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Android Parental Controls

This Blog is a Sub Thread of Parental Control Blog https://www.bringingyourtechtolife.com/single-post/ParentalControls

Android Smart Phones and Tablets are powerful tools, however if not properly managed can be misused since they're small and can easily be sneaked into a child's bedroom, taken to school or a friends house where parental guidance and oversight may not exist.

Parental Controls on Google Android Devices including Smart Phones and Tablets

Set up parental controls on Google Play

When you turn on parental controls, you can restrict what content can be downloaded or purchased from Google Play based on maturity level.

Set up parental controls

For family members who manage their own accounts

How Google Play parental controls work
  • Parental controls only apply to the Android device you added them on. To add parental controls on another device, repeat the steps below on the other devices.

  • If you have multiple users on a device, you can set up different parental controls for each person.

  • The person who sets up parental controls will create a PIN that needs to be entered to remove or change the parental controls.

Set up parental controls
  1. On the device you want parental controls on, open the Play Store app .

  2. In the top left corner, tap Menu Settings Parental controls.

  3. Turn "Parental controls" On.

  4. Create a PIN. This prevents people who don't know the PIN from changing your parental control settings. If you're setting up parental controls on your child's device, choose a PIN they don't already know.

  5. Tap the type of content you want to filter.

  6. Choose how to filter or restrict access.

Once you set up parental controls, you can turn them on or off. When you turn them back on and create a new PIN, your old settings will come back. This helps you share a device with people who don’t need parental controls.

For family members whose accounts are managed with Family Link

If your child’s Google Account is managed with Family Link, you can set up parental controls for them.

How Google Play parental controls work
  • Parental controls work on Android devices where your child is signed in to their Google Account.

  • A parent in the family group needs to use their Google Account password to set up or change their child's parental control settings.

Set up parental controls
  1. Open the Family Link app.

  2. Select your child.

  3. Tap Manage settings Controls on Google Play.

  4. Tap the type of content you want to filter.

  5. Choose how to filter or restrict access.

Note: You can also manage this setting by clicking on your child's name at families.google.com.

Note: Parental controls don't prevent seeing restricted content as a search result or through a direct link.

How parental controls work

The way parental controls work varies across Apps & Games, Music, Movies, TV, and Books. Read the sections below to learn more.

Note: Parental controls for each type of content aren't available in every country. If you travel to a country where they aren't available, they might not work until you get back home.

  • Apps & Games: When you set up parental controls for apps and games, you can choose the highest content rating you want to allow for downloads or purchases. However, you may still be able to see apps and games outside of your filter when you search, or by visiting them using a direct link to the app's page. Note: You or your child will still be able to see any apps and games you downloaded before you added parental controls, even if they're outside of the rating you set. If your child’s account is supervised with Family Link, you can block these apps on their Android devices.

How parental controls for games work in Play Games

Parental controls don't change the games you see in the Play Games app, including games you've bought or recommended games.

If you try to install a game using the Play Games app, you’ll be taken to the Play Store app where your parental controls settings may restrict access.

  • Movies: When you set up parental controls for movies, you can choose the highest rating you want to allow for rental, purchase, or playback. However, you may still be able to see movies outside of our filter when you search, or by visiting them using a direct link to the content's page. If movies are restricted because of parental controls, you won't see them in the Play Store app or in the Play Movies app, even if you've already rented or purchased them. You can turn parental controls off to see these movies again.

  • TV: When you set up parental controls for TV shows, you can choose the highest rating you want to allow for purchase or playback. However, you may still be able to see TV shows outside of our filter when you search, or by visiting them using a direct link to the content's page. If TV shows are restricted because of parental controls, you won't see them on the Play Store app or in the Play Movies & TV app, even if you've already purchased them. You can turn Parental controls off to see these shows again.

  • Books: When you set up parental controls for books, you won't be able to read or purchase most sexually explicit books from the Play Store app and the Play Books app. However, you may still be able to see books outside of our filter when you search, or by visiting them using a direct link to the content's page. You can turn parental controls off to see these books again. While setting up parental controls won't catch 100% of sexually explicit books in Google Play, it should help you avoid most adult content.

  • Music: When you set up parental controls for music, you won't be able to purchase music that's marked Explicit by content providers. However, you may still be able to see music outside of our filter when you search, or by visiting them using a direct link to the content's page. Parental controls for music only apply to the Play Store app. Parental controls don't change the music you see in the Play Music app, including purchased music, uploaded music, or subscription tracks.

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