Embodiments disclosed herein provide for systems and methods for converting a community device to a personal device. A personalization option is selected on a portable computing device. A device management server is queried to verify that a specific individual has authorization to personalize the portable computing device. If authorization is confirmed, the portable computing device is configured so that only credentials for the specific individual can be used to access the portable computing device. Authorization may include verifying that the specific individual has sufficient funding and/or verifying that a third party has provided funding for the specific individual. Restricted content is automatically downloaded onto the portable computing device as part of or following the personalization process. A first set of basic applications may be available to any user prior to personalization, and after personalization a second set of applications, which are only available on a personalized device, are downloaded.