How to Put Parental Controls on Android: Step-By-Step Guide

As the addiction of kids to phones is at an all-time high, there is little that parents can do to ensure that their kids are safe online.

The least that you, as a parent, will ever want to is to ruin their innocence with abusive, violent, and adult content.

That is why setting parental controls on child’s Android phone or activating iPhone parental controls is of utmost necessity.

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What Are Parental Controls on Android?

Parental controls on Android refer to a set of features and tools designed to help parents limit and monitor their children’s use of the device. These controls can be used to restrict access to specific apps, websites, and content based on their appropriateness for the child’s age. They can also be used to set screen time limits, control purchases from the Google Play Store app, and monitor real-time location. In essence, parental controls provide parents with a mechanism to create a safer and more controlled digital environment for their children, guarding them from potential online threats and ensuring they make the most of technology in a responsible manner.

How to Set Up Parental Controls on Android

The best way to set up parental controls on child’s Android device is by setting the main user account. Most Android devices will allow you to do so. Set up a restricted account for your children and set yourself as the primary user.

Here are the steps you need to follow to activate parental controls for monitoring Android cell phones:

Select the Settings icon from the Home screen.
From the Settings menu > Add Users
Choose the type of account as a Restricted Profile.
You will be able to see the Restricted Profile at the top of the screen.
Now, click on Settings towards the right of New Profile and provide this new Restricted Profile a name.

Once this is done, you will be able to locate several apps and functions available on your device, like Games, Browser, Location Settings, and so on.

You can manually enable and disable the application as well, depending on what you will like your kid to access.

How to Restrict Content in the Google Play Store

You can ensure that your kid doesn’t come in contact with any form of unsuitable content by adjusting the content settings for your Restricted User Account in the Google Play app.

Follow these steps:

Open Google Play on your Android device.
Click on the dropdown menu from the upper left corner of your screen.

Select the Settings menu.

Next, follow this path: Settings > User Controls > Parental Controls

Create a PIN, and then confirm the PIN entered.

Once you have set up the configuration, you will able to see different content categories types: Movies, Apps and Games, TV, Music, and Books.
You can set the maturity level for the content type of each category.
Next, click on Save to activate the intended settings.

Launch Family link

Another great way to set up parental controls on your child’s phone, is by using Family Link. Using this, you will be able to set up some digital ground rules for your kids.

You can use Family Link to manage the apps they use, create a Google Account for your child’s google account, track their screen time, and even set a bedtime, after which they will be unable to use the device.

NOTE: This app is only available for children who are under the age of 13. Once they hit this age, they will be able to take over their accounts. Although the Family Link app will not block all offensive content, it will provide you with a way to keep kids safe online.

Use a Third-Party App: uMobix

If you want to keep your children safe, parental control app uMobix has the right solutions for you. The application allows you to track your kids’ online activities.

uMobix is a comprehensive third-party application specifically designed to help parents monitor and control their children’s online activities on mobile devices. In today’s digital age, where children can easily be exposed to harmful content or engage in potentially dangerous online interactions, apps like uMobix serve as an important tool in ensuring their safety.

It helps you keep a tab on Snapchat, Facebook, Whatsapp, and see DMs on Instagram. It also allows you to keep a close eye on videos, photos, GPS, texts, and calls.

Main Features of uMobix

Messaging Monitoring: View private messages on various platforms.
Message Retrieval: Access messages that have been deleted.
Browser History Monitoring: Check browsing histories on popular browsers like Chrome and Safari.
Call Logs: Review incoming and outgoing calls with date and timestamp.
Media Monitoring: Monitor stored photos and videos on the device.
Social Media Surveillance: Track activities on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Whatsapp.
GPS Tracking: Use real-time location tracking to know where your child is at any given time.
Keylogger: View all passwords and other key inputs thanks to the keylogger feature.

Pros

Comprehensive monitoring features covering a wide range of apps and activities.
Real-time GPS location tracking.
Keylogger feature to keep tabs on all typed content, including passwords.
Compatible with a variety of Android devices and also offers controls for iOS devices.

Cons

Continuous monitoring might consume significant battery life on the target device.
May require some technical understanding for full utilization of all features.

Pricing

Complete (1 month) – 49.99 USD per month.
Full Membership (three months) – 27.99 USD per month.
Whole year Membership – 11.66 USD each month.

To set up uMobix on your Android device, follow the steps given below:

Purchase the uMobix software for $29.99.
You will get an OTA link through which you can download the software on the Android device that you want to track.
Enter the provided license key to start the data extraction backup and recovery process.
Next, log in to your device to retrieve all the data and to gain insights.

The good news is that uMobix is compatible with a range of Android devices, including Motorola, HTC, Google Pixel, Samsung, and LG devices. If you have iOS devices, you can also put parental controls on safari.

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Why Should You Set Up Parental Controls on an Android Device?

The ever-increasing digitization of our world has brought about a lot of conveniences, but it also presents numerous challenges, especially for parents. Kids these days are growing up in an environment saturated with digital devices, and while these gadgets can be educational and entertaining, they also expose young minds to a plethora of risks. Setting up parental controls on Android devices ensures that children have a safe digital experience. This not only protects them from inappropriate content but also from potential online predators and cyberbullying.

Conclusion

With this in mind, it won’t be wrong to say that you can successfully keep a close eye on your kids’ activities online and prevent them from any danger with the help of parental controls.

Although most Android phones will allow you to set up parental controls, they often lack the much-needed features. For this reason, we will highly recommend you to download uMobix and keep your kids within your reach.

Because why take a chance?

Written by Victoria With over 20 years of experience as an elementary school teacher that gave her an insight into all of the problems children face in this digital era. In the last few years, Victoria took multiple courses in cybersecurity and security surveillance to understand the world of technology better and also to implement this knowledge to protect her kids. Being a mom and a teacher with an extensive background helps to deliver accurate and up-to-date content.