Learn how to set up parental controls on your child’s Android device with step-by-step guidance. Use Google Family Link to manage screen time, restrict content, block apps, and keep your child safe online.
Find Your Device’s Version of Android
To ensure that you’re following the right set of directions, you’ll first want to check the version of Android your device is running. If it’s not current, you may have the option to update. It’s best to update whenever possible to ensure you have access to all the latest features.
- From the home screen, press the Settings button.
- Scroll down and select About Phone or About Tablet.
- Scroll down to Android Version. The number under this heading is the version of Android running on your device (i.e. 8.0).
How to Set Up Family Link on a Smartphone
- Start by downloading the Family Link app onto your own device (Android).
- If your child already has an account, Family Link will walk you through linking you and your child’s account. As part of that process, your child may also need to download the Family Link Child/Teen app on their phone to complete the process of linking the accounts.
- If your child does not already have a Google account (or Gmail), you can also create a Google Account for your child so that you can use Family Link. Visit accounts.google.com/signup to create a new account. You can also use Family Link to create a Google Account for any child under 13.
- Once complete, children can sign-in to their device with the new account.
- Once the accounts are linked, use Family Link to set digital ground rules for your family.
Block Or Unblock An App
On the Family Link App
- Open the Family Link app.Select your child.
- Find the Apps installed card.
- Tap More.
- Tap the name of the app you want to allow or block.
- Turn Allow app on or off
On Family Link on the Web
- Go to Family Link website
- Select your child.
- Click Android apps.
- Turn the app on or off.
Require Your Approval for New Apps on Google Play
On your device-Android
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Play Store app.
- Tap Menu.
- Tap Account.
- Tap Family.
- Tap Manage family members.
- Tap a family member’s name.
- Tap Purchase approvals.
- Select All content.
On the Family Link App
- Open the Family Link App.
- Tap manage Settings.
- Tap Controls on Google Play.
- Tap Require Approval for.
- Select All content.
Prevent Your Child From Downloading Mature Apps
You can set up parental controls to restrict the content your child can download or purchase from Google Play.
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Find the Settings card.
- Tap Manage.
- Tap Controls on Google Play.
- Under Content restrictions, choose your filters:
- Apps, Games, Movies, and TV: Choose the highest maturity level of content you want to allow for download or purchase.
- Music and Books: Choose whether you want to restrict downloads or purchases of explicit content.
Note: You can also manage this setting by clicking on your child’s name at families.google.com.
Choose Permissions for a Certain App
If your child uses multiple devices, repeat these steps to choose their permissions for each device.
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Find the Apps installed card.
- Tap More.
- Find the Allowed list.
- Tap the app you want to change your child’s permissions for.
- Tap App permissions.
- Switch the permission on or off.
Change a Permission Across Multiple Apps
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Find the Device card.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap App permissions.
- Tap a permission.
- Below your child’s device, switch the permission on or off.
Note: Some important functions to remember in the device details menu section is to make sure the option of add/remove user is turned off, that Apps from unknown sources is turned off, and developer options are turned off. Make sure device location is turned on. You can also manage this setting by clicking on your child’s name at families.google.com.
Prevent Your Child From Changing Their Own App Permissions
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Find the Device card.
- Tap View settings.
- Tap App permissions.
- Tap a permission.
- Select Only parents or Your child and parents.
If you select “Only parents,” your child won’t be able to give that permission for any new or existing app. However, it doesn’t change permissions that have already been granted.
Note: You can also manage this setting by clicking on your child’s name at families.google.com.
Restrict Mature or Inappropriate Content
You can restrict your child’s access to sexually explicit or violent web sites and sexually explicit search results from Google Search
- Open the Family Link App
- Tap Manage Settings
- Tap Filters on Google Chrome
- Select Try to Block Mature Sites
- Go back to the Parent Settings Menu
- Tap Filters on Google Search
- Select Safesearch
Note: This feature will only work on the Google Chrome browser that came already installed on the device from the Factory. If you allow your child to download or install other browsers, such as Firefox and many others, they will still be able to access inappropriate content.
See Your Child’s App Activity
You can see how much time your child spent using apps on their Android devices or Chromebooks. Time is tracked when the app is open and shown on the screen, but not when the app is working in the background.
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Find the App activity card.
- Tap Set up.
- After you turn on App Activity, you’ll see your child’s app activity in a few hours.
Manage Your Child’s Screen Time
When you set a limit for your child’s screen time on their Android device or Chromebook, they’ll get a notification when:
- Screen time is set for the first time (Android devices only)
- Their device is about to be locked
When the device is locked, your child:
- Can’t see notifications
- Can’t unlock the device or use any apps
- Can answer phone calls, and tap Emergency to make a call if the device has a calling plan (Android phones only)
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Find the Daily limit card.
- Tap Set up or Edit limits.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to set daily limits.
Note: Daily limits apply to each Android device or Chromebook your child uses. For example, if you set a daily limit of 2 hours, your child would get 2 hours of time on each device. You can also stop the internet on your child’s device at any time.
Set Time Limits for Individual Apps
If your child’s Android device is running Android Nougat or newer, you can set time limits on apps to manage how much time your child can spend on a specific app each day.
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- On the “Today’s activity” card, tap Set limits.
- Next to your desired app, tap Set limit.
- Set a daily time limit for the app.
- Tap Set.
Tip:
- Time limits will apply to apps installed on all of your child’s devices.
- System apps aren’t supported by the app limit functionality. Limits can only be set for Android N+ devices.
Set a Bedtime on Your Child’s Phone
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Find the Bedtime card.
- Tap Edit schedule.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to set a bedtime.
Lock or Unlock Your Child’s Device
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- On the card for one of your child’s Android devices, tap Lock now or Unlock.
Note: You can also use a parent access code to unlock your child’s Android device if it isn’t connected to the Internet.
Locate Your Child’s Android Device
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Find the Location card.
- Tap Set Up.
- Turn on the settings required to see your child’s location.
- Tap Turn on. (Note: It might take up to 30 minutes to see your child’s device location.)
Change Your Child’s Location Settings
- Open the Family Link app.
- Select your child.
- Tap Manage Settings.
- Tap Location.
- Turn See your child’s location on or off.
Instructions provided by Lt. Wade Williams with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office INTERCEPT Task Force and Victim Services Bureau.