familylink.google.com

August 25, 2025

What familylink.google.com is and why people use it

familylink.google.com is the public home for Google Family Link, Google’s parental-controls system for managing a child or teen’s Google Account and supervised devices. The practical reason people end up here is simple: they want a set of controls that works across Google services (like Play, YouTube, Search, Chrome) and, on supported devices, can also handle things like screen time schedules and app approvals from a parent’s phone.

Family Link is built around a “family group” concept and supervision of a child’s account. Depending on the child’s age and the device they use, you can do quite a lot: approve apps, set time limits, view device location, and manage key account settings.

The basic setup flow (what actually happens)

In real life, setup usually goes one of two ways:

  1. Create a Google Account for a child under 13 (or the applicable age in your country) and attach supervision during creation.
  2. Add supervision to an existing child/teen Google Account, then connect it to the child’s Android/ChromeOS device.

A key detail that trips people up: device supervision isn’t universal. Google’s own help docs note that iPhones/iPads and non-Chromebook computers can’t be supervised as child devices with Family Link (meaning you won’t get the same device-level controls there).

Also, if your kid uses a Google Workspace for Education account (common in schools), those accounts generally can’t be managed by Family Link.

Device compatibility and what “supported” really means

Family Link is mostly an Android + ChromeOS story for the child’s device controls.

  • Child/teen device supervision: works on Android devices (Google says Android 7.0+ for supervision; some older versions may have partial support).
  • Parent device running the Family Link app: Google lists Android 7.0+ and iOS 16+ for the parent side.

When people say “Family Link doesn’t work,” it’s often because they’re expecting Android-style restrictions to apply on iOS or on the web. Google’s FAQ is pretty direct: some account settings carry over, but device controls like app management and screen time limits won’t apply the same way on an iOS device or in a regular web browser session.

What you can control: the features that matter day to day

Screen time: daily limits, schedules, and per-app caps

Family Link supports setting daily screen time limits, and it also has scheduling concepts like downtime/school time (availability can vary by device and region).
You can also set app-specific time limits, which is useful if you don’t want a blanket “2 hours total” rule and you’d rather say “30 minutes of games, unlimited time for reading/math.” Google documents how app limits are configured in the Family Link app and notes that system apps aren’t covered by app-limit functionality.

App installs and purchases: approvals and guardrails

A common Family Link use case is “nothing gets installed unless a parent says yes.” Family Link can require approval for new apps and manage app access.
On purchases: Google notes that purchase approval settings apply only to purchases using Google Play’s billing system, which is an important limitation if your child is buying things through other payment rails.

Content and service settings: Chrome, Search, YouTube, Play

Family Link ties into parental controls on Google services. That can include site controls in Chrome, and settings that influence what a child sees in Google experiences like Search and YouTube (exact behavior depends on the product and device).

Location tools (with caveats)

Family Link can show a child’s device on a map and can provide location-related notifications, but it depends on the device being on, recently active, and connected. Google calls these out as requirements.

Account management: passwords, info, and supervision lifecycle

Family Link also acts like a “parent admin” layer for certain account settings: helping reset a password, editing some personal info, and, in some cases, deleting the child’s account if needed.
When a child reaches the applicable age (often 13, but it varies by country), Google explains that both the parent and child are notified and the child can update how the account is managed going forward.

Privacy and data: what to understand before you turn it on

If you’re using Family Link for a child account, Google’s child privacy policy says that once you give permission for the child to have a Google Account or profile, it’s generally treated like a regular Google account in terms of information collected, including information the child/parent provides and content created through services.

Two practical implications:

  • Family Link is not “no data.” It’s supervision and controls layered on top of Google services, not a totally separate, data-minimized ecosystem.
  • Third-party apps still matter. Google explicitly encourages reviewing third-party terms and data practices for apps/sites a child uses, because those apps may collect data independently.

Google’s FAQ also states that kids may see ads in Google services, but indicates kids shouldn’t see personalized ads in this context.

What Family Link can’t do (so expectations don’t get weird)

A few common mismatches between expectations and reality:

  • Supervising a child’s iPhone/iPad as a device: Google says those devices can’t be supervised with Family Link (device-level controls won’t work the same way).
  • Managing school-managed accounts (Workspace for Education): not supported.
  • Controlling everything your child does online: even on Android/Chromebook, controls are strongest inside Google’s ecosystem and on the supervised device. A different browser, a different account, or a different device can change what’s enforceable.

Using it well: rules that usually work better than “lock it all down”

In practice, the most effective setups tend to look like this:

  • Start with app approvals + basic downtime (bedtime, school hours), then adjust based on actual usage patterns you see in the reports.
  • Use per-app limits for the high-friction stuff (games, short-form video) and keep essential tools more flexible.
  • Talk through the “why,” especially with teens. Google explicitly supports teen supervision too, but cooperation matters more as kids get older.

Key takeaways

  • familylink.google.com is the main entry point for Google Family Link, focused on supervised child/teen accounts and supported devices.
  • The strongest controls are on Android and ChromeOS child devices; iPhones/iPads aren’t supervised the same way.
  • Family Link covers screen time, app limits, app approvals, some content/service controls, location tools, and account management.
  • Privacy-wise, a child account is still broadly a Google account in terms of collected info; third-party apps have their own data practices.
  • When kids reach the applicable age (often 13), Google notifies both parent and child and the supervision model can change.

FAQ

Can I supervise my teenager with Family Link?

Yes. Google’s own FAQ says Family Link can be used to supervise teens (children over 13 or the applicable age of consent in your country).

Does Family Link work on iPhones for the child’s device?

Not in the full “device supervision” way. Google states iPhones and iPads can’t be supervised with Family Link, and its FAQ explains that many device controls won’t apply on iOS or on the web.

What Android versions are supported?

Google’s compatibility page says supervision can run on Android 7.0+ (and notes some older versions may have settings applied with limitations). For the parent app, Google lists Android 7.0+ and iOS 16+.

Are Google Workspace for Education accounts supported?

Google’s help documentation says Workspace for Education accounts can’t be managed by Family Link.

Will purchase approvals block every kind of in-app purchase?

No. Google notes purchase approval settings apply only to purchases made through Google Play’s billing system.