Set app time limits on your child’s device

You can set your child’s app limits in the Family Link app.
Important: System apps can't have app limits placed on them. You can set limits for Android 7 and up devices.

Limit your child's Screen time for apps

Important: This feature is only available for Android N (7.0) and up, or Chrome OS versions 83 and up. You can set time limits on apps to manage how much time your child can spend on a specific app each day.
  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. At the top left, select your child.
  3. At the bottom left, tap Screen time and then Time limits and then App limits.
  4. Select your desired app.
  5. Tap Set limit Set limit.
  6. Select the hours and minutes you want to set for the app limit.
  7. Tap Done.

Tips:

  • Time limits apply to apps installed across all of your child's Android and Chrome OS devices.
  • System apps aren't supported by the app limit functionality.

Select your Unlimited time apps

Important: For children signed-in on devices with Android 7 and up, except those running Google Kids Space, Unlimited time apps are supported. Check which version of Android your child is using. Some system apps required for your child’s phone to operate can be used when the phone is locked if Unlimited time apps are available.
  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Screen time and then Time limits and then App limits.
  4. Select your desired app.
  5. Tap Unlimited time always allow and then Done.

Edit your Unlimited time apps

Important: Unlimited time 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 uses.

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. At the bottom left, tap Screen time and then Time limits and then App limits.
  4. Select your desired app.
  5. From here you can select an option to set the app to:
    • App limit off
    • Set limit Set limit
    • Unlimited time always allow
    • Blocked or allowed Block

Tips:

  • Unlimited time apps don't count toward your child’s Daily Limit and will be available after the Daily Limit is reached.
  • You can allow Unlimited apps when the device is in Downtime or School Time. Learn how to set a schedule on your child's device.
  • When you manually lock your child's device, Unlimited apps aren’t available. You can change this setting in Family Link:
    1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
    2. Select your child.
    3. At the bottom, tap Controls and then Signed-in devices.
    4. Select the device you want to update.
    5. Tap Lock screen settings and then Unlimited time apps.

Give your child bonus time

You can let your child spend more time on their device for the day without changing their daily limit or downtime, school time schedule. You can add bonus time while your child’s Android device is locked or soon to be locked.

  1. Open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. At the top left, select your child.
  3. At the bottom left, tap Screen time .
  4. Below your child’s device name, tap Bonus time Bonus time.
  5. Set the amount of bonus time.
    • To increase bonus time, select Increase daily limit.
    • To decrease the bonus time, select Decrease daily limit.
    • To set a specific time, tap the number.
  6. Tap Done.

Tip: To give more bonus time or remove the bonus time, tap Bonus time Bonus time again.

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