Set up parental controls on a Googlebook

To manage a device's screen time, app limits, web content filters, and more, you can set up on-device controls or set up Family Link for your child. For kids under the age of consent, parents are required to manage their Google Accounts. Learn how to create a Google Account for your child.

Set up a parental controls PIN

Important:

  • The PIN must be at least 4 digits. You’ll use it to manage on-device controls.
  • To reset your PIN if you forget it, add a recovery account.
  1. Open your Googlebook’s Settings app .
  2. Select Parental controls and then Set up a parental controls PIN.
  3. Enter and confirm your parental controls PIN.
  4. To add a recovery account:
    1. Select Manage parental controls PIN.
    2. Enter your account password.

Tip: When you set up and validate the recovery account, your Google Account won’t be signed into this device.

Manage your parental controls PIN

  1. Open your Googlebook’s Settings app .
  2. Select Parental controls and then Manage parental controls PIN.
  3. You can select:
    • Forgot PIN: Reset your PIN with your recovery account. If you don’t have a recovery account, you must factory reset your device.
    • Change PIN: Update your current PIN while parental controls stay active.
    • Delete PIN: Remove your PIN and turn off all controls. On devices with multiple profiles, turn off controls for each user first.

Tip: The device uses the same PIN for all users.

Manage on-device controls

Important:

  • When on-device controls are active, some device settings are restricted to ensure users can't bypass device controls features.
  • You can’t turn on on-device controls if the device has multiple profiles, like a work profile or private space.

When parental controls PIN is set up, you can set up device features, like:

  • Daily limit
  • App limits
  • Downtime
  • App store filters
  • Web content filters
Set up daily limit

You can set a maximum amount of time the device can be used each day.

  1. Open your Googlebook’s Settings app .
  2. Select Parental controls and then Daily limit.
  3. Turn on Use daily limit.
  4. Select a day.
  5. Select the hours and minutes you want to set.
    • To apply the same limit every day, select Apply to all days.

Tips:

  • When the daily limit is reached, the device will be locked.
  • In the lock screen, you can find:
    • If the daily limit is reached.
    • An option to unlock through bonus time.
      1. On the parental controls lock screen, select Add more time.
      2. Enter your PIN.
      3. Enter the amount of bonus time.
      4. Select Done.
Set up downtime

You can set periods when the device locks and access to apps is limited, like bedtime or school hours.

  1. Open your Googlebook’s Settings app .
  2. Select Parental controls and then Downtime.
  3. Turn on Use downtime.
  4. Select a day.
  5. Select the Start time and End time.
    • To apply the same limit every day, select Apply to all days.

Tips:

  • When the device enters downtime, the device will be locked.
  • In the lock screen, you can find:
    • If the downtime is active.
    • An option to unlock through bonus time.
      1. On the parental controls lock screen, select Add more time.
      2. Enter your PIN.
      3. Enter the amount of bonus time you want.
      4. Select Done.
Set app limits

Important: Web app usage counts toward total time spent on Chrome. Time limits imposed on Chrome also apply to web apps.

  • Time limits: To restrict access to apps like YouTube and YouTube Music, set limits for Chrome or the entire device.
  • Website blocks: If you block a website, you also block access to its web app.

You can restrict the usage time limit for specific apps.

  1. Open your Googlebook’s Settings app .
  2. Select Parental controls and then App limits and then your desired app.
  3. Select Set time limit and then the hours and minutes you want to set.
Set up app store filters

You can filter apps by content ratings.

  1. On your device, open Google Play Store app .
  2. At the top right, select your profile picture or initial.
  3. Select Settings and then Family and then Parental controls.
  4. Select App store filters and then Google Play Store.
  5. Select the type of content you want to set a restriction for.
    • App & games
    • Movies
    • TV
    • Books
  6. Enter your parental controls PIN.
  7. Select the restriction you want to allow and then Save.
Set up web content filters

You can filter explicit content from search results and restrict access to certain websites in Google Search and Chrome.

  1. Open your Googlebook’s Settings app .
  2. Select Parental controls and then Web content filters.
  3. To help block sexually explicit websites, turn on Block explicit sites.
  4. To help filter out sexually explicit and violent content from search results, turn on Filter explicit search results.

Tips:

  • Other apps, devices, or browsers can still show explicit content.
  • When “Block explicit sites” is turned on, your device sends websites you visit in Chrome to Google to check for explicit content.
  • When “Filter explicit search results” is turned on, SafeSearch applies to search results. Learn how to make Google Search safer with SafeSearch.
  • When these settings are off, other account settings may still apply.

Set up recovery account

If you didn’t add a recovery account when you set up the parental controls PIN, you can add a recovery account.

  1. Open your Googlebook’s Settings app .
  2. Select Parental controls and then Manage your PIN and then Add recovery email.
  3. Enter your parental controls PIN.
  4. Enter the email address you want to use for recovery.
    • You won’t be signed in on the device.
  5. Select Next.

To verify a recovery account:

  1. Open your Googlebook’s Settings app .
  2. Select Parental controls and then Manage your PIN and then Verify recovery email.
  3. Enter your parental controls PIN.
  4. To verify your recovery account, enter your email password.
    • You won’t be signed in on the device.
  5. Select Next.

To update a recovery account:

  1. Open your Googlebook’s Settings app .
  2. Select Parental controls and then Manage your PIN and then Update recovery email.
  3. Enter your parental controls PIN.
  4. Enter the email address you want to use for recovery.
    • You won’t be signed-in on the device.
  5. Select Next.

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