Set up parental controls on Google Assistant devices

You can control some of the features your child can use and content they can access on speakers, Smart Displays, and Smart Clocks with Google Assistant parental controls. If you have more than one child, you can set up different parental controls for each child.

Important: This feature is only available in the US and English.

With parental controls, you can:

  • Set up media controls for music or videos
  • Block news or podcasts
  • Schedule downtime
  • Manage use of other Assistant features
  • Add your child to Assistant-enabled devices
Tip: For parental controls to work correctly, your devices and apps must be up to date.

To set up parental controls, your child must have:

  • A child's Google Account. Learn how to create an account for your child.
  • Voice Match set up on the devices that you want to set parental controls on. With Voice Match set up for each child, Google Assistant can recognize each child by their voice. If Voice Match isn’t set up, you can set it up when you set up parental controls.

Tip: You can also set up Face Match on a Nest Hub Max for your child so Google Assistant can recognize their face.

Set up parental controls

In Family Link

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Controls and then Content restrictions and then Google Assistant and then Parental controls and then Set up.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

In the Google Home app

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Google Home app Google Home.
  2. Tap Settings  and then Google Assistant Assistant and then Parental controls.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

With Google Assistant

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, say “Open Assistant settings.”
  2. Tap See all Assistant Settings and then Parental controls
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Edit parental control settings

Important: To make sure Google Assistant can recognize your child and apply parental control settings, you must add your child’s Google account to devices your child uses.

  1. On your Android phone or tablet, open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Controls and then Content restrictions and then Google Assistant and then Parental controls.
  4. Under the settings you want to edit, tap the option to edit settings.
  5. Choose your child’s settings.
Tip: In Assistant Parental Controls, you can also find and edit the list of Google Assistant devices your child can access.

How parental controls work

Important:

  • Your child might be able to play videos and other content you’ve restricted through news or podcasts. For example, if you block videos but allow news, your child might be able to still access some videos through news. If you prefer, you can make news or podcasts off limits for your child. 
  • These parental controls don’t apply to content that your child can cast from a mobile device to a speaker, Smart Display, or Smart Clock.

With Google Assistant parental controls, you can choose to block or allow content or features from the indicated services. These parental controls only apply to speakers, Smart Displays, and Smart Clocks that you add your child's voice to.

For some music services, you have the option to allow the indicated services to filter content that third parties have flagged as explicit. No filter is 100% effective. While these filters can help you manage your child’s access to mature content, they might not filter all content that you might consider inappropriate.

Learn about YouTube’s supervised experience.

Music filters
  • Play any music: Devices play any available music for your child, without filters. Your child can play the same songs that anyone in your home can play.
  • Play some music: Devices play non-explicit music for your child, from the services you choose. The listed services in this option can provide content filtering.
    • If you want to allow music from YouTube, which could include some content that’s unsuitable for kids, you can choose which YouTube experience you want for your child. Next to “YouTube,” tap Content settings.
  • Don’t play music: Devices don’t play any music for your child.
Video filters

Important: If you choose to block videos for your child but allow music from YouTube Music, music videos might still play on Smart Displays and TVs.

  • Play any videos: Devices play any available videos for your child, without filters. Your child can play the same videos that anyone in your home can play.
  • Play some videos: Devices play videos for your child from the services you choose and based on the filters you set for those services.
    • If you want to allow videos from YouTube, which could include some explicit content, you can choose which YouTube experience you want for your child. Next to “YouTube,” tap Content settings.
  • Don’t play videos: Devices don’t play any videos for your child.
News

Important: Your child might still be able to play news in other media services you allow. Some news might have mature content. You can manage your child’s news sources in their Google Assistant settings.

  • News is allowed: Devices play news when your child asks for it.
  • News is off-limits: Devices won’t play news when your child asks for it.
Podcasts

Important: Your child might still be able to play podcasts in other media services you allow. Some podcasts might have mature content. You can manage your child’s podcast services in their Google Assistant settings.

  • Podcasts are allowed: Devices play podcasts when your child asks for them.
  • Podcasts are off-limits: Devices won’t play podcasts when your child asks for them.
Calling
  • Can only answer calls: Your child can only answer phone and video calls on devices.
  • Can make or answer calls: Your child can make and answer supported calls, like phone and video calls, on devices.
Answers to questions

Important: This setting doesn't affect how SafeSearch works, which is turned on by default.

  • Only answer basic questions: Devices only answer basic questions like questions about the weather or the current time.
  • Answer all questions: Devices answer all supported questions, which might include mature content.
Actions

Important: This filter applies to speakers, Smart Displays, Smart Clocks, and mobile phones.

  • Actions for Families are off-limits: Your child can’t use Actions for Families.
  • Actions for Families are allowed: Your child can use any Actions for Families, which developers commit to us are appropriate for family members of all ages. Learn more about Actions for Families.

Related articles

Was this helpful?
How can we improve it?
Search
Clear search
Close search
Google apps
Main menu
Search Help Center
true
true
true
true
true
1633398
false