In this instruction - details about the possibilities of parental control on Android phones and tablets both by the means of the system and using third-party applications for these purposes. If you do not need to establish restrictions, and you only need to determine the location of children, relatives and friends, use the official application of trusted contacts from Google. See also: Windows 10 Parental Control, IPhone Parental Control.
Built-in Android Parental Control Functions
Unfortunately, at the time of writing the article, the Android system itself (as well as embedded applications from Google) is not very rich in real informed functions of parental control. But something can be configured and without resorting to third-party applications. Update 2018: An official parental control application from Google has become available, I recommend to use: parental control on the Android phone on Google Family Link (although the methods described below continue to work and someone can find them more preferred, also in third-party solutions have some additional useful Restriction installation functions).Note: The location of the functions is indicated for "clean" Android. On some devices with their own launchers, settings can be located in other places and sections (for example, in "Advanced").
For the smallest - blocking in the application
The "Lock in the application" feature allows you to run one application to the entire screen and deny switching to any other application or "desktop" android.
To use the function, do the following:
- Go to Settings - Security - Lock in the Appendix.
- Turn on the option (after reading its use).
- Run the desired application and click the "Overview" button (square), slightly pull the application up and click on the shown "pin".
As a result, the use of Android will be limited to this application until you disconnect the lock: To do this, press and hold the "Back" and "Review" buttons.
Parental control in Play Market
Google Play Market allows you to configure parental control to limit installation and purchase applications.
- Click the "Menu" button in Play Market and open the settings.
- Open the Parental Control point and transfer it to the "On" position, set the PIN code.
- Set restrictions on filtering games and applications, movies and music by age.
- To prohibit buy paid applications without entering the Google account password in the Play Market Settings, use the Buy Authentication item.
Parental Control in YouTube
YouTube settings allow you to partially limit unacceptable video for your children: in the YouTube application, click on the menu button, select "Settings" - "General" and turn on the "Safe Mode" item.Also, in Google Play there is a separate application from Google - "YouTube for children", where this default parameter is turned on and you cannot be switched back.
Users
Android allows you to create multiple user accounts in "Settings" - "Users".
In general, (with the exception of limited access profiles, which are not available), set additional restrictions for the second user will not work, but the function can still be useful:
- Application settings are saved separately for different users, i.e. For the user who is the owner, you can not specify the parental control settings, but simply block it with a password (see how to put a password on Android), and allow the child to allow the login only under the second user.
- Payment details, passwords and so on are also stored separately for different users (i.e., you can limit the purchases in the Play market simply without adding payment data in the second profile).
Note: When using multiple accounts, installing, deleting or disabling applications is reflected in all Android accounts.
Limited user profiles on Android
Already a long time ago, the Android feature was presented to create a limited user profile, which allows you to use the built-in parental control functions (for example, the prohibition of application launch), but for some reason, it has not found its development and is currently available only on some tablets (on phones - No).The option is in "Settings" - "Users" - "Add user / profile" - "Profile of limited access" (if there is no such option, and the profile creation is immediately started, this means that the function is not supported on your device).
Third Party Applications of Parental Control on Android
Given the relevance of the functions of parental control and the fact that Android's own middle hand is not enough to fully implement them, it is not surprising that there are many applications for parental controls in Play. Next - about two such applications in Russian and with positive user reviews.
Kaspersky Safe Kids.
The first of the applications perhaps the most convenient for the Russian-speaking user is Kaspersky Safe Kids. In the free version, a variety of necessary functions is supported (blocking applications, sites, tracking the use of the phone or tablet, limiting time limit), part of the functions (location definition, track activity track, call monitoring and SMS and some others) are available for a fee. At the same time, even in the free version, the parental control of Kaspersky Safe Kids provides quite ample opportunities.
Using the application is as follows:
- Installing Kaspersky Safe Kids on an Android device of a child with the settings of the age and child name, creating a parent account (or input to it), providing the necessary Android permissions (allow the application to control the device and prohibit it to remove it).
- Installing an application to a parent device (with a parent settings) or logging to My.Kaspersky.com/Mykids to track the activities of children and installing applications, Internet and devices.
Subject to the Internet connection on the child's device, changes in parental control settings applied by the parent on the website or in the application on its device, immediately reflected on the child's device, allowing it to protect it from the unwanted network content and not only.
Several screenshots from the parent console in Safe Kids:
- Restriction of work time
- Operating time limit
- Message about the ban on the application on the Android device
- Site restrictions
Parental CONTROL SCREEN TIME
Another parental control application that has an interface in Russian and, mostly positive feedback - Screen Time.
The setting and use of the application occurs in almost the same way as for Kaspersky Safe Kids, the difference in access to functions: Kaspersky has many features available for free and indefinitely, in Screen Time - all functions are available for free 14 days, after which only basic functions remain To the history of visits to sites and search on the Internet.
Nevertheless, if the first option did not come up, you can also try Screen Time for two weeks.
Additional Information
Completion - some additional information that may be useful in the context of the implementation of parental control on Android.
- Google is developing their own family of parental control Family Link - while available for use only by invitation and residents of the United States.
- There are ways to install a password for Android applications (as well as on settings, the inclusion of the Internet and so on).
- You can disable and hide the Android applications (will not help if the child is disassembled in the system).
- If the Internet is on the phone or planet, and you know the device owner's account data, you can determine its location without third-party utilities, see how to find a lost or stolen Android phone (works and just for control purposes).
- In the additional Wi-Fi settings, you can set your DNS addresses. For example, if you use servers presented on DNS.yandex.ru in the "Family" version, then many unwanted sites will stop opening in browsers.
If you have your own solutions and ideas about the configuration of Android phones and tablets for children you can share in the comments - I will be glad to read them.