Get started with Family Link (2024)

Get started with Family Link (1)

You can use the Family Link App to create a Google Account for your child under 13(or the applicable age in your country). You can also use Family Link to add supervision to your child's existing Google Account.

Important:

  • Family Link may not be available in all countries or regions.
  • iPhones, iPads, and computers other than Chromebooks can't be supervised with Family Link.
  • Google Workspace for Education accounts can't be managed byFamily Link.
  • Family Link’s purchase approval settings only apply to purchases made through Google Play’s billing system.

How account management works

Important: To see your child's Android and compatible Fitbit device location or remotely manage their screen time and apps, you need the Family Link app.

As a parent, you can use Family Link to do things like:

  • Change some of your child's Google Account settings.
  • Manage your child'sappson supervised devices: Decide which apps your child can download or purchase, block or allow apps, and change app permissions.
  • Manage your child's screen time on supervised devices: Set a bedtime or daily screen limits, and see how much time your child spends on certain apps.
  • Check the location of your child's Android or compatible Fitbit device.
  • Restrict mature content on Google Play.

Google services & your child's Google Account

If your child has a Google Account, they can use a variety of Google services. Keep in mind that these services generally aren’t designed for children.

Requirements

Manage your child's Google Account

To use Family Link to manage your child’s Google Account, you need to:

  • Have a Google Account. If you don’t have one you can create a Google Account at no charge.
  • Be 18 or older (or the appropriate age in your country) and have a Google Account.
  • Have an Android device (5.0+), iPhone or iPad (iOS 13+), or aChromebook that supports Android Apps to download the Family Link app on. You can also manage some settings at g.co/YourFamily.
  • Live in the same country as your child.

Supervise your child’s device

To use Family Link to supervise your child’s device, the child needs to:

  • Have a Google Account.
  • Have an Android device (running 5.1 or higher), a Chromebook (running Chrome OS 71 or higher), or a compatible Fitbit device. Learn how to update your Android or Chrome OS version.

Set up key features

Set screen time limits

Set up daily time limits for the first time

  1. On your device, open Family Link Get started with Family Link (2).
  2. Select your child.
  3. At the bottom center, tap Controls Get started with Family Link (3).
  4. Under “Daily limit,” tap Set up.
  5. Select the hours and minutes you’d like to set for the limit.

Change today's limit with a parent's device

To go to the child's account settings that you last visited in the Family Link app, tap the button below:

Change daily limits

  1. On your device, open Family Link Get started with Family Link (4).
  2. Select your child.
  3. At the bottom center, tap Controls Get started with Family Link (5).
  4. Under “Daily limit,” tap Change for today.
  5. Select the hours and minutes you’d like to set for the limit.
    • You can also turn the limit off.
  6. Tap Done.

Edit the weekly limit schedule with a parent’s device

  1. On your device, open Family Link Get started with Family Link (6).
  2. Select your child.
  3. At the bottom center, tap Controls Get started with Family Link (7).
  4. Under “Daily limit,” tap Edit weekly schedule.
  5. Select the days you’d like to limit screen time.
    • You can also turn the weekly schedule off.
  6. Tap Done.

Tips:

  • You can edit the weekly schedule and change the limit on any selected day. To apply the time limit to either "All days" or "Monday - Friday," tap Also apply to.
  • If your child has multiple devices, to display all devices, tap Show more.

With your child's device

  1. On your child's device, open SettingsGet started with Family Link (8).
    • On Android versions 8.1 (O) and later, tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
    • On other Android versions, tap Google Get started with Family Link (9)Parental controls.
  2. To view the current settings, tap Daily limit.
  3. To edit Daily limit settings, sign in or use your Parent Access Code to verify that you're a parent.

Tip: Daily limits apply to each Android device or Chromebook your child uses. For example, if you set a daily limit of 2 hours, your child would get 2 hours of time on each device.

Allow or block apps

To go to the child's account settings that you last visited in the Family Link app, tap the button below:

Block or unblock an app on Family Link

The app will be blocked or unblocked in about 5 minutes, or once the device is connected to the Internet. If your child is using the app at the time you block it, they'll get a one minute warning to finish up before the app is blocked. The app is blocked on all of your child's Android devices or Chromebooks.

Important: Some apps can't be blocked because they're required for parent supervision settings to work, or for your child's device to work.

