Get started with Family Link

You can use the Family Link App to create a Google Account for your child under 13 (or the applicable age in your country). You can also use Family Link to add supervision to your child's existing Google Account.

Important:

Family Link may not be available in all countries or regions.
iPhones, iPads, and computers other than Chromebooks can't be supervised with Family Link.

How account management works

Important: To see your child's Android device location or remotely manage their screen time and apps, you need the Family Link app.

As a parent, you can use Family Link to do things like:

Change some of your child's Google Account settings.
Manage your child's apps on supervised devices: Decide which apps your child can download or purchase, block or allow apps, and change app permissions.
Manage your child's screen time on supervised devices: Set a bedtime or daily screen limits, and see how much time your child spends on certain apps.
Check your child's Android device location.
Restrict mature content on Google Play.

Google services & your child's Google Account

If your child has a Google Account, they can use a variety of Google services. Keep in mind that these services generally aren’t designed for children.

Requirements

Manage your child's Google Account

To use Family Link to manage your child’s Google Account, you need to:

Have a Google Account. If you don’t have one you can create a Google Account for free.
Be 18 or older (or the appropriate age in your country) and have a Google Account.
Have an Android device (5.0+), iPhone (iOS 9+), iPad (iOS 9+), or a Chromebook that supports Android Apps to download the Family Link app on. You can also manage some settings at g.co/YourFamily.
Live in the same country as your child.

Supervise your child’s device

To use Family Link to supervise your child’s device, they need to:

Have a Google Account.
Have an Android device (running 5.1 or higher) or a Chromebook (running Chrome OS 71 or higher). Learn how to update your Android or Chrome OS version.

Set up key features

Set screen time limit

With a parent's device

Open the Family Link app .
Select your child.
On the "Daily limit" card, tap Set up or Edit limits and follow the on-screen instructions.

With your child's device

On your child's device, open Settings .
- On Android versions 8.1 (O) and later, tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
- On other Android versions, tap Google Parental controls.
To view the current settings, tap Daily limit.
To edit Daily limit settings, sign in or use your Parent Access Code to verify that you're a parent.

Tip: Daily limits apply to each Android device or Chromebook your child uses. For example, if you set a daily limit of 2 hours, your child would get 2 hours of time on each device.

Allow or block apps

The app will be blocked or unblocked in about 5 minutes, or once the device is connected to the Internet. If your child is using the app at the time you block it, they'll get a one minute warning to finish up before the app is blocked. The app is blocked on all of your child's Android devices or Chromebooks.

Important: Some apps can't be blocked because they're required for parent supervision settings to work, or for your child's device to work.

Open the Family Link app .
Select your child.
On the "Apps installed" card, tap More.
Select the name of the app you want to allow or block.
Turn Allow app on or off.

Find your child’s location

If you're a parent, you can find your child's Android device location in the Family Link app.

Open the Family Link app .
Select your child.
On the "Location" card, tap Set up.
Turn on the settings required to find your child's location.
Tap Turn on. It might take up to 30 minutes to find your child's device location.

Related resources

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