Parental Control on Android Phone: A Comprehensive Guide

Parental control on Android phones is a crucial aspect of ensuring your child's online safety and well-being. You can set up a Google account for your child and enable Google's Family Link feature to monitor and control their device usage.

Setting up a Google account for your child is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few minutes. You can also use the Google Play Store to restrict access to certain apps and games.

To start using Family Link, you'll need to download and install the Family Link app on both your child's device and your own. Once installed, you can use the app to set limits on screen time, monitor app usage, and even remotely lock your child's device.

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Parental control on Android phones is a must-have for every parent, and it's great that Android devices come with several built-in options to ensure your child's online safety.

Out of the box, Android phones have features to lock your child's device and limit screen time, which can help prevent excessive online usage.

These features also include tools to restrict access to age-inappropriate content, ensuring your child only sees what's suitable for them.

You can set up your child's Android device with Google's built-in parental controls called Family Link, which is pre-installed on many devices.

If Family Link isn't pre-installed, you can easily download it from the Google Play Store and follow the setup steps to get started.

Once Family Link is installed, you can take control of your child's online experience and set limits on their device usage.

Setting Up Parental Control is a straightforward process that can be completed in a few steps. You can set a parental control passcode for Google Play Store to prevent purchases of content based on maturity level.

To start, launch the Google Play Store and tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner. Then, go into Settings, expand the Family section, and hit Parental controls. Toggle Parental controls on and create a PIN to secure the settings.

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You can use this PIN to control which maturity ratings are suitable for each product category, such as apps, movies, or books. If your child tries to download an app above the set maturity level, they will need to enter the PIN to do so. It's a good idea to write down the PIN in a safe place, just in case you forget.

Here's a quick rundown of the steps to set up parental controls:

Remember, you can adjust the maturity ratings at any time to suit your child's needs.

You can install apps on managed devices without using the Play Store, making it easy to enforce certain apps, like a content filtering app.

This feature allows you to install apps without needing to use an App Lock or Hider, which can be a hassle to set up.

With remotely installed apps, you can have more control over what your child can access, even if they try to find ways to bypass restrictions.

These apps can be installed directly onto the device, saving you time and effort in setting up parental controls.

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There are several options for parental control apps, including Family Link, App Lock, and App Hiders. You can also use a combination of these apps to find a solution that works for your family.

Family Link is one of the options mentioned, and it's a great place to start. We've explored its pros and cons in our Family Link Alternatives blog post.

App Lock and App Hiders are also viable options. You can use these apps to restrict access to certain apps or features on your child's device.

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Content Restrictions can be set up using Family Link, a parental control app for Android phones. You can block specific apps, set time limits, and even restrict content for Google apps like Google Play store, YouTube, Google Chrome, and Google Search.

To restrict content on Android phones using Family Link, follow these steps:

Family Link also allows you to manage search results and block sites. This way, the content you limit will only apply to the Google Play store, YouTube, Google Chrome, and Google Search.

You can also use a content filter to block apps and websites at the network level. This can provide an extra layer of protection for apps that host all kinds of content, like web browsers.

Some content filters pair well with parental controls, allowing you to enforce a content filter and provide an extra layer of protection. However, content filters aren't parental controls by themselves.

You can also use the Web Filter function in MMGuardian to block websites containing porn, adult, or other inappropriate content. You can select which categories of websites are allowed or should be blocked, or set up specific URLs and domains to allow or block.

The Web Filter can be set to work with Chrome, or the built-in safe browser part of the MMGuardian app. When the MMGuardian browser is selected, MMGuardian will automatically block other popular web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Opera.

When using the MMGuardian Safe Browser, categories of websites that are deemed inappropriate for the chosen age range will be blocked, based on the categorisation of the website content. Categories include Adult, Porn, Gambling, Drugs, Phishing, and many more.

You can also set 'overrides' to always allow or block specific web site addresses, irrespective of the site's categorisation.

