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Use Google Family Link when your child has (or should have) a supervised Google Account and you want to manage the phone remotely. Use Android’s newer on-device Parental controls only when the phone runs Android 17 or later; that menu is a separate setup path and does not appear on older versions. Check the child’s Android version and account status first, then follow the matching procedure below.
Choose the right control system first
Android currently documents two different ways to restrict a child’s phone. They overlap on screen time and apps, but their prerequisites and management model are different.
| Question | Family Link supervision | Android on-device controls |
|---|---|---|
| Android requirement | Google’s requirements page lists Android 6.0 or later for an eligible supervised device. App limits and scheduled features have additional Android-version requirements noted below. | Android 17 or later. |
| Account requirement | A parent Google Account and a child Google Account under supervision. A child adding supervision to an existing account must agree to it. | Configured directly on the child’s phone with a local PIN and recovery account; the documented setup does not require Family Link supervision. |
| Where you manage settings | Remotely in the Family Link app on the parent’s device, with some setup actions started on the child’s phone. | On the child’s phone in Settings > Parental controls. |
| Main controls | Screen-time limits, app limits and blocking, schedules, app permissions, Google Play maturity filters, and account settings. | Daily limit, downtime, app limits, blocked apps, web-content filters, and app-store filters. |
| Best fit | Families that want ongoing remote management tied to a child’s Google Account. | A compatible Android 17-or-newer phone where controls should be set locally without account supervision. |
Family Link availability varies by country or region. Google states that it “may not be available in all countries or regions.” Google Workspace for Education accounts cannot be managed with Family Link.
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Complete these checks before changing settings:
- The parent has a Google Account and is at least 18, or meets the applicable parental age in the country.
- For account management, the parent and child live in the same country.
- The child has a Google Account and an eligible Android phone. Google’s current requirements list Android 6.0 or later for a supervised device.
- The child’s phone is nearby if you are adding supervision to an existing account.
- You know whether the account is already supervised. The Family Link app is needed for continuing remote management.
- If the phone uses a Google Workspace for Education account, use another eligible personal Google Account; that education account cannot be managed by Family Link.
On the child’s phone, check the Android version before choosing menu instructions. Android 17’s on-device menu should not be expected on Android 16 or earlier.
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Set up Family Link supervision
Family Link can supervise a new child account or add supervision to an existing personal Google Account. The child may be under 13, or under the applicable age in the country, when a parent creates the account. For an existing account, the child must agree to supervision, and both the child and phone should be present during setup.
Create a child account
- On the parent’s device, start creating a Google Account for the child through Google’s account setup flow.
- Provide the child’s information and complete the parent-consent steps requested for your country.
- Sign in to that child account on the eligible Android phone.
- Install or open Family Link on the parent’s device, select the child, and verify that the phone appears as a supervised device.
The exact consent screens vary by country. Do not substitute a school-managed account for the personal child account required for Family Link.
Add supervision to an existing account
- On the child’s Android phone, open Settings > Google > All services > Kids & Family > Parental controls.
- Choose the option to set up or add supervision and follow the on-screen explanation.
- Have the child review and agree to supervision when prompted.
- Keep the child and phone nearby while the parent completes consent and account-linking steps.
- On the parent’s device, open Family Link, select the child, and confirm that management controls are available.
An under-18 child needs parent approval to stop supervision. Removing supervision does not turn the phone into an unmanaged device without consequences; review the account and device state before approving any change.
Set a daily screen-time limit in Family Link
A daily limit controls how long the child can use each Android device or Chromebook covered by Family Link. Google specifies that the allowance applies separately to every Android device or Chromebook; it is not one shared pool across all devices.
- Open the Family Link app on the parent’s device.
- Select the child.
- Open Screen time > Time limits.
- Turn on Daily limit.
- Select a day under Weekly schedule and enter the allowed time.
- Save the setting. Repeat for other days, or apply the same schedule to all days if that option is shown.
Set different allowances for school days and weekends when that reflects your family’s routine. Because limits are per device, check every phone or Chromebook the child uses rather than assuming one setting covers the entire collection.
Limit, allow, or block individual apps
Use app limits when an app is permitted but should have a time budget. Use blocking when the app should not open at all. Family Link’s app-limit feature is supported on Android 7 and later.
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Assign an app time limit
- In Family Link, select the child.
- Open Screen time > Time limits > App limits.
- Choose the app.
- Enter the allowed hours and minutes.
- Save.
