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

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

How do I set up a Family Link for my child? ›

Step 1 – From your account on the Family Link app or site, click on Manage family. Then select Send invitations under Your family group members. Step 2 – Select people to add or manually enter their email addresses, including your child's. Click Send.

Can I unlock my child's phone through Family Link? ›

Unlock your child's device with parent access
  1. To unlock your child's device, you can also use parent access. You get an access code in the Family Link app. or on the web. You won't receive this number through email or SMS.
  2. Enter this one-time use only number into the child's device before the code expires.

Can my child turn off 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.

How is my child bypassing Family Link? ›

Top 8 Ways Kids Can Bypass Parental Controls and How to Stop Them
  1. Delete and reinstall an app.
  2. Factory reset the device.
  3. Use a VPN service.
  4. Bypass the family WiFi connection.
  5. Use in-app browsers.
  6. Changing device time zones.
  7. Use a proxy website.
  8. Bypass router control settings.
Dec 29, 2023

Does my child need a Google Account for 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 your child uses a Pixel Tablet, you can create a Google Account without an email address and password for them.

What app does my child need for Family Link? ›

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.

What happens to Family Link when child turns 14? ›

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

Can both parents use Family Link? ›

Who can manage my child's account? By default, it's just the person who sets up the account but the family manager can add another family member to serve as a second parent who can manage and monitor the child's device.

What happens if a child delete 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.

Can you see text messages on Family Link? ›

View Text Message with Google Family Link. Google Family Link can allow you to see your kid's text messages, SMS text, and social media texts and block some activities.

Can you see what your child is doing on Family Link? ›

You can use Family Link to check your child's device use, screen time and content recommendations. If you turn on app activity data sharing, you also get insights into your child's app use, like reading activity.

How do I kick my child from Family Link? ›

Use your parental device
  1. Remove your child's account from Android or Chromebook they're signed in to. ...
  2. On your device, open the Family Link app .
  3. Select your child.
  4. Tap Controls Account settings Account info Delete account.
  5. Follow the on-screen instructions to delete your child's account.

How do I stop Family Link without parents knowing? ›

That said, it is possible to remove Family Link without parents. To do it without parental account settings, you'll need to navigate to the “Settings” application on your phone, then find the “Manage App” option by scrolling down. Once in the “Manage App” option, look for “Family Link” and select that option.

How to remove child from Family Link without deleting account? ›

Go to g.co/YourFamily. Select the child you want to remove. Remove member. You may need to enter your password.

How do I remove Family Link under 13? ›

Delete your child's account
  1. Step 1 of 5. From your child's Controls screen, scroll down and tap Account settings.
  2. Step 2 of 5. Tap Account info.
  3. Step 3 of 5. Tap Delete account. ...
  4. Step 4 of 5. This page contains important information about deleting your child's account. ...
  5. Step 5 of 5. Tap Delete account.

Does Family Link need to be installed on child's phone? ›

If you elect to set up Family Link from your child's device:

You will also learn that certain features require you to use the Family Link app on your own device (e.g. a parent needs the Family Link app on their own phone in order to manage screen time, see location and remotely approve apps).

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

Q: How do I see my kids' texts on Family Link? A: Family Link does not directly provide access to your child's text messages. To monitor your child's text messages, you will need to use alternative parental control apps or methods, such as the ones mentioned in the article above.

Can I track my child on Family Link? ›

How to turn on and monitor child's device location. You can use Family Link to set up your child's Android phone or tablet so you can find their location. info Features are subject to availability.

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