  1. Open the Family Link app Get started with Family Link (10).
  2. Select your child.
  3. TapControls Get started with Family Link (11)App Limits.
  4. Select the name of the app you want to allow or block.
  5. Tap Block Get started with Family Link (12)Get started with Family Link (13)Done.

Find your child’s location

To go to the child's account settings that you last visited in the Family Link app, tap the button below:

Find your child's location

If you're a parent, you can find your child's Android device location in the Family Link app.

  1. Open the Family Link app Get started with Family Link (14).
  2. Tap Location.
  3. Tap Set up.
  4. If you have multiple children, select which ones you want to turn on location sharing for.
  5. Tap Turn on.

Related resources

  • Find your child's location
  • Sign your child in on their Android device
  • Unlock your child's device

Family Link is all new!

Click here to explore the latest experience now

Get started with Family Link (2024)

FAQs

What happens when a child turns 13 on Family Link? ›

On the day they turn 13, children can choose whether they want to manage their own Google Account or continue to have their parent manage it for them. As a parent, you can also choose to remove supervision at any time when the child is over the age of 13.

Do parental controls turn off at 13? ›

If you use Google Family Link to monitor and limit your child's online activity, you can turn those controls off as well. That is, as long as your child is 13 or older. If your child's age in the app is set as younger than 13, the controls will have to stay on.

Does Family Link turn off at 18? ›

By default, Family Link makes it possible for the child to “graduate” to a regular Google account at age 13 and — if they're still on Family Link — fully transitions them into an adult account at age 18.

Is Family Link enough? ›

Google Family Link doesn't block inappropriate content. However, some apps have their own filtering options such as those found in Google Search and on the Chrome web browser. Additionally, since parents are able to approve or reject new apps, they take an active role in deciding what content their child can access.

Can a 13 year old remove themselves from family sharing? ›

Any family member age 13 or older* can remove themselves from a family group. If you have Screen Time turned on for your account, the family organizer must remove you.

Can I see my child's text messages on Family Link? ›

Google Family Link is a free app that allows you to manage your child's Android device, including monitoring their text messages.

How is my child bypassing parental controls? ›

These strategies range from the simplest—guessing passwords or changing device settings—to more sophisticated techniques we as parents might not even be aware of. Using VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to bypass content filters is one of the most common in that latter category.

Can a child uninstall a Family Link? ›

There is a chance that your child may try to uninstall Family Link while you're not looking. If that happens, don't worry; their device will be locked until you restore their account.

At what age should your parents stop controlling your phone? ›

The majority, 31%, say age 18 for sure. But there's also 17% who say they'll stop at age 16. There's no blanket perfect age, however. In some homes, you can trust an 8-year-old; in others you may still want or need parental controls active for much longer.

What happens if I stop supervision on 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.

Can there be two parents on Family Link? ›

As the family manager in Family Link, you have the option to add another parent or guardian to your family group. info Features are subject to availability. The steps may look different depending on your device.

How do I remove my 13 year old from Family Link? ›

Remove member.
  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open Google One .
  2. At the top, tap Menu. Settings.
  3. Tap Manage family. Manage family group.
  4. Tap the family member you want to remove. Remove member.

When should you stop using Family Link? ›

When children whose accounts are managed with Family Link turn 13 (or the applicable age in their country), they can decide to:
  1. Keep parental supervision for children over 13 (or the applicable age in their country)
  2. Manage their own Google Account.

Is there a better app than Family Link? ›

Norton Family is one of the best apps to keep your child free from distractions. Norton Family is a well-known Parental Control Solution for iPhone and Android users. Parents can keep their children safe online using parental controls with the Norton Family app.

Can Family Link see incognito? ›

Children and adults have a similar experience when they sign in to Chrome with their Google Account. Some additional features provide a safer browsing experience. Tip: Incognito mode is turned off when your child is signed in to Chrome with an account managed by Family Link.

What happens when a child turns 13 on family sharing? ›

When children whose accounts are managed with Family Link turn 13 (or the applicable age in their country), they can decide to: Keep parental supervision for children over 13 (or the applicable age in their country) Manage their own Google Account.

What happens to screen time when you turn 13? ›

Screen Time is not limited by the age of the user. Screen Time settings can be applied either directly on the device or through Family sharing regardless of age. The only option limited by age is Ask to Buy.

How do you stop supervision on Family Link under 13? ›

Stop supervision
  1. On your parent device, open the Family Link app. .
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Controls. Account Settings. Account Info.
  4. Tap Stop supervision.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

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