How to Set Up Chrome Parental Controls

Introduction

Setting up Chrome parental controls is essential for ensuring a safe browsing environment for your children. Whether you want to block inappropriate websites, approve the sites your child asks for, or enforce SafeSearch, Google Chrome provides several tools to help you manage your child’s online experience. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to set up Chrome parental controls using Google Family Link, which works when your child signs in to Chrome with a supervised Google Account.

Setting Up Google Family Link

Google Family Link is an app that allows you to create a Google account for your child and manage their browsing activity on Chrome. Follow these steps to set up Google Family Link:

For Android and iOS

1. Download Google Family Link from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
2. Open the app and follow the on-screen instructions to create a Google account for your child, or add supervision to their existing account.
3. Sign your child in to Chrome with that account on their device.
4. Once set up, use the Family Link app to manage Chrome settings:
• Open the Family Link app.
• Select your child’s account.
• Tap Controls > Google Chrome and Web.
• Choose the desired settings (Allow all sites, Try to block explicit sites, or Only allow approved sites).

Creating Supervised Chrome Profiles

Chrome once let parents create supervised profiles in its own settings. That feature has been removed. Supervision now comes from a Google Account managed in Family Link, which you can use on Android, Chromebook, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Mac and Linux. On computers, iPhone and iPad, your child can sign out of Chrome or switch profiles, and Family Link’s Chrome settings then stop applying.

Blocking Websites for Children

To block specific websites on Google Chrome, you can use various methods depending on your operating system.

Windows, macOS, and Linux

1. Open Google Chrome and navigate to the Chrome Web Store.
2. Search for and install a website blocker extension such as BlockSite or StayFocusd.
3. Once installed, configure the extension to block specific websites.

Using Family Link

1. Open the Family Link app.
2. Select your child’s account.
3. Tap Controls > Google Chrome and Web.
4. Under Manage sites, tap Blocked sites, then Add a website.

Enter a full website, such as www.example.com, to block just that site, or a domain, such as example, to block all its variations.

Enforcing SafeSearch on Google Chrome

SafeSearch helps filter explicit content from Google search results. To enforce SafeSearch:

On All Devices

1. Go to your SafeSearch settings.
2. Select Filter to block explicit results.

For a child signed in with a Family Link account, SafeSearch is set to Filter by default and only a parent can change it. SafeSearch only affects Google Search.

Approving Requests and Other Chrome Controls

When your child reaches a blocked site, they can ask to visit it. You get a notification in the Family Link app and can approve or deny the request. In the same Google Chrome and Web controls, under Advanced settings, you can also:

• Turn Permissions for sites off, so your child can’t let sites use their location, camera or microphone.
• Turn Extensions off, so your child can’t add extensions from the Chrome Web Store.

Incognito mode is turned off while your child is signed in with their supervised account. On an Android device or Chromebook, Family Link can also set daily screen time limits.

Conclusion

By setting up Chrome parental controls using Google Family Link and other tools, you can help protect your child from inappropriate content and ensure a safe browsing experience. Regularly review and adjust settings as needed to adapt to your child’s growing needs.

For more detailed information, you may refer to the official Family Link help for Chrome.