the orphanage?

No guide that we opened shows how to get adopted as an orphan. Fan answer pages disagree. Some say that a random family can adopt you. Others say that it does not happen. Plan to stay until age 18.

How do you adopt a child in BitLife?

Open Activities and tap Adoption. Pick a child from the list. Pay the fee. You must be 18 or older and own a home.

Xbox Play (2020) says that the list shows 5 to 6 children. Each child has a different behavior rating. Tap a child to see the price and the place of birth.

Steps to adopt a child

  • Turn 18. Xbox Play says that the Adoption option appears at the legal age.
  • Buy a house in Assets. Xbox Play says that you can use a mortgage.
  • Save money for the fee.
  • Open Activities, then Adoption.
  • Read the age, behavior, and place of birth of each child.
  • Tap the child, then tap Adopt.

How much does it cost to adopt in BitLife?

The price changes from child to child. The guides do not give one fixed number. They also disagree about the minimum money.

RequirementWhat the guides saySource
Age18 or olderXbox Play (2020)
HomeYou must own a home. Level Winner says no trailers or very small houses.Xbox Play (2020), Level Winner (2020, 2021)
MoneyAt least $20,000Xbox Play (2020)
Fee“Most of the time,” $35,000. Often less for a foreign-born orphan.Level Winner (2021)
Fee changesThe price depends on the age of the childXbox Play (2020)
MarriageRecommended, not requiredLevel Winner (2020)

These numbers come from guides that are five or more years old. Check the price on the screen before you tap Adopt.

Can you adopt a child with a criminal record?

Usually not. The Nerd Stash calls it “incredibly difficult.” Pocket Gamer says that after a prison escape, you “won’t be able to work in certain jobs or adopt a child.”

The exception is the Change of Heart challenge. One of its tasks is to adopt a child after a prison escape. The Nerd Stash shows the steps.

How do you adopt a foreign child?

Look at the place of birth of each child in the list. If you see no foreign child, wait one year. Level Winner also says that you can quit and restart the game to get a new list.

Does adoption make your character happy?

Yes. Level Winner adopted several children before it tapped Age. Happiness went to 100 percent.

Can you put your child up for adoption in BitLife?

The guides that we opened show no option to give a child to the orphanage. They show an Abandon option. Abandon cuts the tie between you and the child.

How to abandon a child in BitLife

  • Open the Relationships tab.
  • Scroll down to the Children section.
  • Tap the child.
  • Tap Abandon.

Destructoid (May 2026) gives these steps for the Manic Mother challenge. Level Winner (2019) says that after you abandon a child, “your relationship with the kid will go down to zero.”

We found no guide that says an abandoned child goes to the orphanage. The child stays in your Children list.

Can you get your child back?

Yes, sometimes. Use the Reconnect option. Of Zen and Computing says to wait “around two years” after you abandon the child.

  • Open the profile of the child in Relationships.
  • Tap Reconnect.
  • If the child says no, try again later. Give gifts to raise the relationship.

A child who hates you will probably refuse. Level Winner (2019) also says that a child might refuse you. For how BitLife judges good and bad deeds, read our BitLife karma guide.

What happens to your kids when you die or go to prison in BitLife?

When you die, you can continue the game as one of your children. Gamezebo says that you need “at least one child” who is eligible.

An adopted child counts. Gamezebo says: “It doesn’t matter if the child is biologically yours or if you adopt.” You continue at the age that the child has on the day of your death.

Does the child go to the orphanage after your death?

Only if no adult guardian is left. Level Winner says that the orphanage rule applies when all adult guardians are dead before age 18. If the other parent is alive, the child stays with that parent.

What happens to your kids when you go to prison?

We found no guide that explains this case in full. Level Winner gives one example. The parent kills the partner and surrenders, and the child goes to the orphanage. In that example, no guardian was free to raise the child.

Tips to protect your family line

  • Have or adopt more than one child. Gamezebo says that a child can die or go to prison.
  • Change your will to leave the money to one child. Gamezebo says that this can upset the family.
  • Keep your record clean if you plan to adopt.

To change events after your death, some players use the God Mode add-on. Read our BitLife God Mode guide for what it edits.

Which BitLife challenges and ribbons involve orphans or adoption?

Several challenges ask you to adopt or abandon children. No guide that we opened lists a ribbon only for orphans.

Challenge or ribbonTask that involves childrenSource
Brangelina challengeAdopt at least three foreign childrenLevel Winner (2020)
Pride challengeAdopt four childrenLevel Winner (2021)
Change of Heart challengeAdopt a child after a prison escapeThe Nerd Stash (2024)
Manic Mother challengeInsult and abandon each of your childrenDestructoid (2026)
Fertile ribbonHave four kids before your character diesLevel Winner (2018)
Unlucky ribbonDie young because of bad luck. Not tied to orphans.Level Winner (2018)

Level Winner does not say whether adopted children count for the Fertile ribbon. Use your own children to be safe.

For the full list of tasks, read our guide to BitLife challenges and our list of BitLife ribbons. Planning a marriage before you adopt? Read how a prenup works in BitLife.

Is there a life sim where family ties feel more real?

Yes, in a different way. LifeSim, the game we make, has no menu of relationship bars. You talk to people in your own words.

In LifeSim, you live one life in a real city on a 3D map of Earth. The people talk back in their own words. They remember what you said the next time that you meet. LifeSim is free, with no ads, in the browser and on iPhone.

LifeSim is not a good fit if you want an adoption menu, a Love bar, or a weekly challenge. It has no such systems. Stay with BitLife for that. For a side by side view, read LifeSim as a BitLife alternative or our list of games like BitLife.

Questions

At what age do you leave the BitLife orphanage?

At 18. Level Winner says that the game keeps you in the orphanage until that age.

Do orphans go to school in BitLife?

Yes. Level Winner says that orphans go to regular school and can make friends.

Can you adopt a child in BitLife without a house?

No. Xbox Play and Level Winner say that you must own a home first.

Can you adopt a baby in BitLife?

The list shows children of different ages. The Nerd Stash talks about saving money to adopt a baby. Check the ages in your own list.

Can you adopt in BitLife after prison?

Usually not. Pocket Gamer says that a prison escape blocks adoption. The Change of Heart challenge is the exception.

Is the orphanage a paid feature?

No guide that we opened says so. The App Store lists paid packs such as God Mode and Bitizenship. None of them names the orphanage.

Does an abandoned child go to the orphanage?

We found no guide that says so. The guides only say that the relationship drops to zero.

What we could not verify

  • Whether a new life can start in the orphanage. Only one player review from 2020 mentions it.
  • Whether an orphan can get adopted by a new family. Fan answer pages disagree, and no guide shows it.
  • Whether you can run away from the orphanage. We found only an event about another orphan.
  • What happens to your children in every prison case. We found one example only.
  • The current adoption fee. The $20,000 and $35,000 figures come from guides of 2020 and 2021.
  • A foster care system in BitLife. No source that we opened mentions one.
  • An option to give your own child to the orphanage. The guides show only Abandon.
  • The BitLife fan wiki pages on adoption and relationships. They did not load for us today, so we do not quote them.

More BitLife guides

Sources

New to life sims? Read what a life simulator is, or play LifeSim, a free online life simulator on a real map of Earth.

Sims 4 database

Look it up in the Sims 4 database, read from the game files: cheats, traits, careers, moodlets, deaths, packs, challenges, recipes, popular mods, pack finder, and the death odds calculator.

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