Childproof Your Android: How to Make It Kid-Friendly But Safe

Start by locking the device with a PIN, adding parental controls, and using a guest account

By
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Daniel Nations
Writer
  • University of Texas at Arlington
Daniel Nations has been a tech journalist since 1994. His work has appeared in Computer Currents, The Examiner, and other publications. He is a developer who has published apps in the Apple App Store, Google Play marketplace and Amazon Appstore; he also has worked as a data analyst and DB administrator.
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Updated on August 21, 2023

What to Know

  • To set up parental controls, go to Google Play Settings > Family > Parental controls > On, then set the restrictions.
  • You can also lock the device with a PIN and create a new user.
  • Install third-party apps to set additional restrictions such as limiting screen time and blocking access to websites.

This article explains how to set up parental controls for a kid's smartphone or tablet running Android OS.

Put a Lock on Your Smartphone or Tablet

Lock your Android device with a PIN or password. After you activate the lock screen, you will be asked to enter the PIN any time you activate the device or attempt to make major changes, such as altering important Android Settings.

It's also possible to lock specific Android apps.

Create a New User on Your Device

Set up an Android guest account to allow or disallow access to certain apps on the device. By default, Android will block access to almost everything, including the Chrome browser, so you must manually select the games and apps your children can use.

In the Google TV app, you can restrict access to content based on parental rating. If you have kids of varying ages, you can set up specific profiles for each of them that are age-appropriate.

Set Up Parental Controls in Google Play

You can restrict downloads from the Google Play Store so that kids can't purchase content without your permission. The restrictions in the Google Play store extend to movies, music, books, and apps. To set up parental controls in Google Play:

  1. Tap your profile icon in the upper-right corner.

  2. Choose Settings.

  3. Select Family, then choose Parental controls.

    Profile icon, Settings, and Parental Controls in Google Play

  4. Set the Parental controls toggle to the On position.

    You will be prompted to enter your device's PIN or password to make changes to parental controls.

  5. Scroll down to toggle restrictions for each section. For Books and Music, the only option is to restrict adult content. Apps, Games, Movies, and TV use standardized age restrictions.

    These restrictions only apply to apps available in the Google Play Store. These settings will not restrict access to pre-installed and side-loaded apps.

    Parental Controls toggle and restriction options in Google Play

Best Apps for Childproofing Your Android Device

Some apps allow you to set additional restrictions such as limiting screen time and restricting access to specific websites. For example:

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