How to Set Up Google Family Link for Parental Controls

Learn how to set up Google Family Link step by step, from creating your child's account to configuring screen time, app approvals, and content controls.

9/11/20266 min read

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Handing a child their first phone is easy. Deciding what that phone should and shouldn't be able to do is the hard part. Google's Family Link app is built for exactly that — but the setup process involves two devices, two Google Accounts, and a handful of steps that aren't always obvious the first time through.

This guide walks through the entire process: what you need before you start, how to set up Family Link on a new or existing Android device, how to configure the controls that actually matter, and what to do when the setup gets stuck partway through.

Also Read: How to Hide Apps From Your App Drawer (Android & iPhone)

What Family Link Actually Controls

Family Link is Google's free parental supervision app. Once it's set up, it lets a parent manage several things from their own phone:

Daily screen time limits, bedtime schedules, and school-time schedules
Time limits on individual apps
Approval requirements for new app downloads and in-app purchases on Google Play
Content restrictions for apps, movies, and YouTube
SafeSearch and website restrictions in Chrome
The location of the child's supervised device

It's worth being clear about what it doesn't do. Family Link doesn't read text messages, listen to calls, or monitor what's typed inside other apps. It manages settings and permissions — it isn't a monitoring or spyware tool.

What You Need Before You Start

Before opening the app, it helps to confirm both sides of the setup are compatible.

On the parent's side, you'll need:

To be 18 or older (or the minimum age set in your country)
Your own Google Account
A phone to install Family Link on — Android 6.0 or later, or an iPhone/iPad on iOS 16 or later

On the child's side, the device needs to be one of the following:

An Android phone or tablet running Android 5.0 or higher (Android 7.0 and up gives the most reliable experience)
A Chromebook running Chrome OS 71 or higher
A compatible Fitbit Ace LTE

One limitation catches a lot of parents off guard: iPhones, iPads, and Windows or Mac computers can't be supervised as the child's device. If your child's only device is an iPhone, Family Link can still apply a handful of Google-service settings — like SafeSearch or YouTube content limits — once they sign into a Google Account there, but screen time limits, app approvals, and device location won't work. Full supervision on iOS or Windows isn't something Family Link offers; it's built around Android and Chrome OS.

Parent and child also need to be set up in the same country. In most countries, including Pakistan, Google's default age for managing your own account is 13 — below that, the account has to be created and managed through Family Link by a parent.

Setting Up Family Link Step by Step

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There are two common starting points: setting up a brand-new Android device for your child, or adding supervision to a phone they already use.

Starting With a Brand-New Android Device

This is the simplest path, since the account and the supervision get created together.

Turn on the new Android device and follow the on-screen setup prompts.
When asked to sign in with a Google Account, tap Create account. If that option isn't visible, tap More options, then For my child.
Enter your child's name, birthday, email address, and password.
When prompted, sign in with your own Google Account to give parental consent.
Choose your child's initial settings when prompted, then finish setup.

The whole process, including account creation, takes roughly 15 minutes.

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Adding Supervision to a Phone Your Child Already Uses

If the child's Android device is already set up and signed in, the process runs through the Family Link app on both devices.

On your own phone, download Family Link from the Google Play Store or App Store and sign in with your Google Account.
In the app, select Add child, then choose whether to create a new account or add supervision to an existing one (this second option applies if your child is 13 or older and already has their own Google Account).
On your child's device, remove any existing Google Account that won't be the managed one, then add the new or existing child account when prompted.
Follow the on-screen prompts on the child's device to accept supervision — this is where the two devices link together.
Back on your phone, you'll get a confirmation once the accounts are connected.

Some newer Android phones also offer this same flow directly from Settings > Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls, which walks through the same account-linking steps without opening the Family Link app first.

Linking a Chromebook

If the child will be using a Chromebook instead of or alongside a phone, the setup happens during the device's own setup screen: choose For a child, then Child's Google Account, and either create a new account or sign in with one already supervised by Family Link. This requires Chrome OS 71 or later.

Setting Up the Core Parental Controls

Once the accounts are linked, the useful part starts — configuring what the child's device can actually do.

Screen Time Limits, Bedtime, and School Time

Open Family Link, select your child, and tap Screen time. From here:

Time limits lets you set a daily total for device use.
Schedules covers Downtime (a bedtime-style lock) and School time, each with its own weekly schedule.
App limits lets you cap individual apps rather than the whole device — useful if you want to allow a reading app but restrict a game.
Bonus time gives a one-off extension without changing the regular schedule.

Apps marked as "unlimited" won't count against the daily limit and stay available even during downtime, which is worth setting for messaging apps if your child needs to reach you.

App Approvals and Google Play Restrictions

Under Controls > Google Play, you can require approval for any new app download or in-app purchase, and set a content restriction based on age ratings for apps, games, movies, and books. Turning on purchase approval is the simplest way to stop unexpected charges.

YouTube Content Settings

Family Link also manages the child's YouTube experience through Controls > YouTube. Content settings range from Explore (aimed at ages 9 and up, the most restrictive), to Explore More (roughly ages 13 and up), to Most of YouTube, which allows nearly everything except age-restricted videos. These same settings apply whether the child uses the YouTube app, YouTube Kids, or the web version.

Location and Device Management

The Location tab shows the last known position of the child's Android device, as long as it's powered on and connected to the internet. From the same app, you can also remotely lock the device — handy at bedtime or if it's misplaced.

What Family Link Can't Do

A few limitations are worth knowing before you rely on it as your only safeguard:

It can't supervise an iPhone, iPad, Windows PC, or Mac as the child's device — only partial settings apply there.
It doesn't monitor the content of messages, calls, or what's typed inside third-party apps.
It can't manage a Google Workspace for Education account.
Remote features like location and locking need the child's device to have an internet connection to update.
A tech-savvy older child could try adding a second, unmanaged user profile on the device to sidestep restrictions — locking additional profiles behind a PIN closes that gap.

Also Read: How to Transfer Data to a New Android Phone Safely

Fixing Common Family Link Setup Problems

If something isn't working, work through these roughly in order — from the quickest checks to the ones that require more digging.

The child's device won't finish linking. Confirm both devices have an active internet connection, and that the child's device isn't still signed into a different Google Account in the background.
The parent approval notification never arrives. Check that notifications are enabled for the Family Link app on the parent's phone, and that you're signed in with the same account used to set up supervision.
Screen time schedules aren't applying at the right time. Check that the device's time zone is set correctly — a mismatched time zone is one of the more common causes of schedules firing late or not at all.
You can't add a child who already has their own account. If the child is 13 or older with an existing Google Account, use "add supervision to an existing account" from the Family Link app rather than the "create account" flow.
Settings seem to reset or stop applying. This sometimes happens after an Android or Family Link app update. Reopening the app and reviewing each control tab usually restores the settings without needing to redo the full setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Family Link work on iPhone?

It works as the parent's app on iPhone (iOS 16 or later), but an iPhone can't be the supervised child device. On a child's iPhone, only a few Google-service settings apply, not full device supervision.

What age can my child manage their own Google Account?

In most countries, including Pakistan, the minimum age is 13. Some countries set a different age, which Google applies automatically based on location.

Can Family Link read my child's text messages?

No. It manages settings like screen time, app permissions, and content restrictions — it doesn't have access to message content.

Can my teenager remove Family Link on their own?

Teens between 13 and 17 need parental approval to stop supervision themselves, though a parent can turn it off at any time.

Is Family Link free to use?

Yes, the app itself is free. Some of the apps and services it manages, like Google Play purchases, may still involve their own costs.