Your child can do things like ask Google questions, play games, and listen to stories if you link their Family Link managed Google Account and voice to your Google Nest or Home speaker or display.
Note: This feature is available on Android only.
Note: If Digital Wellbeing is enabled, this feature may be restricted or blocked by Downtime, Filters or Do not disturb.
How speakers and displays work
There are a few things children with supervised accounts can't do on speakers and displays:
- Play YouTube videos or songs from YouTube music
- Make purchases
- Use non-Google actions, unless they have the "For families" badge
Step 1. Download the Google Home app on your child's phone
Your child needs to download the Google Home app from the Google Play Store on their phone.
Step 2. Parent sets up speaker or display
If you created an account for a child under 13 (or the applicable age in your country), you’ll need to set up the speaker or display before they can link their account. If the device is already set up, you can skip this step.
Note: If you added supervision to your child’s existing Google Account, your child will be able to set up speakers and display, and sign in using the Google Home app.
Step 3. Set up Voice Match with your child
- On your child's device, open the Google Home app
.
- Make sure your mobile device or tablet is connected to the same Wi-Fi as your speaker or display.
- Scroll down to "Local devices," then tap Link Account.
- Tap the account of the person who’ll set up Voice Match with the child
Continue.
- You’ll get a screen that outlines the permissions. Tap Agree
Continue.
- 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.
Step 4. Turn on personal results
Personal results allow the Google Assistant on speakers or displays to get private info like your child’s calendar and contacts, and display their photos on a TV.
Note: Personal results must be on to get any personalized information.
- On your device, open the Family Link app
.
- Select your child’s name.
- Scroll down to the speaker or display where you want to turn personal results on or off.
- Below the device’s name, tap Settings
.
- Turn on Personal results.
Important: You can't turn on a subset of personal results. For example, you can’t turn on calendars but then turn off contacts. If you turn off personal results because you don't want your Assistant to help with contacts, it won’t be able to help with other personal information like photos and calendars.
Unlink your child's account and voice
- On your device, open the Family Link app
.
- Select your child’s name.
- Find the device, then tap Settings
Unlink Google Account and voice
Unlink.
Note: Your child can unlink their voice on their own.
How non-Google actions work
Your child can only use non-Google actions that have the "For families" badge .
- On your Android phone or tablet, say "Hey Google, open Assistant settings" or go to Assistant settings.
- Choose an app.
- In the "Details" section, look for the "For families" badge
.
Check if an action is for families on the web
- On your internet browser, go to assistant.google.com/explore.
- Click on an app.
- In the "Details" section, look for the "For families" badge
.
You can decide if you want to allow your child to use non-Google actions on Google Assistant.
- Open the Family Link app
.
- Select your child’s name.
- In the "Settings" section, tap Manage Settings
Google Assistant.
- Turn Third-party actions on or off.
If you allow your child to use non-Google actions:
- Google won't share audio recordings of your child's voice with these actions. However, a transcript of what your child said can be sent to these actions.
- Google won't share your child's personal information with these actions, including your child's name, email address, or precise location. If an action needs to save information, like answers your child gave to trivia questions, that information will be saved to a unique code.