Google offers a variety of parental control features in Android via the Family Link app. You can set up a phone from scratch for your child or set parental control settings later using Family Link, which is available across multiple Android phone brands. However, Google Pixel phones unlocked a new way to set parental controls with the December 2025 Pixel Drop.
The update added a parental controls settings page to the Settings app of Pixel phones and tablets, eliminating the need to go through the separate Family Link app. Additionally, this functionality means parents can easily add parental controls to their child's Pixel after it has already been set up. Here's how to use parental controls in the Settings app of your kid's Google Pixel phone or tablet.
What's different about Parental Controls in Android 16?
Google uses the Family Link app to manage parental controls across a wide range of Android phones. To be specific, Google Family Link works on devices running Android 5 (Lollipop) or newer, which covers an expansive set of both new and old phones and tablets. As an alternative to using Family Link features in a dedicated app, parents can set up parental controls in the Settings app of Google Pixel devices running the latest version of Android 16 or newer.
Parental Controls in Android settings allow parents to access both Family Link and device limits in one place. It can be password-protected for security. Parents can use Parental Controls in Android settings to set app limits, screen time restrictions, content blocks, and more.
The new page in Android's Settings app on Google Pixel phones will walk parents through the setup process on their kid's phone.
How to set up Android Parental Controls on your kid's phone
Following the December 2025 Pixel Drop, owners of Google Pixel phones and tablets can configure parental control settings straight from the main Settings app. Here's how to do it:
Tip: Parents, if your Google account is signed in on your kid's phone, you should remove it before continuing. Setting up parental controls will send two-step verification prompts to your kid's phone if your Google account is signed in to it, canceling the process and requiring you to start over.
1. Open the Settings app and tap Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
2. At the bottom of the page, press Set up parental controls.
3. A screen will appear explaining how the setup process works. To proceed, tap Let's do this.
4. Pick a Google account to supervise. Once selected, tap Supervise account.
5. A setup screen will appear explaining that the parent should complete the next steps. Tap Next to continue.
6. Enter the parent's Google Account email or phone and press Next.
7. You'll then see a long page explaining how parental controls work. Read it carefully, then tap Next.
8. Another setup screen will appear explaining that a parent needs to activate Family Link and serve as an admin for this device. Don't worry, the setup process will guide you through everything. Tap Next to continue.
9. A prompt will appear asking you to allow supervision on your child's device. Tap Allow to approve it.
10. Now, it's time to review your parental control settings. Tap Controls on Google Play, Filters on Google Chrome, and Filters on Google Search. This will quickly allow you to set limits and content restrictions for your kid's phone. When finished, tap Next.
11. You'll now see a success screen. Tap Done to finish.
12. The Settings app will open the newly set up Parental Controls page.
13. Now, you'll see the full suite of Parental Controls. There are two sections to explore: Screen time controls and Supervision. The former limits app access, schedules downtime, and sets restrictions for school time. The latter monitors location, communication, and more.
14. Explore as much, or as little, of these settings as you'd like. Tapping each tab reveals the available parental controls in each category.
Now, you've set up Parental Controls on your kid's Android phone. From here, you can download the Family Link app for further controls, which is available on non-Pixel devices. This allows you to regularly check in on your kid's phone from your own smartphone remotely, removing the need to use their physical device.
Android's Parental Control settings are better on Pixel
While any Android user can set parental controls using the Family Link apps, the experience is more streamlined on a Pixel. The updated Settings app page for Parental Controls makes it easy for parents to manage parental control options directly on their kid's device. Since these features still integrate with Family Link, parents can manage settings on their own device with the app installed, too.
Great for kids
To use Android's seamless Parental Controls in the Settings app, you'll need a Pixel phone or tablet. The Google Pixel 10 is one of the best ones available, packing a triple-camera rear setup and a Tensor G5 chip.
