How To Set Up Google Family Link Parental Controls

If you have kids that use Android phones and tablets, you probably worry about their usage. Google’s Family Link service is incredibly useful for parents.

If your child already has their own Google Account, you can add supervision and manage their parental controls with Family Link. If your child under 13 (or the applicable age in your country) doesn't have a Google Account yet, you can create one for them and manage it with Family Link. If you add parental supervision to your child's existing Google Account and your child is above the applicable age in your country, you or your child can stop supervision at any time. If your child stops supervision, you'll be notified, and your child's supervised devices will be locked temporarily. You will need to download the Google Family Link app on the parent’s device and the Google Family Link for children & teens app on the child’s device. These are two different apps.

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.

1. From the home screen, press the Settings button.
2. Scroll down and select About Phone or About Tablet.
3. 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

1. Start by downloading the Family Link app onto your own device (Android or iPhone).
2. 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.
3. 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. You can create a new Google account here. You can also use Family Link to create a Google Account for any child under 13.
4. Once complete, children can sign-in to their device with the new account.
5. Once the accounts are linked, use Family Link to set digital ground rules for your family.

How To Block Or Unblock An App

On the Family Link App

1. Open the Family Link app.
2. Select your child.
3. Find the Apps installed card.
4. Tap More.
5. Tap the name of the app you want to allow or block.
6. Turn Allow app on or off.

On Family Link on the Web

1. Go to Family Link on the web.
2. Select your child.
3. Click Android apps.
4. Turn the app on or off.

How To Require Your Approval for New Apps on Google Play

On a Computer

1. On your computer, visit the Google Play My Account page.
2. Click Family Group.
3. Click a family member’s name.
4. Select All content, All paid content, Only in-app purchases, or No approval required.

On an Android

1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Play Store app.
2. Tap Menu.
3. Tap Account.
4. Tap Family.
5. Tap Manage family members.
6. Tap a family member’s name.
7. Tap Purchase approvals.
8. Select All content, Only paid content, Only in-app purchases, or No approval required.

On an iPhone or iPad

1. On your iPhone or iPad, visit the Google Play My Account page.
2. Find the Family Group section.
3. Tap a family member’s name.
4. Select All content, All paid content, Only in-app purchases, or No approval required.

How To 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.

1. Open the Family Link app.
2. Select your child.
3. Find the Settings card.
4. Tap Manage.
5. Tap Controls on Google Play.
6. 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.

How To Choose Permissions for a Certain App

If your child uses multiple devices, repeat these steps to choose their permissions for each device.

1. Open the Family Link app.
2. Select your child.
3. Find the Apps installed card.
4. Tap More.
5. Find the Allowed list.
6. Tap the app you want to change your child’s permissions for.
7. Tap App permissions.
8. Switch the permission on or off.

How To Change a Permiss