How to Set Up Parental Controls on Google Play
If children use your phone or have their own Android device, parental controls let you limit what they can download and buy. It takes about five minutes.
Set content ratings in the Play Store
- Open the Play Store and tap your profile picture.
- Go to Settings → Family → Parental controls.
- Switch parental controls on and create a PIN the child doesn't know.
- Tap Apps & games and choose the highest age rating you're comfortable with, for example Rated for 7+.
Require approval for purchases
In Settings → Authentication, set Require authentication for purchases to For all purchases through Google Play on this device. Nobody can buy apps or in-game items without your password or fingerprint.
Use Google Family Link for a child's own phone
Family Link is Google's free app for managing a child's account. With it you can:
- Approve or block apps before they're installed
- Set daily screen-time limits and a bedtime
- See how long they spend in each app
- Lock the device remotely and see its location
Check age ratings before installing
Every listing on our site shows the app's age rating. Remember that games with chat features can expose children to strangers regardless of the rating, so check each game's in-app chat and privacy settings too.
Talk about it
Controls work best alongside a conversation. Explain why limits are in place and agree on rules for in-app purchases and chatting with strangers.