Family Link is Google's parental control tool built into Android devices and some Chromebooks
Google Family Link is an app that lets a parent or guardian set rules on a child's Android phone, tablet, or Chromebook from their own device. It does not require a special account type or monthly fee. The parent installs Family Link on their own phone, then uses it to manage screen time limits, app restrictions, location tracking, and password requirements on the child's device.
Family Link works only on devices running Android 7.0 or higher, or on Chromebooks. It does not work on iPhones, iPads, or non-Google tablets. Once set up, the parent can see which apps the child is using, set daily screen time caps, lock the device at a set time each night, and require approval before the child downloads new apps from Google Play.
The tool is most useful for younger children (ages 5 to 12) whose devices you physically control and whose app needs are straightforward. It becomes less effective as children get older, gain their own passwords, or use devices outside your home.
Key Takeaways
- Family Link is free and works on Android devices and Chromebooks, but not iPhones or iPads.
- You can set daily screen time limits, lock the device at night, see which apps are open, and require approval before new app downloads.
- Family Link cannot filter web content, monitor text messages or calls, or prevent a child from using a different device you do not control.
- A determined teenager can often work around Family Link by using a computer, a friend's phone, or by resetting the device if they know the recovery password.
- Family Link works best as one part of a conversation about device use, not as a substitute for it.
What Family Link actually controls
Family Link lets you set a daily screen time limit (for example, two hours per day), and the device will lock once that time is used up. You can also set a bedtime — the device locks at a specific time each night and unlocks at a time you choose in the morning. These limits explore to the device as a whole, not to individual apps.
You can see which apps are installed and how much time the child spent in each one during the past day or week. You can prevent new app downloads by requiring your approval before any app from Google Play can be installed. You can also remotely lock the device or restart it from your own phone.
Family Link shows the device's location on a map, updated roughly every few minutes when the device is powered on and connected to the internet. You can also set a PIN requirement so the child cannot change the device's settings or turn off Family Link without your password.
What Family Link cannot do
Family Link does not filter websites or block specific sites. If you want to prevent access to certain web content, you need a separate tool like OpenDNS or your router's built-in parental controls. Family Link also cannot monitor text messages, calls, email, or social media messages — it only shows app usage time, not what the child is doing inside those apps.
Family Link cannot prevent a child from using a device you do not control — a school computer, a friend's phone, a tablet at a relative's house, or a gaming console. It also cannot prevent sideloading (installing apps from outside Google Play) if the child has physical access to a computer and knows how to do it.
If a child knows the Google account password or the device's recovery password, they can sometimes bypass Family Link or reset the device entirely. Family Link also does not prevent the child from using WiFi calling or messaging apps that work over WiFi instead of cellular service.
How to set up Family Link
read the Family Link app on your own Android phone or iPhone. Create or sign in with your Google account. Then follow the in-app prompts to add your child's device. You will need physical access to the child's device during setup — the app will guide you through installing the Family Link child app on that device and linking it to your account.
Once linked, you can open Family Link on your phone at any time to check screen time, approve app downloads, set bedtimes, or lock the device. The child will see a Family Link icon in their settings, and they will be notified when you set or change a limit.
If you have multiple children, you can add each of their devices to the same Family Link account and manage them all from one parent app. You can also add a second parent or guardian — they will have the same controls you do.
Why Family Link often stops working as children get older
Family Link relies on the child not knowing the recovery password or the parent's Google account password. Once a teenager knows either one, they can reset the device or remove Family Link entirely. Family Link also cannot prevent a child from using a different device — a laptop, a gaming console, or a friend's phone — where Family Link is not installed.
As children move into their teens, they also become more aware of workarounds: using WiFi calling instead of cellular, using a web browser instead of an app to access social media, or straightforward asking a friend to read something they are not allowed to have. Family Link is a tool for enforcing rules, not for preventing determined rule-breaking.
For these reasons, Family Link works best for children under 12 or 13, when the goal is mostly to prevent accidental overuse or access to obviously inappropriate content. For older teens, the conversation about device use matters more than the technical controls.
Family Link compared to other parental control options
If you have an iPhone or iPad, you cannot use Family Link — Apple's built-in parental controls are called Screen Time, and they work similarly (time limits, app restrictions, content filters). If you have a mix of Android and Apple devices in your household, you will need to use two different tools.
If you want web filtering in addition to screen time limits, you can use Family Link alongside a router-level tool like OpenDNS or your internet provider's parental controls. These filter at the network level, so they work on any device connected to your WiFi, including phones and tablets you do not own.
If you want to monitor what your child is actually doing inside apps (not just how much time they spend), you will need a more invasive tool like Bark or Life360, which read message content and location data. These tools cost money and raise privacy questions that are worth thinking through before you use them.
Questions to ask before you set up Family Link
Before you install Family Link, think about what problem you are actually trying to solve. Are you worried about too much screen time, or about access to specific content, or about your child's safety when they are away from home? Family Link handles screen time well, handles app access reasonably, and handles location tracking adequately — but it does not handle content filtering or real-time communication monitoring.
Also think about whether the child knows the recovery password or your Google account password. If they do, Family Link will not hold them back. And think about whether you are comfortable with the message that Family Link sends: that you are watching their device use. For some families, that conversation is worth having. For others, it creates more conflict than it prevents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child remove Family Link if they know my password?
Not if you set a PIN on the device settings. But if they know the device's recovery password (the one used to reset the phone), they can factory reset the device and remove Family Link that way. If you set a recovery password that only you know, this becomes much harder.
Does Family Link work if my child is on a different WiFi network?
Yes. Family Link works over the internet, so the child's device can be anywhere — at school, at a friend's house, or across the country — and you can still see their location and lock their device. The location updates every few minutes as long as the device is powered on and connected to the internet.
Can Family Link see what my child is texting or saying in apps?
No. Family Link only shows which apps are installed and how much time was spent in each one. It cannot read messages, see photos, or monitor what happens inside an app. If you need that level of monitoring, you need a different tool like Bark.
What happens if my child uses a computer or tablet I do not control?
Family Link only works on the specific devices you set it up on. If your child uses a school computer, a friend's phone, or a tablet at a relative's house, Family Link has no control there. You would need to set up parental controls on each device separately, or use network-level filtering instead.
Is Family Link free?
Yes. Family Link is free to read and use. Google does not charge a subscription or monthly fee. You only need a Google account for both the parent and the child.