Android 16: Set up Parental Controls Right on Your Child’s Phone
In the long-running battle between Android and iOS, the iPhone has historically had the advantage in terms of parental controls: it was slightly simpler and more intuitive, and easier for parents to understand and use. Apple has learned a lot, and ensuring the smooth operation of apps and devices is certainly one of them.
However, Google has been gradually improving its parenting experience, releasing a series of updates earlier this year and now several more changes as part of the major Android 16 update. The latest changes mean more controls are available on your children’s devices.
What’s new in Android 16
The usual Android caveat applies here: each Android smartphone manufacturer does things a little differently, though in reality, there aren’t that many differences in this regard. The latest Android 16 updates mentioned above are already rolling out to Pixel phones (and I tested them on a Pixel), but it will take some time for them to appear on other devices—Samsung phones will likely receive them early next year, for example, with One UI 8.5.
So, what’s new? Essentially, more parental control features are now available on your children’s Android devices, allowing you to manage them from their phones and tablets, as well as remotely. This should make life easier if you’re around your children and they hand over their devices to you.
To view the settings added to your child’s devices, open “Settings” on your child’s phone or tablet and select “Parental Controls.” A toggle for enabling controls on the device will immediately appear. Once enabled, a PIN will be required to prevent your child from changing these settings independently.
You’ll then see four sections: “Daily Limit,” “App Limits , ” “Idle Time,” and “Website Content Filters .” Tap any of these to set limits for the current device, which in some cases can be adjusted based on the day of the week. For example, select “Idle Time,” and you’ll be able to set the time during which the device will be locked. These settings correspond to the tools you previously managed remotely.
Select “Daily Limit,” then turn on the “Use Daily Limit” toggle to control how many hours your child can use their phone or tablet per day. A bar chart showing device usage over time is also available, so you can see how much time your child is spending on screens.
These settings are simple, clear, and easy to use—you won’t have to fiddle with Google accounts or family relationships if you don’t want to. You can simply enter a PIN and start making changes—you don’t need to link these settings to other devices. However, if you want to manage them remotely, Google has a more comprehensive parental controls system.
Google Family Link Controls
The new Android 16 controls appearing on devices can work independently, but Google already offers a wealth of additional features. All management is handled through the Google Family Link portal, which can be accessed through the website or through apps on Android or iOS .
You can use Google Family Link to set up Google accounts for your children and then manage their activities. The idea is that your children sign in to their Android devices using the account you created, and since Google knows you’ve authorized their connection, you can set restrictions on those devices remotely.
All standard security features are implemented: you can set device usage time limits, manage which apps your children can use (and how often), block specific websites and website categories, and set parental approval for purchases in Google’s various digital stores. These features generally match those available on devices.
Google Family Link also features location tracking, so you can always see where your children are and even receive notifications about their movements: for example, you can receive notifications when they arrive at school or leave home. All of this can be controlled through the apps.
Recent updates allow you to monitor your children’s screen time during school hours, and also introduce tools for managing the contacts they can interact with. Currently, these controls aren’t available directly on children’s devices. In addition to these features, a variety of device usage reports are available.
Add it all up, and you realize that Google now has a pretty comprehensive set of parental control tools that you can manage from virtually any device or devices your kids use, as long as they have Android phones or tablets.