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Android: the parent’s setup guide

Covers Samsung, Pixel, and generic Android. Family Link, Digital Wellbeing, and the sideloading and second-account bypasses every parent should know.

Device guide·Last reviewed 2026-04-22·2 min read·by Lexeprint Inc.

In this guide

  1. Creating a supervised Google account
  2. Family Link configuration
  3. Play Store and purchases
  4. Digital Wellbeing on the kid’s device
  5. Samsung-specific notes
  6. Known bypasses

Creating a supervised Google account

Android parental controls run through Google Family Link. You need two things: your Google account (the parent), and a supervised child account linked to it.

  1. On your phone, install Google Family Link.
  2. Tap + › Add child › Create account. For under-13 kids, Google walks you through a COPPA-compliant flow.
  3. On the kid’s device, sign in with the new child account. You’ll be prompted to complete supervision.

In Family Link on your parent phone, select your child’s profile. Review each section:

  • Apps — approve or block specific apps. Set daily time limits per app.
  • Screen time — daily limit, plus per-day schedule, plus bedtime.
  • Controls › Content restrictions — Play Store rating, YouTube filter (Supervised Experience modes), Search SafeSearch.
  • Location — always-on location sharing.
  • Parent access code — an approval code for one-off requests.

Play Store and purchases

Family Link already requires your approval for Play Store downloads and purchases by default. Don’t disable this. Use it to catch what your kid is trying to install.

Digital Wellbeing

On Android 9+, Settings › Digital Wellbeing & parental controls adds:

  • Focus mode — pause distracting apps for schoolwork.
  • Bedtime mode — greyscale + DND to make the phone boring at night.
  • App timers — at the kid’s own device level, to pair with Family Link limits.

Samsung-specific notes

Samsung Galaxy devices ship Samsung Kids — a separate mode with its own app library. You can use Kids mode in addition to Family Link for younger children. For teens, stick with Family Link only.

Known bypasses

  • Second account — a kid can add their own adult Google account in Settings and sidestep Family Link unless you restrict account adding.
  • Sideloading APKs — Android lets users install apps outside Play Store. Disable “Install unknown apps” under Settings › Apps.
  • Factory reset — a determined kid can reset the phone. Protect the reset option and your Google account password.
  • Time zone / clock change — similar to iOS. Lock system settings.
Print this. The Android quick reference has every Family Link toggle on one printable page.