Android phone
Our age is 13. Caution because of an open app store and a full web browser until Family Link is set up.
Checked October 2026.
- Our rating
- Use Caution
- Controls
- Google Family Link
- Made by
- Various (Google, Samsung, etc.)
- Setup
- 9 stops, about 20 minutes
Do these three first
- Create or add your child's accountSettingsGoogleAll servicesParental controlsSet up a supervised Google account for your child, or add supervision to the one they have.
- Approve new apps and limit the restFamily LinkControlsGoogle PlayRequire approval forSet limits on games and social apps, and give school apps unlimited time.
- Set a Downtime scheduleFamily LinkScreen timeSchedulesDowntimeLock the phone automatically at night.
About Android phone
What are Android Devices?
Android is an operating system used by many smartphone and tablet manufacturers including Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others. It offers flexibility and variety in price points, with Google Family Link providing parental controls. Android devices range from budget-friendly options to premium flagships.
Pros for Child/Teen Use
Price Range
Android devices available at all price points, from $50 to $1500+.
Google Family Link
Free parental control app with comprehensive features.
Flexibility
More customization options than iOS.
No "Green Bubble" Stigma
RCS messaging reduces the Android/iPhone divide.
Google Account Integration
Easy to manage through existing Google ecosystem.
Cons for Child/Teen Use
Fragmented Controls
Parental control effectiveness varies by device manufacturer and Android version.
Easier to Bypass
Generally easier for tech-savvy teens to work around restrictions.
App Store Risks
Google Play has less strict curation than Apple's App Store.
Sideloading
APKs can be installed outside the Play Store if permitted.
Key Safety Features
Google's free parental control app.
App approval, screen time limits, location sharing, content filtering, and device locking.
Additional controls on Samsung devices.
Locked, kid-friendly home screen with approved apps only. Best for ages 4-10.
Age Recommendations
Under 10: Consider simpler devices. If Android needed, heavily restricted Family Link setup.
Ages 10-12: Android with strict Family Link controls and regular oversight.
Ages 13-15: Android with Family Link, communication monitoring, and gradual independence.
Ages 16+: Transition to self-management with ongoing family discussions.
The complete guide includes:
- Step-by-step Family Link setup
- Content filtering configuration
- Screen time and bedtime settings
- Samsung Kids setup guide
- Age-specific configurations
Talk about it
- What apps do you want to try that you don't have yet?Family Link sends app requests to you, and hearing about them first makes approving them easier.
- How much phone time on a school day feels fair to you?Kids who help set the daily limit are more likely to stick to it.
- Do you know why Family Link is on your phone?Explaining it as a safety net rather than a punishment makes them less likely to look for ways around it.
- If an app or website shows you something upsetting, what could you do?Practices the plan: close it and come tell you, without worrying about losing the phone.
The full route: 9 stops, about 20 minutes
- Install Family Link
- Create or add your child's account
- Set up your child's phone
- Set daily screen time limits
- Set a Downtime schedule
- Approve new apps and limit the rest
- Set content filters
- Turn on location sharingoptional
- Test everything
Start the setupFree to follow. With Family, your progress is saved for each child.
The complete Android phone parent guide, with age-by-age settings, is part of the Family plan.
The full guide
Android phones offer powerful parental controls through Google Family Link. This guide covers setup, app management, screen time limits, location sharing, and content filtering for any Android device.
Understanding Your Options
Android parental controls work through:
- Google Family Link: Comprehensive supervision app (recommended)
- Digital Wellbeing: Built-in screen time management
- Google Play Restrictions: Content filtering for apps and media
Use Family Link for children under 13. For teens 13+, you can use Family Link with their consent or rely on Digital Wellbeing and Play Store restrictions.
Setting Up Google Family Link
Download Family Link
On your phone, download "Google Family Link" from the Play Store.
On your child's phone, supervision is set up when they sign in with their supervised account. On a phone that's already in use, go to Settings → Google → All services → Parental controls (under "Kids & Family") to start supervision.
Create a Google Account for Your Child
If your child is under 13, you must create a supervised account:
- Open Family Link on your phone
- Tap "Create" or the + icon
- Select "Child or teen"
- Follow prompts to create their Google account
Children under 13 get a supervised account. Since January 2026, a child under 18 needs a parent's approval to stop supervision, so it no longer ends on its own at 13.
If your child already has an existing Google account, migrating it under Family Link supervision can be complicated and may not work in all cases. Google sometimes requires creating a new supervised account instead. If you encounter issues linking an existing account, the smoothest path is often to create a fresh supervised account and transition your child to it. See Google's help page on adding a child's existing account to Family Link for more detail.
Set Up Your Child's Device
On your child's Android phone:
- On a new or reset phone, sign in with your child's supervised Google account during setup
- On a phone already in use, go to Settings → Google → All services → Parental controls and tap Let's do this
- Choose your child's account and sign in with your parent account when asked
- Keep your child and the phone nearby: they give consent during setup
Configure Supervision Settings
Once linked, you can manage everything from the Family Link app on your phone or at families.google.com.
App Management
Approve or Block Apps
You can:
- Require approval for all app downloads
- Block specific apps already installed
- Set time limits for individual apps
Require App Approval
Under "Purchases & download approvals," tap "Require approval for" and select:
- All content: Every download, free or paid, needs your OK
- Paid content only: Free apps download freely
- In-app purchases only: Approve spending inside apps
Many "free" games sell items inside the game. "All content" covers both new apps and in-app purchases.
App Time Limits
Tap any app to set a daily time limit. Recommended limits:
- Games: 60-90 minutes
- Social media: 30-60 minutes
- YouTube: 60 minutes
Screen Time Controls
Daily Limit
Set total screen time per day. You can customize by day of week.
