How to Set up Parental Controls on Android Devices: Step-by-step Guide

You can set up parental controls on Android by using Google Family Link, built-in device settings, app restrictions, content filters, screen time limits, and location controls. These tools help parents manage how children use Android phones or tablets, block inappropriate content, limit app usage, monitor activity, and create safer digital boundaries based on the child’s age and online needs.

According to the United Nations, over a third of youth in 30 countries are cyberbullied, with one in five young people skipping school for the same reason. Furthermore, 80% of children in 25 countries feel they are in danger of sexual abuse or exploitation online. Such statistics highlight the need for parental control on internet-connected devices that children often use.

While most Android devices come with built-in parental controls, these alone aren’t enough to ensure a safe and secure digital experience for the smartphone generation of teenagers today.

Let’s walk through how you can apply more sophisticated parental controls on Android tablets and smartphones.

What are Android parental controls?

Android parental controls are a built-in suite of digital safety tools that allow you to manage, monitor, and restrict how your child or teen uses their Android device. They help build healthy screen habits, filter inappropriate web content, block specific apps, and track the device’s location to provide a safer digital ecosystem.

Android phones and tablets offer these parental controls through the integrated Google Family Link, a series of tools that work across Android 7.0+ devices and Chromebooks with ChromeOS 71+ as well as iPhones running iOS 16+.

Family Link helps manage your child or teen’s device and apply restrictions to apps, set screen time limits, and filter out harmful content. It also allows parents to create “School Time” and “Downtime” schedules and set screen time limits that help balance phone usage.

Why parents should use parental controls on Android

While the internet is a wonderful tool for learning and exploring, it is also riddled with harmful content and malicious websites. A child with unrestricted Android device access can be exposed to everything the internet has to offer and stumble across something they aren’t meant to.

• Content filtering: Parental controls allow you to manage your child’s exposure to online content by filtering out adult content and other inappropriate material.
• App management: Restricting apps and downloads is crucial to prevent access to apps that may be harmful and helps avoid accidental in-app purchases.
• Screen time monitoring: You get insights into how much time your child spends on their device and which apps they are using.

These controls are an essential part of responsible parenting, which helps protect your child while allowing them to explore and learn in a controlled and safe manner.

How to set up parental controls on Android using Google Family Link

You can set up and configure parental controls on Android devices via Google Family Link using the following steps. Your child will need to give you their consent when you set up supervision on their account.

• Step 1: Download the Google Family Link app from the Play Store on both your device and your child’s device you wish to manage.
• Step 2: On your child’s phone, open the “Settings” app and scroll down to the “Google” option. Tap “All services” and select “Parental controls.”
• Step 3: Tap “Let’s do this” and choose your child’s Google account that you wish to supervise. Ensure that only your child’s account is signed in on the device.
• Step 4: Enter your email address and provide your child’s Google account password.
• Step 5: Open the app on your device and log in using the same parent email that you entered on your child’s phone.
• Step 6: Once the devices are paired, you can set parental controls that will be applied to your child’s device.

If you prefer a quick overview, follow these quick steps to set up parental controls on Android using Google Family Link:

Quick setup: Install Google Family Link > Pair the parent and child’s devices > Enable supervision > Set screen time, app restrictions, SafeSearch, and content filters > Manage settings remotely through the Family Link app.

Note: The exact menu names and setup steps may vary slightly depending on your Android device brand (such as Samsung, Google Pixel, Xiaomi, OnePlus, or Motorola) and Android version, but the overall setup process through Google Family Link remains largely the same.

Through Family Link parental controls, parents can:

• Manage screen time: Set daily time limits, schedule “Downtime” or “School Time” to block access, and remotely lock devices to ensure breaks.
• Control apps: Track which apps are used most, block specific apps, set individual app time limits, and review app permissions.
• Filter content: Require approval for Google Play downloads and purchases, and restrict mature content across Google services like Chrome, Search, and YouTube.
• Enable SafeSearch: Once a child’s account is supervised via Family Link, SafeSearch is automatically turned on and locked by default.
• Oversee Google accounts: Manage a child’s activity history, change account passwords, and adjust overall data privacy settings.

