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 ...