Recommended starting points:
- School days: 2-3 hours
- Weekends: 3-4 hours
Bedtime (Downtime)
Schedule when the device locks for the night. Family Link calls this "Downtime." The same Schedules menu also offers "School time," which limits the phone to apps you allow during school hours. Both need Android 7 or later.
Recommended:
- School nights: 8:00 PM - 7:00 AM
- Weekends: 9:00 PM - 8:00 AM
Bonus Time
Need to grant extra time? In Family Link, select your child, tap Screen time, then "Bonus time" below their device name. To lock the phone right away, tap "Lock" in the same place.
A daily limit applies to each Android device or Chromebook separately, so a 2-hour limit means 2 hours on the phone and 2 hours on a Chromebook. App limits apply across all their devices.
Content Filtering
Google Play Content Restrictions
Choose the highest rating allowed for:
Apps & Games
- Everyone (all ages)
- Everyone 10+
- Teen
- Mature 17+
- Adults only 18+
Movies
- G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17
TV
- TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14, TV-MA
Books
- Restrict books with sexually explicit content
Google Chrome Filtering
Options:
- Allow all sites: Only the sites you block are blocked
- Try to block explicit sites: Filters known adult content (recommended)
- Only allow approved sites: Only sites you add are allowed, the strictest option
Use "Manage sites" to add approved or blocked sites. Incognito mode is turned off for supervised accounts.
Chrome filtering helps but isn't perfect. Consider additional DNS-level filtering through your router or a service like CleanBrowsing.
Google Search SafeSearch
SafeSearch is set to "Filter" and locked by default for supervised children, and only you can change it (the other options are "Blur" and "Off"). It only applies while your child is signed in to their Google Account and using Google Search.
YouTube Settings
For children under 13 with supervised accounts, choose YouTube Kids or a supervised YouTube content setting from the YouTube options in Family Link:
- YouTube Kids: Curated, age-appropriate content
- Older kids: Generally suitable for 9+
- Teens: Generally suitable for 13+
- Older teens: Generally suitable for 16+
Supervised teens are placed automatically: 13 to 15 in "Teens," 16 and 17 in "Older teens." Age-restricted videos are not shown to anyone under 18.
Location Sharing
Enable Location Sharing
Tap "Set up location," pick your child, then tap Turn on. You can switch "See your child's location" on or off later in Location settings. Turning on "Location Accuracy" for their phone in the same place gives better results.
Location History
Family Link shows your child's current location, not a history of where they've been. Detailed route history lives in Google Maps Timeline, which is stored on your child's account and device.
Add "Family places" such as home or school (Location → Family places → New place), then turn on the "Arrives" and "Leaves" alerts for each place.
Privacy & Account Settings
Watch for Second Accounts
Family Link only applies while your child is signed in to their supervised account. Every so often, check the accounts list in Settings on their phone for an account you don't recognize, and talk about it if you find one.
Digital Wellbeing (On-Device)
Digital Wellbeing provides additional controls directly on the device:
Dashboard
See daily usage breakdown by app.
App Timers
Set limits for specific apps (these work alongside Family Link limits).
Focus Mode
Pause distracting apps during homework or family time.
Bedtime Mode
Grayscale the screen and silence notifications at bedtime.
Samsung Kids Mode (Samsung Devices)
On Samsung phones, the Parental controls entry in Settings opens Google Family Link:
For younger children, Samsung Kids (in the Quick settings panel) adds a separate kid-only home screen:
- Curated apps only
- Time limits
- No access to settings
Managing Notifications
During Supervision
With Family Link active, your child can see that their account is supervised and which settings you've chosen.
Google intentionally makes supervision visible to maintain trust. Your child knows they're being supervised.
What Parents Can See
| Feature | Visibility |
|---|---|
| App usage time | ✓ Per-app breakdown |
| Apps installed | ✓ Complete list |
| Location | ✓ Current location only, if turned on |
| Browsing or search history | ✗ Not shown in Family Link |
| Messages/texts | ✗ Not visible |
| Call history | ✗ Not visible |
| Photos | ✗ Not visible |
Handling Teen Accounts (13+)
When your child turns 13, they gain more say over their account settings. Since January 2026, however, a child under 18 needs a parent's approval to stop Family Link supervision.
Rather than relying solely on technical controls, build trust so teens choose to keep supervision or are open about their digital life.
Troubleshooting
Family Link Not Syncing
- Ensure both devices have internet
- Open Family Link and pull down to refresh
- Check that your child's device is powered on
Child Bypassed Restrictions
Common methods and solutions:
- Second account: Check the accounts on their phone and talk about any you don't recognize
- Guest mode or extra users: Look for a guest or new user in the phone's Users settings
- Factory reset: A reset phone has to be set up again, so check that it comes back supervised
Location Not Updating
- Verify Location is enabled on child's device
- Check that Google Play Services is updated
- Ensure battery saver isn't restricting location
Age-Based Recommendations
We suggest an Android phone from 13. If your child already has one younger, these are the settings for their age.
Ages 10-12
- Family Link with full supervision
- YouTube Kids or the "Older kids" setting
- App approval required for all downloads
- Strict web filtering
- 2-hour daily limit
- 8 PM bedtime
Ages 13-15
- Family Link (with consent)
- YouTube "Teens" setting (automatic for supervised teens)
- Mature sites blocked
- 3-hour daily limit
- 9 PM bedtime
Ages 16-17
- Lighter supervision or Digital Wellbeing only
- Open communication about expectations
- Gradual trust building
Quick Setup Checklist
Additional Resources
Your child's Android device is now protected with Family Link. Remember to revisit settings as they grow and have ongoing conversations about digital safety.