Managing your child’s online activity can be a challenge, but Google Family Link offers a comprehensive solution for parents who want to monitor and control their child’s browsing activity on Chrome. This guide will help you set up and manage Google Family Link, allowing you to create a child Google account, manage Chrome browsing, set screen time limits, and approve app and extension installations.
Quick Fixes to Try First
- Ensure that both parent and child devices have the latest version of Google Chrome installed.
- Restart both devices to refresh connections and settings.
- Check your internet connection for stability.
- Verify that you are logged into the correct Google accounts on both devices.
Creating a Child Google Account
To use Google Family Link effectively, you first need to create a Google account for your child. Follow these steps:
- On the parent device, open Settings and navigate to Accounts > Family & other users.
- Select Add a family member > Add a child.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to create a Google account for your child.
- Ensure that you enter accurate birthdate details to set up appropriate parental controls.
Installing Family Link on Parent Device
To monitor and manage your child’s activity, install the Family Link app on your device:
- Download the Google Family Link app from the Google Play Store on Android or the App Store on iOS.
- Open the app and select your Google account as the parent account.
- Follow the prompts to link your child’s account and device.
Managing Chrome Browsing on Child Device
Once the Family Link app is set up, you can manage Chrome browsing settings on your child’s device:
- Open the Family Link app on your device.
- Select your child’s profile and tap on Manage settings > Google Chrome.
- Choose the appropriate settings such as Allow all sites, Try to block mature sites, or Only allow certain sites.
- To manage cookies and other tracking settings, navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security on your child’s Chrome browser.
Setting Screen Time Limits
To ensure a healthy balance of online and offline activities, set screen time limits:
- Go to the Family Link app and select your child’s account.
- Tap on Manage settings > Screen time.
- Set daily limits for each day of the week by tapping on the day and adjusting the time sliders.
Approving App and Extension Installs
Control which apps and extensions your child can install and use:
- Open the Family Link app on your parent device.
- Select your child’s profile and navigate to Manage settings > Google Play.
- Choose to approve or deny each app request that your child initiates.
- For Chrome extensions, visit chrome://extensions on your child’s device to manage installed extensions directly.
Additional Tips
- Use keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + N (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + N (Mac) to open an incognito window, where browsing activity isn’t recorded.
- Access chrome://settings for more detailed browser settings.
- Visit the official Google Family Link Help Center for more in-depth solutions and support.
Conclusion
By setting up and managing Google Family Link, you can effectively monitor and control your child’s online activities on Chrome. This guide provides you with the necessary steps to create a child account, install Family Link, and configure browsing settings. Regularly review and adjust these settings to ensure they meet your family’s digital safety needs.