Let your child use the Google Assistant on your speaker or Smart Display

Your child can use the Google Assistant on speakers and Smart Displays. They’ll need:

  • An account managed with Family Link
  • An Android device

This feature isn't available on Smart Clocks.

Important: This feature isn't currently available in all languages or countries, and the languages you can use depend on your device. Learn which languages work on your device.

What your child can & can’t do

Children can take many of the same actions as adults, like:

  • Ask Google questions.
  • Play games.
  • Listen to stories.

Children can't:

  • Play YouTube videos or songs from YouTube music.
  • Play songs from Google Play Music, unless your family has a Google Play Music family plan or the person that set up the device has a subscription.
  • Make purchases.
  • Use non-Google apps, unless they have the "For families" badge For families.

Step 1: Set up your speaker or Smart Display

Someone who meets the age requirements of your country needs to set up your device.

Learn how to set up your speaker or Smart Display. If the device is already set up, skip this step.

Step 2: Add your child’s voice

  1. On your child’s Android device, open the Google Home app Google Home.
  2. Make sure your child’s phone or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as your speaker or display.
  3. Under "Local devices," tap Link Account.
  4. Tap the account of the person who will set up the Voice Match with the child and then tap Continue.
  5. A screen outlining the permissions will appear. Tap Agree and then Continue.
  6. Give the phone to your child and follow the prompts to teach their Google Assistant to recognize their voice. They’ll say “Ok Google” twice and “Hey Google” twice.
Tip: To give permission, sign in with your password.

Learn more about voice and audio collection from children's features on the Google Assistant.

Step 3 (optional): Let your child get personal results

You can let the Google Assistant read or show personal results for your child, like their calendar events and contacts.

Learn more about personal results.

  1. On your Android device, open the Family Link app For families.
  2. Select your child's name.
  3. Find the device. Below its name, tap Settings.
  4. Turn on Personal results.

Remove your child’s account & voice

  1. On your device, open the Family Link app For families.
  2. Select your child's name.
  3. Find the device, then tap Settings and then Unlink Google Account and voice and then Unlink.

Tip: Your child can unlink their voice on their own.

Use non-Google apps with the Google Assistant

Your child can only use non-Google apps that have the "For families" badge For families.

Note: Non-Google apps on Google Assistant with the "For families" badge are available in all countries where the Google Assistant is available.

Check if an app is for families
  1. On an Android device, touch and hold the Home button.
  2. Tap Explore.
  3. Choose an app.
  4. In the "Details" section, look for the "For families" badge For families.
Prevent your child from using non-Google apps
  1. On your device, open the Family Link app For families.
  2. Select your child’s name.
  3. In the "Settings" section, tap Manage Settings and then Google Assistant.
  4. Turn off Third-party apps.
Understand your child’s privacy on non-Google apps

If you allow your child to use non-Google apps:

  • Google won't share recordings of your child's voice with these apps.
  • A transcript of what your child said can be sent to these apps.
  • Google won't share your child's personal info with these apps, like your child's name, email address, or precise location.
  • If an app needs to save info, like your child’s answers to trivia questions, it will be saved to a unique code instead of their Google Account.
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