Thu · 23 Apr 2026
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Setup guide · Android
Medium15 min setup

Google Family Link — Complete Android Parental Controls Guide

How to set up Google Family Link on Android devices and Chromebooks — app approval, content filters, SafeSearch, location tracking, daily screen time limits, and what changes when your child turns 13.

What Google Family Link is — and what it isn't

Google Family Link is Google's parental control system for Android phones, tablets, and Chromebooks. It also applies to your child's Google account, which means it affects what they can do on the web when signed in — even on a laptop.

What Family Link controls:

  • Which apps can be installed on their Android device
  • What content can be downloaded from the Play Store (by age rating)
  • Google Search results (SafeSearch)
  • Chrome browsing (website filters)
  • Location of their device on a map
  • Daily screen time limits
  • Bedtime device lockouts

What Family Link does NOT control:

  • Apps downloaded from outside the Play Store (sideloaded apps)
  • What happens on Wi-Fi networks at school or friends' houses if they sign into a different account
  • iPhones (Family Link is Android/Google only — Apple devices use Screen Time)
  • What friends send them in messages

Important age note: For children under 13, Family Link is required to create a Google account. For teens 13-17, Family Link is optional — your child can accept or decline to be supervised. At 13, they can also remove supervision themselves at any time by going into their account settings. This is different from Apple Screen Time, which remains parent-controlled until you remove it.

What you need before starting

  1. Your own Google account (Gmail) on your phone — this becomes the parent/manager account
  2. The Google Family Link app on your phone — download it free from the Play Store or App Store (yes, it works on iPhones as parents)
  3. A Google account for your child, or the ability to create one
  4. Their Android device in hand for part of the setup

Step 1 — Create your child's Google account (if they don't have one)

If your child doesn't have a Google account yet, create one through Family Link so it's properly supervised from the start.

  1. Open the Family Link app on your phone
  2. Tap the + icon in the top right
  3. Tap Create account for a child
  4. Enter their first and last name → tap Next
  5. Enter their birthday → tap Next. Use their real birthday — Family Link uses age to apply appropriate defaults.
  6. Choose a Gmail address for them (you can make this up — they don't need to use it for email)
  7. Create a password
  8. Review and agree to Google's terms
  9. You'll need to verify your identity as a parent — Google typically asks for a credit card (it doesn't charge you) or your Google account password

The account is now created and supervised. Skip to Step 3.

Step 2 — Link an existing account (if they already have a Google account)

If your child already has a Google account:

  1. Open Family Link → tap + → Add child
  2. Enter their Google account email address
  3. Tap Next — your child will receive a notification on their device asking them to accept the supervision invitation
  4. They tap Accept on their device
  5. You confirm on your phone

If they're under 13: They can't decline — the supervision is required for their account to function. If they're 13 or older: They can decline. If that happens, have a direct conversation. You can't force supervision on a 13+ account without their agreement.

Step 3 — Sign their Android device into the supervised account

  1. On their Android device, go to Settings
  2. Tap Accounts (may also appear as "Users & Accounts" depending on the phone brand)
  3. Tap Add Account → Google
  4. Sign in with their supervised Google account
  5. Family Link will prompt you to confirm setup — you may need to enter your own Google credentials on their device as a parent approval step

Once complete, you'll see their device appear in your Family Link app under their name.

Setting 1: App controls — approve every new app

This is the most important setting for keeping unknown apps off your child's phone.

How app approval works: When your child tries to download any app from the Play Store, instead of downloading immediately, they'll see a message saying "Ask a parent." You receive a notification on your phone. You tap to review the app (name, description, age rating, permissions it requests) and approve or decline. If you decline, it doesn't install.

To check your approval settings:

  1. Open Family Link → tap your child's name
  2. Tap Controls → Apps
  3. Under "App controls" you'll see your current setting
  4. Require approval for all apps is recommended — this means even free apps need your OK

Blocking apps already on the phone:

  1. Family Link → child → Controls → Apps
  2. Scroll through the installed apps list
  3. Tap any app → tap the toggle to turn it off (it goes gray)
  4. The app will no longer open on their device until you re-enable it

Why this matters: Without app approval, your child can download anything in the Play Store — including apps specifically designed to hide their activity, encrypted messaging apps with no moderation, and games with violent or sexual content.

Setting 2: Play Store content filters

Even with app approval on, set content rating filters as a second layer of protection.

  1. Family Link → child → Controls → Filters on Google Play
  2. Tap Apps & games:
    • For under 10: Rated for everyone under 10 or Everyone
    • For ages 10-12: Everyone 10+
    • For ages 13-15: Teen
    • Ages 16+: Mature 17+ with app approval still on
  3. Tap Movies:
    • Set the maximum movie rating they can rent or buy
  4. Tap TV:
    • Set the maximum TV rating for content they can stream through Google TV

Save after each section — tap the checkmark or Save button.

Setting 3: Google Search — SafeSearch

SafeSearch filters explicit content from Google Search results. It's not perfect — determined kids can find workarounds — but it blocks the vast majority of explicit imagery and content from appearing in search results.

