Android parental controls, step by step

What you need before touching Android settings

• Your own Google Account (parent must be 18+ and live in the same country as the child)
• Google Family Link app on your phone (Android, or iPhone/iPad on iOS 16+)
• A Google Account for your child supervised with Family Link (you can create one for under-13s in the Family Link app)
• Child's device: Android 6.0+ (screen time limits need Android 7+) or a Chromebook

Setting up Android controls, step by step

1. Install Google Family Link on your phone and create or link your child's Google Account so it's supervised.
2. Sign in to your child's Android device with their supervised account.
3. Daily limit: in Family Link, select your child > Screen time > Time limits > turn on Daily limit > Weekly schedule > set each day > Apply to all days of the week (if wanted) > Done.
4. Bedtime/school hours: in Family Link, select your child > Screen time Schedules (or Screen time > Schedules) > turn on Downtime or School time and set the Weekly schedule.
5. Google Play ratings: select your child > Controls > Google Play > choose a content type and set the restriction level.
6. Purchases: Controls > Google Play > under 'Purchases & download approvals' tap Require approval for > choose All content, Paid content only, In-app purchases only or Never.

Every Android control, in plain English

Stopping surprise spending on Android

• Family Link > child > Controls > Google Play > 'Purchases & download approvals' > Require approval for: All content / Paid content only / In-app purchases only / Never.
• Applies to purchases through Google Play billing only.
• Unsupervised device (e.g. teen using an adult account): Google Play > profile icon > Settings > Family > Content restrictions > Go to Parental controls > set a PIN.

More on how money works inside games in Money in games.

Who can message your child on Android

• Family Link doesn't control chat inside games - use each game's own controls (Roblox, Fortnite, etc.).
• You can block or approve apps (including chat apps) and restrict Google Play by rating.

For the wider picture, see Chat & strangers.

Android play-time limits and bedtimes

• Screen time > Time limits > Daily limit (per day of the week).
• Downtime and School time schedules (good for bedtime).
• Bonus time and Lock/Unlock from the Screen time screen.
• The child can see/adjust via Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls on their device (parent approval needed).

Routines that make limits easier to keep are in Time & routines.

Where Android set-ups usually go wrong

• Family Link supervises Android and Chromebook only - it can't supervise an iPhone or iPad.
• Google Play content restrictions set with a PIN apply only to the device they're set on; restricted content can still appear in search or via a direct link, and content already downloaded stays available.
• Limits apply per device; system apps can't be limited.
• Purchase approvals cover Google Play billing only - not in-game currencies bought outside Google Play.
• When your child turns 13, Google offers to update their account; supervision continues until they make changes, and they need parent approval to stop supervision until 18.