If you use Google products, such as Chromebooks, Google Chrome, or phones running Android, ‘Google Family Link’ is the perfect app for making sure your child is safe when they’re accessing these devices.

With Google Family Link, you can view the apps they’re using, limit screen time, use GPS to see their location, and control what apps they’re accessing.

So how do I set up Family Link?

First, let’s create your child’s account on Family Link:

Open the Family Link app.

In the top right, tap ‘Create’.

Follow the instructions on the screen to create the account.

When you're done, a confirmation will show up on the screen.

Once that’s done, sign into each Google/Android device with your child’s new account. This will be the account your child uses to access the device.

Setting time limits on your Google devices

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’ and then ‘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 on each device.

How do I 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.

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.

How do I turn on the device 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’.

Tap ‘Turn on’. It might take up to 30 minutes to find your child's device location.

Now you have complete control over your child’s access to Google devices. As they grow older, you can grant them more freedom, to the point where you can give them full access.

How can I access Google Family Link?

Use Google Family Link to manage your child's digital experience and keep them safe online.