Limitations of built-in Android parental controls

Built-in Android parental control settings through Google Family Link offer a strong baseline for managing children’s devices, but they have limited functionality. They face certain limitations such as:

• Limited app control: Parents can block or approve app downloads through the Play Store, but they cannot control apps installed from other sources or pre-installed apps.
• Easy to bypass: Children may find ways to bypass restrictions by creating another user profile, using a guest account, factory resetting the device, or using Incognito mode.
• Inconsistency across models: Built-in parental control features can vary depending on the device brand, Android version, and regional availability.
• Limited web filtering: Web filtering is primarily available through supported browsers or services and may not cover all browsers, in-app browsers, or VPN traffic.
• Minimal reporting: Parents can view basic app usage information but do not get comprehensive logs, detailed browsing history, or real-time alerts.
• No advanced location features: Family location sharing lacks capabilities such as location history, geofencing, or automated actions such as remote lock and wipe.
• Restricted remote management: Parents can manage certain settings remotely, but many device configurations still require physical access to the child’s device.
• Third-party app gaps: Parental control tools can’t always monitor or restrict activity, messages, or history within third-party apps downloaded outside the Play Store.

This is where an Android MDM solution can be helpful and necessary for parents to exercise control and monitor activities on children’s devices.

Android MDM can address all the major concerns that can help parents make their devices child-proof. It acts as a parental control solution doubling as a monitoring software with layers of added security, including application and website configuration and restrictions.

Parental controls on Android devices with an MDM solution

An MDM solution provides a comprehensive management and security solution that ensure a safe and controlled digital environment for your child.

Here’s how Scalefusion Android MDM features can help you manage and monitor device usage effectively:

• Lock devices to educational apps: Lets you block irrelevant apps and restrict access to age-appropriate and educational apps only.
• Restrict websites/browsers: Limits browsing to approved sites only, which improves children’s productivity and focus while protecting the network from security threats.
• Track device location: Allows you to track your child’s device location and their movements in real-time.
• Manage shared Android tablets: Tailors the device to meet the specific security needs and safety requirements through multiple distinct user profiles.
• Create kid-safe profiles: Sets custom restrictions on volume and display brightness, and configures the duration after which the device automatically locks itself.

Ensure robust parental control on Android devices

An Android MDM solution offers enterprise-grade parental controls designed to keep devices safe for children. It provides strong digital security by protecting children’s devices and maintaining their privacy through stringent policies and advanced features. This ensures a secure and controlled environment for your child’s device use.

Ensure safe and distraction-free Android usage with powerful parental controls and security features.

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FAQs

1. How do I turn off parental control on Android?

To remove parental controls on an Android device, stop supervision via Google Settings (requires access to parent’s account or PIN). Alternatively, you can disable app or content download restrictions in the Google Play Store. If using an Android MDM, use the admin dashboard or request removal from the provider, depending on your access permissions.

2. How do I limit screen time on Android? 

To limit screen time on Android, use the built-in Digital Wellbeing feature or third-party parental control apps. In Digital Wellbeing, you can also enable “Focus Mode” to temporarily block distracting apps. For more comprehensive control and additional features like time-based access and app usage monitoring, prefer using Android MDM software.

3. How do I use kids mode?

To use kids mode on Android, you can use built-in features like Google Kids Space, manufacturer-specific modes like Samsung Kids, or the Google Family Link app. They restrict access to your personal apps, manage screen time, and block inappropriate websites. Google Kids Space is only available on select Android tablets.

4. How do I childproof an Android tablet and make it kid-friendly?

To child-proof your Android tablet and make it kid-friendly, start by setting up kids mode or a similar app to restrict access to inappropriate content and manage app usage. Enable parental controls to set limits on screen time and content. Ensure only age-appropriate apps and features are accessible. This will transform your tablet into a safe, secure device for kids.

5. Can parental controls see everything?

Parental controls cannot see everything. They can track location, monitor website history, and limit screen time or app downloads. However, they typically cannot view private messages or photos stored, listen to phone calls, or see exactly what is on a child’s screen in real-time.

6. Is Android parental control safe?

Native Android controls and select third-party apps are highly secure when implemented correctly. They excel at mitigating screen time and blocking mature websites. However, they may not guarantee 100% safety because kids can bypass restrictions or use loopholes. Android MDM is a more foolproof, safer solution providing enterprise-grade parental control.