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You can use the Family Link app to pinpoint your child's exact location and receive notifications when they arrive and leave certain places.

With Family Link, you can launch the app, tap on the Location tab, and view your child's location. You can also set up Family places such as home and school, and receive notifications when they arrive or leave these places.

The Parent App on your phone or the Parent Web Portal allows you to instantly find out where your child's phone is on demand or at pre-set times during the day and week. You can use the Track function to set up schedules when the app will send you a report of the phone's location.

Here are some ways you can use the Track function:

Child location monitoring can be a huge relief for parents. Knowing your child's location is essential, especially when they start going to school on their own or start riding the bus. This is where Family Link comes in, making it a breeze to pinpoint your child's exact location.

You can launch the Family Link app, tap on the Location tab, and the app will show you your child's location. You can also get notifications when they arrive and leave certain places.

Family Link allows you to set specific locations, such as home and school, and receive notifications when your child arrives or leaves these places. This can give you peace of mind and help you stay connected with your child's daily activities.

Other options for child location monitoring include using the Parent App or Parent Web Portal to instantly find out where your child's phone is on demand or at pre-set times during the day and week. You can use the Track function to set up schedules when the app will send you a report of the phone's location.

Here are some examples of how you can use the Track function:

These options can be tailored to your child's specific needs and circumstances, giving you the flexibility to stay connected with them in a way that works for you.

Detailed Activity Logs provide comprehensive reports of your child's app usage, messages, and web browsing. These reports are available at the secure Parent Web Portal or in the MMGuardian Parent App.

You can view all SMS text messages sent by or to your child, as well as messages from WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. Detailed message reporting can be enabled or disabled.

Reports show which apps are used, when, and for how long, allowing you to spot if your child is spending too much time playing games or using their phone inappropriately. You can use this information to decide whether to set or modify app usage restrictions in App Control.

The reports also include call history, showing who your child is talking with. This information can be used to decide whether to set up or modify Contact Block rules.

In addition, reports detail your child's web browsing, showing what they are searching for and viewing on the internet. Browsing using Chrome will be reported even if the Web Filter is turned off.

Reports are only automatically sent once per day, just past midnight to cover the previous day, to reduce battery and data usage on your child's phone. However, up to the minute reports from the child's phone can be requested at any time of the day.

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Safety and Alerts is a critical feature of any parental control app, and MMGuardian delivers. It automatically scans and analyzes messages and pictures to alert parents to situations of concern.

With MMGuardian, parents can receive notifications for when the content of their child's text messages are indicative of dangers such as Sexting, Bullying, Drugs, Online Predators, and Suicide Ideation. This feature helps parents stay on top of their child's online activity and take swift action if necessary.

Contact management is also a key aspect of MMGuardian's safety features. With advanced contact management controls, parents can control who can call or text their child's Android phone.

MMGuardian's Safety Alerts are a game-changer for parents. The app automatically scans and analyzes messages and pictures to alert parents to situations of concern.

These alerts can be a lifesaver, especially when it comes to monitoring your child's online activity. The app is designed to detect potential dangers such as Sexting, Bullying, Drugs, Online Predators, and Suicide Ideation.

Parents can receive notifications for when the content of their child's text messages is indicative of these dangers, giving them the tools they need to ensure their child's safety in the digital world.

With MMGuardian, you can have peace of mind knowing who your child is interacting with. The app's advanced contact management controls allow you to control who can call or text your child's Android phone.

You can block unwanted contacts with just a few taps, giving you complete control over your child's phone activity. This feature is especially useful for parents who want to limit their child's exposure to strangers or bullies.

MMGuardian's contact management system is designed to be user-friendly, making it easy to add or block contacts as needed. You can also review your child's contact list to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

By taking control of your child's contacts, you can help prevent cyberbullying and online harassment.

Time and screen management is an essential aspect of parental control on Android phones. You can set limits tailored to your child's needs and privileges, giving you the flexibility to manage their screen time effectively.