  1. Family Link → child → Controls → Google Search
  2. Toggle SafeSearch to ON (it turns blue)
  3. Tap Save

When SafeSearch is managed by Family Link, your child cannot turn it off themselves. It stays on regardless of what they try to change in their browser settings.

Setting 4: Chrome browsing — website filter

This controls what websites your child can visit in the Chrome browser.

  1. Family Link → child → Controls → Manage settings
  2. Tap Google Chrome
  3. Choose your filter level:

Allow all sites: No filtering. Not recommended for under-16.

Try to block mature sites: Google's automatic filter. Blocks most explicit content but isn't perfect. Good baseline for teens 13+.

Only allow certain sites: Whitelist mode. Your child can ONLY visit websites you manually approve. Everything else is blocked. Recommended for under-10 or as a consequence/reset tool.

To add specific blocked websites (sites you want blocked even with the automatic filter):

  1. Under the filter setting, scroll down to "Blocked sites"
  2. Tap Add a website
  3. Type the URL (e.g., reddit.com) and save

To add approved websites (for whitelist mode):

  1. Scroll down to "Approved sites"
  2. Tap Add a website
  3. Type the URL and save

Setting 5: Daily screen time limits

  1. Family Link → child → Controls → Daily activity
  2. Tap Set limits
  3. For each day of the week, set the maximum daily screen time:
    • Tap a day → drag the slider or type a number
    • Suggested starting points: 1-2 hours on school days, 2-3 hours on weekends
  4. Tap Save after setting each day

What happens when they hit the limit: Their device locks and shows a message that their screen time for the day is used up. They can send you a request for more time — you'll get a notification on your phone and can approve additional time from anywhere.

Bonus time requests: When they request more time, you can approve:

  • 15 minutes
  • 30 minutes
  • 1 hour
  • Until tomorrow

Use this as a negotiation tool, not a daily automatic approval. The point is friction and awareness.

Setting 6: Bedtime — device locks at night

  1. Family Link → child → Controls → Bedtime
  2. Toggle Set bedtime to ON
  3. Set the time the device locks each night
  4. Set the time it unlocks in the morning
  5. You can set different times for school nights vs. weekends by tapping Customize

When bedtime is active, the device locks completely (except for calls to parent contacts, depending on your settings).

Recommended bedtimes:

  • Under 12: 8:30 PM lock, 7:00 AM unlock
  • Ages 13-15: 9:30 PM lock, 7:00 AM unlock
  • Ages 16+: 10:00 PM lock, 7:00 AM unlock

Setting 7: Location

Family Link shows the current location of your child's device on a map.

  1. Family Link → your child's name → Location tab (the map icon)
  2. Toggle See your child's location to ON
  3. Their device appears as a dot on a map in near real-time
  4. Tap Set home location to set your home address — you can get notifications when they arrive home or leave

Important caveats:

  • This shows the device's location, not necessarily where your child is. If they leave their phone at home, the map shows your house.
  • Location requires an internet connection. If their phone is off or has no signal, location won't update.
  • Your child can see that you're viewing their location — there's a small indicator on their phone.

What changes at 13

When your child turns 13, Google sends both of you a notification explaining that their account is transitioning. At 13:

  • Your child can choose to remove Family Link supervision from their account independently
  • Some content restrictions may relax automatically
  • Google Play Protect and other safety features remain on regardless

What to do before they turn 13: Have a conversation about what will change. Agree on which habits and limits you want to maintain by choice rather than by force. A teen who understands why limits exist is more likely to self-regulate than one who's been restricted without explanation.

Monthly maintenance checklist

  • App review — open Family Link → Apps and look at recently installed apps. Any surprises?
  • Screen time report — review the weekly activity summary. Which apps are getting the most use?
  • Location check — confirm location is still enabled and updating
  • Filter settings — confirm SafeSearch is still ON, Chrome filters intact
  • Bedtime schedule — confirm bedtime is still set to the right times
  • Unknown accounts — on their device, check Settings → Accounts for any Google accounts you don't recognize

Common problems and fixes

Family Link says my child's device is offline: The device needs an internet connection for Family Link to sync. If they're on Wi-Fi only and turn off Wi-Fi, the device appears offline. Check that mobile data is enabled for Family Link.

My child downloaded an app I didn't approve: This can happen if they enabled "Install from unknown sources" and sideloaded an app from outside the Play Store. Check: Settings → Security → Install unknown apps. Any app listed there should be investigated.

My child's Chromebook isn't showing in Family Link: Make sure they're signed into the Chromebook with their supervised Google account, not a guest account or a different email. On the Chromebook: click their profile picture → confirm which email is signed in.

The content filter isn't blocking a website I blocked: Chrome filters apply when your child is signed into Chrome with their supervised account. If they open Chrome without being signed in, or use a different browser app (Firefox, etc.), the filter doesn't apply. Make sure Chrome is set to always sign in: Chrome → Settings → You and Google → turn on sync.

Last updated · 4/18/2026