System apps cannot be given app time limits. Some apps required for supervision or normal device operation also cannot be blocked. If an app is missing from the list or has no block option, it may fall into one of these categories rather than indicating a setup failure.
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From the child’s app controls in Family Link, select a supported app and choose the block or allow option. Check the result on the child’s phone after the setting synchronizes. A block applies only to supported supervised devices; it is not a guarantee that an equivalent web site or service is inaccessible through another route.
Schedule Downtime and School time
Schedules are in Screen time > Schedules in Family Link. Google documents Downtime and School time on Android 7 and later.
Downtime
Downtime makes the phone unavailable for most use during the scheduled period while preserving specified communication behavior. Calls remain available. Texting depends on whether the messaging app is configured as an unlimited app, so verify that choice instead of assuming all messages will work.
School time
School time is intended for a period when the child may still need basic communication. Calls and texts remain possible, while notifications such as calls and texts are silenced. This is not the same as disabling every phone function.
Communication controls on newer phones
On Android 14 and later, parents can manage who the child can call and text. Review those communication settings separately from the schedule, because a schedule and a contact-allow list govern different aspects of access.
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Control Google Play content and purchases
Family Link’s Google Play controls filter store content by maturity level and handle purchase approvals through Google Play’s own billing system.
- Open Family Link and select the child.
- Choose Controls > Google Play.
- Select a content type.
- Set the highest maturity level allowed for eligible apps and games, movies, or TV.
- Use the available setting to restrict explicit books, then save.
These filters have important boundaries:
- Filtered material can still appear in search results or through a direct link. A maturity filter is not universal web filtering.
- Purchase approval applies only to purchases made through Google Play’s billing system. It does not automatically approve or block payments processed by another store, web site, or billing provider.
- Google Play controls govern Play content categories; they do not replace app limits, blocking, schedules, or broader account supervision.
Use Android 17’s on-device Parental controls
If the child’s phone runs Android 17 or later, Google documents a separate local-controls menu. This route does not imply Family Link supervision, and its menu should not be expected on an older Android version.
- On the child’s phone, open Settings > Parental controls.
- Create a PIN of at least four digits.
- Confirm the PIN.
- Add a recovery account so the PIN can be reset if it is forgotten.
- Configure the available controls: daily limit, downtime, app limits, blocked apps, web-content filters, and app-store filters.
When the daily limit is reached, the device locks. A parent can grant bonus time by entering the PIN. Keep the PIN private from the child and make sure the recovery account remains accessible; otherwise, a forgotten PIN can prevent legitimate changes.
Family Link versus Android 17 controls: practical decision guide
| Choose this route when… | Why | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Your child already has a supervised Google Account. | Family Link is the account-supervision and remote-management path. | Country, account-type, device, and Android-version exceptions can limit availability. |
| You need to change limits from your own phone. | Family Link provides remote controls through the parent app. | The child’s account and device must remain eligible and connected to supervision. |
| The phone is on Android 17 or later and you prefer local setup. | On-device Parental controls configure limits directly on that phone. | There is no Android 17 menu on older versions; protect the PIN and recovery account. |
| You need Google Play maturity filters and Play purchase approvals. | Those controls are documented within Family Link’s Google Play section. | They cover Play content and Play billing, not every web site, store, or payment route. |
| The child uses an iPhone, iPad, or a computer other than a Chromebook. | Family Link’s supported supervision scope does not include those devices. | Do not assume Android instructions will control an unsupported device. |
What Family Link does not cover
- Family Link does not supervise iPhones, iPads, or computers other than Chromebooks.
- Its Google Play purchase approvals apply only to Google Play’s billing system.
- Google Play maturity filters do not block every way a child can encounter filtered material; search and direct links may still expose it.
- Daily limits are not a household-wide shared allowance across devices; each Android device or Chromebook receives its own allowance.
- System apps and some supervision- or operation-critical apps cannot receive ordinary app limits or blocks.
Troubleshoot common setup problems
The Parental controls menu is missing
Confirm the phone’s Android version. The documented on-device menu requires Android 17 or later. On an older phone, use Family Link if the child account and device meet its requirements.
The child’s account cannot be supervised
Check that it is a personal Google Account rather than a Google Workspace for Education account, that the parent meets the age requirement, and that parent and child live in the same country for account management. Family Link availability also varies by region.
An app has no limit or block option
Check whether the phone is running Android 7 or later for app limits and whether the app is a system or supervision-critical app. Those categories cannot receive every app-control action.
