Android · Accounts & Family
Supervise a child's account, screen time, and app access
Family Link connects a child's supervised Google Account to a parent's device, allowing approval of app downloads, screen time limits, content filters, and location checks directly from Android Settings or the Family Link app.
How to open Family Link Supervision
- Open Settings on the child's device
- Tap Google, then Parental controls (or open the Family Link app)
- Sign in with the parent account to link supervision
- Configure app approvals, screen time, and content filters
- Save changes, which sync automatically to the child's device
What you should know
- Requires the child to sign in with a supervised Google Account
- Parents approve or block app and in-app purchase requests remotely
- Screen time limits and bedtime schedules can be set per device
- Location sharing lets parents see the child's device location
Why it matters
Family Link gives parents a way to extend age-appropriate boundaries onto a child's phone or tablet without physically checking the device constantly, covering everything from what apps can be installed to how long the screen stays on each day. As kids get their first personal devices younger, having built-in, OS-level supervision reduces reliance on third-party parental control apps that may have weaker integration or privacy tradeoffs.
Best practices
- Set up the supervised account before handing over a new device to a child rather than retrofitting it later
- Review app approval requests promptly so the child isn't blocked from schoolwork apps
- Adjust screen time limits gradually as the child demonstrates responsible use
- Revisit content filters as the child ages instead of leaving default restrictive settings indefinitely
Common problems and fixes
- Child cannot install an approved app
- Confirm the approval was completed in the Family Link app and that the child's device has synced recently
- Screen time limit does not apply
- Check the device's date and time settings, since incorrect clock settings can break scheduled limits
- Location is not updating
- Ensure location services and background data are enabled on the child's device
Tips and tricks
- Use the 'Ask for extra time' feature to let kids request short extensions instead of hard cutoffs
- Set app-specific time limits for especially distracting apps rather than one global limit
Frequently asked questions
Can a child remove Family Link themselves?
No, only the parent account can remove supervision, typically requiring the parent's password.
Does Family Link work on tablets too?
Yes, it works on any Android device signed into a supervised child account.
What happens when the child turns 13?
In most regions they can request to graduate from supervision, subject to parental review.
Related settings
- Multiple Users / Guest ModeMultiple users lets several people share one Android device while keeping separate apps, accounts, wallpapers, and settings in fully isolated profiles. Guest mode offers a lighter, temporary alternative for a one-off borrower, with everything discarded once that guest session ends.
- Digital Wellbeing & Parental ControlsDigital Wellbeing shows exactly how much time you spend on your phone and in each app, with tools like app timers, Focus mode, and Bedtime mode to help rebalance that. The same dashboard connects to Family Link, letting a parent set screen time limits, app approval, and content filters on a child's supervised device.
- Add AccountThe Add Account flow lets you sign in to a new Google Account or other supported account type (Microsoft Exchange, personal IMAP email, corporate work profile) so its data can sync with apps on the device.
More Accounts & Family guides for Android
- Google Account SyncAccount sync keeps Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, Photos, and other Google app data updated automatically across your devices, tied to your signed-in Google Account.
- Sync Individual Account DataBeyond the master account sync switch, each added account has granular toggles for what actually syncs, such as Contacts, Calendar, Gmail, Drive, or Photos, letting you keep some data local-only while syncing the rest.
- Emergency Information / Medical IDEmergency Information lets you store medical conditions, allergies, medications, and emergency contacts so they are visible from the lock screen without unlocking the device, giving first responders critical information quickly.
- Autofill ServiceThe Autofill Service setting selects which app, such as Google Password Manager or a third-party password manager, automatically fills in saved passwords, addresses, and payment details across apps and browsers.
- Google One / Device BackupThis setting controls the automatic cloud backup of app data, call history, device settings, and photos to your Google Account, optionally using additional Google One storage, so everything can be restored when setting up a new device.
- Personal DictionaryThe Personal Dictionary stores custom words, names, and abbreviations you've added or that the keyboard has learned, so they are recognized instead of flagged as typos and are suggested during predictive typing.