How to Set Up Google Family Link on Your Child's Android Phone
6 min read Giving a child their first phone is easier when you can set simple limits from day one. This guide walks through Family Link: creating the account, screen-time rules, app approval and the conversations that matter more than any setting. October 13, 2026 11:36 By Disha Varia, Guj Times
The first phone in a child's hands is a big moment for the whole family, and most parents feel the same mix of pride and worry. Family Link is a free app from Google that lets you set a few sensible boundaries without reading every message your child sends. It does not make a phone "safe" on its own, but it gives you a structure to start from.
What Family Link can and cannot do
- Can do: set a daily screen-time limit, set a bedtime when the phone locks, approve or block app installs, and show which apps your child uses most.
- Can do: help you find the device if it is lost, if location sharing is switched on.
- Cannot do: read your child's chats, stop a determined teenager from finding a workaround, or replace a conversation about what is and is not okay online.
Before you begin
Keep both phones nearby, make sure they are connected to the internet, and have your own Google account password ready. The age at which a child can have a normal Google account differs from country to country, so Family Link guides you through the right option for your child's age.
Step 1: Install Family Link on your phone
Download the app called Google Family Link (not the one named "for children") from the official store listing. Open it and follow the prompts to create a family group with you as the parent.
Step 2: Create the child's account
Tap the option to add a child and enter their name, date of birth and a username. You will be asked to agree to some consent notes on behalf of your child. Read them. It is a good moment to explain to your child what the account is for.
Step 3: Sign in on the child's phone
On the child's phone, add the new account in Settings and then enter your parent password when asked. The phone is now linked and appears on your Family Link dashboard.
Step 4: Set the rules together
- Daily limit: start generous, for example two hours on school days, and adjust after a week.
- Bedtime: choose a time when the phone locks automatically. Pair it with a rule that the phone charges outside the bedroom.
- App approvals: turn on approval for new installs so that you can look at each one with your child. Use the age rating on the Google Play page as a guide.
- Content filters: in Google Play, YouTube and Chrome there are settings for what your child can see. Choose the strictest setting that still allows normal schoolwork.
The part that matters most
Children who feel that rules are fair are far more likely to talk to you when something goes wrong. Tell them what you can see and why. Agree on what they should do if they receive a message from a stranger, if someone asks for photos, or if they see something that upsets them. Our guide to spotting fake apps is a useful starting point for a family discussion.
Review every few months
As children grow, loosen the limits. A rule that fits a ten-year-old will feel unfair to a fourteen-year-old, and a rule that is ignored is worse than no rule.
Quick answers
Can my child remove Family Link? A supervised child cannot remove it without your permission, and you get a notice if the link is broken.
Does it work on iPhones? You can manage a child's Android device from an iPhone, but the child's device must be an Android phone or tablet.
Will it cost anything? The app is free.
Rules that are easy to keep
A family agreement works better than secret controls. Agree on a bedtime, on which apps are fine, and on what the child should do if something online makes them uncomfortable. Write it down, and review it when the child gets older.
What parents often forget
Check that the child's age on the account is correct, because it affects which controls apply. Keep the parent's Google account secure with 2-Step Verification, since someone who takes it over could change the child's settings. Also remember that Family Link does not replace talking about scams, strangers and sharing photos.
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