Manage your child's Google Play apps

When you use Family Link to manage your child's Google Account, you can choose to limit the apps your child can use on certain devices.

To manage your child's apps, your child must be using one of the following devices:

  • An Android device (running Android 5.1 or higher)
  • A Chromebook (running Chrome OS version 71 or higher)

Important: System apps aren't supported by the app limit functionality. You can set limits for Android 7+ devices.

Choose which apps from Google Play your child can use

Block or unblock an app

The app will be blocked or unblocked in about 5 minutes, or once the device is connected to the Internet. If your child is using the app at the time you block it, they'll get a 1 minute warning to finish up before the app is blocked. The app should be blocked on all of your child's Android devices or Chromebooks.

Important: Some apps can't be blocked because they're required for parent supervision settings to work, or for your child's device to work.

Family Link app

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. On the "App activity," card tap More.
  4. Tap the name of the app you want to allow or block.
  5. Turn "Allow app" on or off.

Family Link on the web

  1. Go to Family Link on the web.
  2. Select your child.
  3. ClickAndroid apps.
  4. Turn the app on or off.

Select your Always allowed apps

Important: Always allowed apps are only supported for children signed-in on Android 7+ devices except those running Google Kids Space. Check which version of Android your child is using.

Edit your Always allowed apps

Important: Always allowed apps are only supported for children signed-in on Android 7+ devices except those running Google Kids Space. Check which version of Android your child is using.

Help prevent your child from downloading mature apps

You can set up parental controls to restrict the content your child can download or purchase from Google Play.

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Manage settings and then Google Play.
  4. Under "Content restrictions," choose your filters:
    • Apps, Games, Movies, and TV: Choose the highest maturity level of content you want to allow for download or purchase.
    • Music and Books: Choose whether you want to restrict downloads or purchases of explicit content.

Tip: You can also manage your child's account when you click on your child's name at g.co/YourFamily.

Flag inappropriate content

Google Play

First, check the content to see if it has the Family Star badgeFamily star badge. If you see the Family Star badge, skip the steps below and report a problem with family content. Otherwise, follow the steps below.

Play, apps, games & music

  1. On your child's device, open the Play Store appPlay Store.
  2. Tap the inappropriate music, app or game.
  3. At the bottom of the page, tapFlag as inappropriate.
  4. Choose the reason you find the content inappropriate.
  5. TapSubmit.

Set parental controls on 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.

  1. Open the Family Link appFamily Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. TapManage settingsand then  Google Play.
  4. Tap the type of content you want to filter.
  5. Choose how to filter or restrict access.

Tip:You can also manage this setting by clicking on your child's name at g.co/YourFamily.

See your child's app activity

You can see how much time your child spent using apps on their Android devices or Chromebooks. Time is tracked when the app is open and shown on the screen, but not when the app is working in the background.

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. On the "App activity" card, tap Set up. After you turn on App Activity, you'll see your child's app activity in a few hours.

Troubleshoot problems

I don't want to track my child's app activity

If you don't want to see how much time your child spends on Android apps, you can turn off the additional Web & App Activity setting.

Important: Turning off this setting might make other Google services less reliable.

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Manage settings and thenPrivacy settingsand thenAccount data settingsand then Web & App Activity.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Related articles

  • Manage your child's app permissions
  • Purchase approvals on Google Play

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