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To start, you can use Time Limits to define times when their phone will be locked and cannot be used, other than for emergency calls. This feature is particularly useful when your child should be asleep or engaged in other activities.

You can set different lock times for school nights and weekend nights, and even additional times during the week to cater for activities such as sports training or music lessons. This allows you to differentiate between class times and free time, giving you more control over your child's screen time.

For example, you can set a lock time for 9 PM on school nights, but 10 PM on weekend nights. You can also set additional lock times for sports training or music lessons, giving your child some flexibility while still ensuring they're not overusing their phone.

Here are some examples of lock times you can set:

Remember, you can always adjust these lock times as needed to suit your child's changing schedule and needs. By using Time Limits and other parental control features, you can help your child develop healthy screen habits and maintain a balance between screen time and other activities.

The MMGuardian app is equipped with numerous features that make it an excellent choice for parental control on Android phones. It offers comprehensive monitoring and safety alerts to keep your child safe in the digital world.

You can view detailed reports of SMS texts and messages from selected social messaging apps, including WhatsApp, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook messenger. This feature allows you to stay on top of your child's online activity.

To discreetly monitor messages without using detailed reports, you can add keywords of your choice to the Text Monitor sensitive words list. This is a great option if you want to keep an eye on specific conversations or topics.

Setting the MMGuardian app as the default messaging app for the phone is necessary for Message and Text Monitoring to work for SMS messages. Your child will also need to use the messaging part of the MMGuardian app for SMS and MMS messages.

The MMGuardian app can send Safety Alerts when a message is indicative of cyberbullying, drugs, suicidal thoughts, violence, or one of several other categories. You'll also receive alerts if an image in an MMS message or saved on the phone may be inappropriate.

A copy of the picture that caused an image alert will be saved and can be viewed in the child phone app. This feature helps you stay informed about potential issues without having to access your child's phone directly.

The MMGuardian app also reports other events such as new app installs, call blocks, location updates, and attempts to view blocked websites. This provides you with a comprehensive picture of your child's online activity.

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You can make your child's online experience safer by filtering websites and blocking specific URLs. This is a great way to prevent them from accessing inappropriate content.

To block unwanted websites, consider using a content filter, which can block websites at the network level. This provides an extra layer of protection, especially for apps that host various types of content.

A content filter can also block websites associated with apps you want to block, such as YouTube. By setting up a content filter, you can create a safer online environment for your child.

Here are some options for blocking and filtering on Android phones:

A content filter is a powerful tool for blocking unwanted websites and apps.

It's designed to block websites at the network level, providing an extra layer of protection for apps that host all kinds of content, like web browsers.

Content filters usually pair well with parental controls, and can block websites associated with apps you want to block, like YouTube.

By themselves, content filters aren't parental controls, but you can use parental controls to enforce a content filter and provide an extra layer of protection.

To use a content filter, consider pairing it with parental controls, which can provide an extra layer of protection for your child's online experience.

Content filters can block apps and websites, and can even prevent installed apps from connecting to the internet, as long as you enforce a content filter with parental controls.

Here's a quick rundown of how to use content filters:

Call and SMS blocking is a powerful tool to protect your child from bad influences or bullying. This feature allows you to block calls and SMS messages with undesired contacts.

You can set a block list for specific numbers and contacts or create a list of allowed numbers and contacts. Contact Block can be set either to block mode or allow mode.

In block mode, calls and SMS messages with numbers on the block list will be blocked. When set to allow mode, only calls and SMS messages with numbers in the allowed list will be permitted and all others will be blocked.

To block SMS messages, you'll need to set the MMGuardian Parental Control app as the default messaging app for the phone. Your child must also use the Messaging part of the MMGuardian app for SMS and MMS messages.

If your child's phone runs Android 9, it will only be possible to block incoming calls. For phones using Android 8 or lower, and Android 10 or higher, it is possible to block both incoming and outgoing calls.