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Google Family Link can help parents manage a child’s compatible Android phone: you can approve or block many apps, set daily and app-specific time limits, schedule Downtime or School time, apply certain Google Play and Chrome restrictions, and locate a supported device. It is not a way to lock down 99% of every phone: Google publishes no such effectiveness figure, and several controls apply only to particular devices or services.
What Family Link can control—and what it cannot
Family Link supervises a child’s Google Account and, on supported Android devices, offers controls that affect device use. The available controls depend on the device, operating-system version, and feature. Parents can manage apps and screen time, choose certain Chrome browsing restrictions, review some account settings, and use location features when supported and set up.
It is not remote screen surveillance. Google says parents cannot remotely see what is on a child’s screen or listen to phone calls. Location sharing is a separate feature; it does not show what the child is doing on the device. Google’s account-supervision help page explains those privacy boundaries.
The “99%” in the original framing is a subjective description, not a measured result. Google’s published Family Link documentation does not say what percentage of a phone’s functions parents can restrict.
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Check device and account compatibility first
Google’s device compatibility guidance lists supervised Android devices running Android 5.0 or later and Chromebooks running Chrome OS 71 or later. Its setup guidance specifies Android 6.0 or later for setting up a child’s device. Requirements can differ by feature, so check the current instructions for the specific device and control you plan to use.
The parent needs a Google Account and must meet Google’s age and country requirements; the child needs a Google Account. Most Family Link supervision tools do not work on iPhones and iPads. When a child is signed into Google apps on an iPhone or iPad, Google says screen-time limits, device location, app activity, app blocking and permissions, and Chrome website restrictions are unavailable. Signing into Google apps on iOS is not equivalent to supervising an Android device.
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- BUILT-IN PARENTAL CONTROLS: Parents can remotely manage and monitor their kids cell phone with the Thrive Parent app that works on iOS and Android. Thrive experience offers regular software updates that provide new features and functionality.
- PARENT-APPROVED APPS and TIME LIMITS: All the fun and educational apps. Each app requires parental approval and has time restrictions. Tamper-proof controls ensure kids cannot bypass them.
- SAFE CALLING, SEARCH, BROWSING: Smart phones for kids with built-in safe online search and browsing. Protect your kids from cyberbullies, and inappropriate content. All unknown and spam calls are blocked.
- MONTHLY PLAN REQUIRED: Thrive comes bundled with Teracube Wireless service. Teracube Wireless offers affordable monthly plans for all your talk, text, and data needs. Activation is REQUIRED (Not compatible with other service providers).
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Set up the main rules in Family Link
- Confirm the child’s account and device. Check the device’s Android version and Google’s current compatibility and setup requirements before relying on a particular feature.
- Open Family Link on the parent’s device. Select the child’s profile, then review the available Controls and Screen time areas. Google says the parent needs the Family Link app to manage screen time and apps remotely.
- Set a daily limit and schedule. Choose a daily device limit, then use Downtime or School time for periods when device use should be restricted. Google documents schedules for Android 7 and later and Chrome OS 83 and later; feature availability can vary.
- Review apps individually. Block or allow apps and set app-specific limits where available. Keep essential communication and school apps accessible if your family needs them.
- Choose a Chrome policy. Select the browsing approach that fits your family, then add approved or blocked sites if needed. The settings affect Chrome rather than every browser on the device.
- Check the result with the child. Review how the rules behave on the actual device and adjust them if an essential app or routine is affected.
Google’s instructions for device schedules and app time limits describe the corresponding controls. Bonus time can be added without changing the standing schedule.
App blocking and limits have exceptions
Family Link does not treat every app as an ordinary app that can be limited or blocked. Google says system apps cannot have app time limits, and some apps cannot be blocked because they are needed for supervision or device operation. Unlimited-time apps may remain usable after a daily limit, depending on the device’s support and settings. App-limit availability also varies by operating-system version.
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- 👨👩👧 Tamper-proof Built-In Parental Controls: Monitor and manage your kids cell phone remotely from the Thrive Parent App (iOS & Android). Block or limit social media, Set screen time limits, track online activity. No technical skills required - easy setup.
- 📶 Affordable Monthly Plan Required: Requires Teracube Wireless activation Kids phone service starting from $1/day. For your talk, text, and data needs. Not compatible with other networks
- 📞 Safe Calling, Texting & Browsing: Built-in spam call blocker and restricted contacts list. Thrive blocks unknown callers and enables safe online search and browsing, keeping kids protected from cyberbullying and inappropriate content.
- 📦 Includes Phone Case, Screen Protector & Teracube Care+ Comes with a durable case, screen protector, and Teracube Care+, which offers express replacement for accidental damage or defects. Kid-proof from the start!
That means app controls work best as boundaries for supported apps, not as a guarantee that every function on the phone will stop at the same time. Check which apps are marked unlimited and whether the child can still use the communication or school tools your household needs.
Choose a Chrome filter with realistic expectations
Google offers Chrome policies including allowing all sites except those you block, trying to block explicit sites, and allowing only sites you approve. Google cautions: “No filter is perfect, but this should help hide sexually explicit sites.” That is Google’s description of the “Try to block explicit sites” setting, not a guarantee that every unsuitable page will be caught. See Google’s Chrome and child-account guidance.
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- 📱 All-in-One Smartphone for Kids & Teens Kids phone for 7–16, the Teracube Thrive is the perfect first phone with built-in safety features. Includes 64GB storage, Android OS, and kid-focused design to limit distractions and promote digital wellness.
- 👨👩👧 Tamper-proof Built-In Parental Controls Monitor and manage your kids cell phone remotely from the Thrive Parent App (iOS & Android). Block or limit social media, Set screen time limits, track online activity. No technical skills required - easy setup.
- 📶 Affordable Monthly Plan Required Requires Teracube Wireless activation Kids phone service starting from $1/day. For your talk, text, and data needs. Not compatible with other networks
- 📞 Safe Calling, Texting & Browsing Built-in spam call blocker and restricted contacts list. Thrive blocks unknown callers and enables safe online search and browsing, keeping kids protected from cyberbullying and inappropriate content.
- 📍 GPS Tracking & Real-Time Location Know where your child is at all times with real-time GPS tracking. Great phone for kids school pickups, after-school activities, and everyday peace of mind for parents.
These website rules are Chrome controls, not universal web filtering. Google notes that in some computer and iOS contexts, a child may sign out of Chrome, use another Chrome profile, or use a different browser where Family Link’s Chrome settings do not apply. Consider the browser and profile options available on the specific device when deciding how much coverage you need.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Know what purchase approvals and location do—and do not—cover
Family Link’s purchase approval applies to purchases made through Google Play’s billing system. It should not be treated as approval for every purchase a child might make elsewhere.
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Location features depend on setup and supported hardware. Google lists location support for compatible Android devices and certain Fitbit devices, but not Chromebook location reporting. Check the device list and settings before relying on location availability; it is not a record of screen activity.
Use Family Link as a set of boundaries, not a total lock
A practical setup starts with the controls that match the family’s needs: supported app rules, a daily limit, a schedule, and a Chrome policy if the child uses Chrome. Then check exceptions and test the rules on the child’s actual device. Family Link can make those boundaries easier to manage, but its coverage is limited by device compatibility, app and browser exceptions, and the distinction between account supervision and device-wide control.
Quick Recap
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