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The child can still find filtered content
Google Play filters are category and maturity controls, not universal web filtering. Search results and direct links may still show filtered material. Add the appropriate app, web, or schedule control rather than relying on the Play filter alone.
Calls or messages behave differently during a schedule
Review the schedule type and the messaging app’s unlimited-app status. Downtime keeps calls available, while texting depends on the messaging app. School time permits calls and texts but silences notifications such as calls and texts.
The daily allowance seems wrong across devices
Family Link applies the allowance separately to each Android device or Chromebook. Check the limit on every device the child uses.
Maintain the setup
- Revisit weekly schedules when school hours, holidays, or activities change.
- Review the child’s installed apps and apply limits or blocks to newly added supported apps.
- Keep the parent account secure and the Android 17 recovery account current if using on-device controls.
- Explain which settings are limits, which are blocks, and which still permit communication; this prevents a child from treating a schedule as a complete phone shutdown.
- Test the phone after major Android or app updates, especially when a limit, schedule, or communication rule appears not to apply.
A practical first-day checklist
After setup, verify the controls from the perspective of the child’s phone rather than relying only on the parent app’s status. Confirm that the correct child account and device are selected, then check one daily limit, one app rule, and the intended schedule. If you manage more than one Android phone or Chromebook, repeat the check on each device because Family Link allowances are separate. During a test of Downtime, place a call and check the chosen messaging app so you know exactly what remains available. For School time, confirm that calls and texts can still be made while their notifications are silenced. If you use Android 17’s local controls, lock the screen after configuring them, verify that the daily limit produces the expected lock, and test that the recovery account can reset the PIN. No replacement phone, physical accessory, printed guide, or paid third-party service is required by Google’s documented setup; the supported paths use Android Settings and, for remote supervision, the Family Link app.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I set up parental controls on my child’s Android phone?
First check the Android version and whether the child already has a supervised Google Account. Use Family Link for a supervised account and remote management; on Android 17 or later, you can instead open Settings > Parental controls on the child’s phone, create a four-digit-or-longer PIN, add a recovery account, and configure local limits.
Does Family Link work on every Android phone?
Google’s requirements list Android 6.0 or later for an eligible supervised device, but individual features have higher version requirements. App limits and Downtime or School time require Android 7 or later. Family Link availability also varies by country, and Google Workspace for Education accounts cannot be managed with it.
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Is one Family Link daily limit shared between phones?
No. Google applies the daily allowance separately to each Android device or Chromebook the child uses. Check every covered device instead of treating the limit as one household-wide pool.
Why can’t I find the Parental controls menu in Settings?
The documented on-device menu requires Android 17 or later. It should not be expected on Android 16 or earlier. On an older eligible phone, use Family Link if the child’s account and device meet Google’s supervision requirements.
Can I block or limit every app?
No. App limits are supported on Android 7 and later, but system apps cannot receive app time limits. Some apps needed for supervision or normal device operation cannot be blocked, so a missing option may be an intentional restriction.
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Will Google Play filters block everything my child could see online?
No. Google Play maturity filters cover eligible Play apps and games, movies, TV, and explicit books. Google cautions that filtered material may still appear in search results or through a direct link, so Play filters are not universal web filtering.
Do purchase approvals cover every payment the child might make?
No. Family Link purchase approval applies to purchases made through Google Play’s billing system. It does not automatically control payments handled by another app store, web site, or billing provider.
What happens to calls and texts during Downtime or School time?
Calls remain available during Downtime, while texting depends on whether the messaging app is set as an unlimited app. During School time, calls and texts remain possible but notifications such as calls and texts are silenced. On Android 14 and later, parents can also manage who the child may call or text.
Can my child turn off Family Link supervision?
For a child under 18, Google says parent approval is required to stop supervision. Review the account and device state before approving a change, rather than assuming supervision simply disappears without other account consequences.
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Do I need to buy another phone or a paid parental-control service?
No extra hardware or partner product is required by Google’s documented setup. The official routes use Android Settings and, for remote Family Link management, the Family Link app on the parent’s device.
The Bottom Line
Check the Android version and account status first. Choose Family Link for supervised-account management, remote limits, schedules, and Google Play controls; choose the local Parental controls menu only on Android 17 or later. Keep the per-device limit, app exceptions, communication behavior, and Play-filter boundaries in mind, because none of these controls blocks every device, payment route, or path to online content.
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