Set up
Google Family Link.

1. Set up the child’s supervised account.

1. Install Google Family Link on your device and sign in with your parent Google Account. Check the current app-store compatibility. Google’s getting-started requirements include a parent of the applicable adult age and parent and child living in the same country.[1]
2. For a new child account, use Family Link’s profile selector → Add child and follow the account and consent prompts. Applicable account ages and setup requirements vary by country.[15]
3. For an existing account on the child’s Android, open Settings → Google → All services → Kids & Family → Parental controls → Let’s do this. Select the account and complete supervision with your child’s consent. On Chromebook, use Settings → Accounts → Parental Controls → Set up.[2]

School-managed Google Workspace for Education accounts cannot be managed by Family Link. Availability also varies by region.[1]

From here on, select the intended child in the parent’s Family Link app before changing settings.

2. Set daily limits, app budgets, and quiet hours.

Daily device allowance

Open Screen time → Time limits, turn on Daily limit, then choose Weekly schedule → a day. Set the hours and minutes, and save. Use the apply-to-all-days option if appropriate.[3]

A separate budget or block for an app

Open Screen time → Time limits → App limits → the app → Set limit. Choose the allowance and tap Done. The app’s controls also let you choose Blocked or allowed. App time limits cover apps across supported Android and ChromeOS devices; system apps do not support app limits.[4]

Downtime and School time

Open Screen time → Schedules, enable Downtime or School time, then edit the Weekly schedule. Select days and start/end times. Google’s scheduling instructions specify supported Android devices, so check availability on each child device rather than assuming every Chromebook has the same controls.[5]

Review exceptions: Unlimited Time apps do not count toward the daily device allowance and can remain available after it runs out. Use the schedule’s Allowed Apps settings for Downtime or School time exceptions. Manual lock has a separate Unlimited Time apps setting under Controls → Signed-in devices → device → Lock screen settings.[4][5]

For a one-off change, open Screen time, choose the child’s device, and use Lock / Unlock or Bonus time rather than rewriting the regular schedule.[3]

3. Set Chrome and Google Search rules separately.

1. For web access, open Controls → Google Chrome and Web. Choose Try to block explicit sites or Only allow approved sites. Add exceptions under Approved sites and Blocked sites. No automatic filter is perfect.[6]
2. For search results, open Controls → Google Search and keep SafeSearch on Filter. SafeSearch is not a whole-web filter; it cannot enforce the preference when a child is signed out or uses an alternative search app.[7]

4. Require approval for Google Play downloads.

Open Controls → Google Play → Purchases & download approvals → Require approval for. Choose All content if you want the broadest listed approval setting; the other choices are paid content only, in-app purchases only, or never.[17]

These approvals cover Google Play’s billing system only. They do not control Apple App Store purchases or other billing systems. Previously installed or approved apps, and apps in Play Family Library, may download without fresh approval.[1][8]

For an iPhone or iPad, use Apple’s purchase and download settings. For YouTube content, use supervised YouTube settings; a Play approval rule is not a video filter.

5. Check the setup together.

Our suggested check:

• Test one short app budget. Open the app and confirm the boundary on the intended child device.
• Try the planned quiet hours. Check school, health, accessibility, and caregiver-contact apps still work as intended. Do not call emergency services to test.
• Review every device and account. Look for another phone, Chromebook, shared tablet, browser, or adult profile that your plan does not cover.
• Try a harmless blocked site and a new download request. Confirm the expected adult receives the request.

If a control appears missing, check the child’s account, device compatibility, app version, and region against the official sources below. Agree how exceptions work instead of relying on settings no one has tested.