How to Set Up Parental Controls on Android With Google Family Link

Google Family Link lets you set screen time, approve apps, filter content and see your child's location on Android. Here's how to set it up step by step.

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Published 6 min read
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Illustration: How to Set Up Parental Controls on Android With Google Family Link

The short answer

Install the Google Family Link app on your phone. On your child's Android device, open Settings › Google › Parental controls, tap Get started, choose Child or teen, and sign in with your parent account. Then use Family Link to set daily limits, approve apps from Google Play, filter content and see the device's location.

On Android phones, tablets and Chromebooks, Google’s free Family Link is the built-in way to supervise a child’s device. You can set screen time limits, approve app downloads, filter content, and see where the device is. Google suggests allowing about 15 minutes for setup.

Menu names vary a little between Android versions and phone makers. The steps below follow Google’s current help pages.

What you need

  • Your own Google Account. You must be an adult to supervise.
  • Your child’s Android device, updated to a recent version of Android.
  • The Family Link app on your phone (Android or iPhone).
  • Your child’s Google Account, or you can create one for them during setup.

Step 1: Start on your child’s device

  1. On your child’s device, open Settings.
  2. Tap Google, then Parental controls.
  3. Tap Get started, choose Child or teen, then Next.
  4. Select your child’s account or create a new one.
  5. Sign in with your parent account when asked.
  6. Follow the on-screen steps. If your child already has their own account, they’ll need to give consent.

If other accounts are on the child’s device, Google may ask you to remove them first; don’t remove the account you want to supervise.

Step 2: Set screen time limits

In the Family Link app on your phone:

  1. Select your child.
  2. Tap Controls.
  3. Under Daily limit, tap Set up and choose how much time is allowed each day.
  4. Set a Downtime schedule, such as overnight.

Step 3: Manage apps and purchases

  • Turn on approval for downloads from Google Play, so your child asks before installing apps.
  • Set content ratings for apps, games, movies and books in Google Play.
  • Block specific apps on your child’s device if needed. Some system apps can’t be blocked.

Step 4: Filter web and YouTube content

  • Use Google Chrome settings in Family Link to block mature sites or allow only approved sites.
  • Turn on SafeSearch for Google Search.
  • For YouTube, consider YouTube Kids or a supervised YouTube experience for younger children.

Step 5: Location

Family Link can show your child’s device location on a map, as long as it’s on and connected. Talk with your child about when and why you’ll use it.

Make the rules a conversation

Controls are a safety net, not a replacement for trust. Explain the settings, agree on what happens when someone online makes them uncomfortable, and promise they won’t be in trouble for telling you.

Setting up an iPhone for another child? See our guide to iPhone parental controls with Screen Time. If the phone is ever lost, here’s how to find a lost Android phone.

The bottom line

Family Link gives you screen time limits, app approvals, content filters and location sharing for free. Start supervision from your child’s device, then manage everything from the app on your phone. Using an iPhone for your child? See our iPhone parental controls guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does my child need to agree to supervision?

When you add supervision to an existing Google Account, your child will need to give consent during setup. For younger children, you can create a supervised Google Account for them.

Can my child turn off Family Link?

A child under 18 needs a parent's approval to stop supervision on their account. Teens can request to stop supervision, and you'll be notified.

Does Family Link work on iPhone?

You can use the Family Link parent app on an iPhone to supervise a child's Android device or Chromebook. To manage a child's iPhone, use Apple's Screen Time instead.

Why you can trust this guide
  • Based on official sources. The steps here are checked against the 3 official sources listed below, such as the help pages of the companies involved.
  • Checked and dated. Last checked on November 10, 2026. We update guides when software or advice changes.
  • Independent. No company paid for or reviewed this guide. We don't sell products, and ads never influence our advice.
  • Open to corrections. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll fix it. Read how we research.

Sources

  1. Google Families Help — Add & manage supervision on a current Google Account
  2. Google Families Help — Get started with Family Link
  3. Google — Family Link FAQ

This guide is general information. Menus and features can change with software updates, and steps may differ on your device or version. Back up important data before making big changes. Read our disclaimer.

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