How to use parental controls to manage your child’s screen time on Chromebook

Hello everyone, juggling homework deadlines, after-school activities, and endless requests for “just five more minutes” of screen time can be a daily struggle for many parents. I recently found myself in this exact situation after realizing my son’s late night YouTube and Crunchyroll(he loves anime) binges were impacting his sleep and schoolwork, I had to do something about it. After I talked I talked to him and saw a few weeks later that he was still getting up in the middle of the night, almost daily, to watch NBA and NHL highlights of games, I rolled my eyes and decided to explore the parental controls offered by Chromebooks which in our household, we have more than 3 that are basically used by everyone around the house including my my wife and kids.

This guide helps parents set time limits on specific apps their child uses on a Chromebook.

Who can use this guide?

This guide is for parents who use Family Link to manage their child’s Chromebook.

What can you do with this guide?

Learn how to set time limits for apps downloaded from the Play Store on your child’s Chromebook.

Requirements:

• A Chromebook with ChromeOS version 83 or higher.

How Screen Time Limits Work

When you implement screen time limits for your child’s device, they will receive notifications in the following situations:

• The initial setup of screen time limits on their Android device.
• Just before their device is scheduled to lock.
• Once the device is locked, they will:
  • Not receive notifications.
  • Be unable to unlock the device.
  • Be restricted from using any apps, except for those you’ve designated as “Always allowed.”
  • However, they can still answer phone calls and make emergency calls if the device has a calling plan.

Insider Tip: Screen time limits are enforced across all your child’s Android and ChromeOS devices.

Setting Up Daily Device Limits

On a Parent’s Device

1. Open the Family Link app.
2. Select your child.
3. Tap on ‘Controls’ and then ‘Daily limit’.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to set up daily limits.

On Your Child’s Device

1. Navigate to ‘Settings’.
   • For Android versions 8.1 (O) and later, select ‘Digital Wellbeing & parental controls’.
   • For other Android versions, go to ‘Google’ and then ‘Parental controls’.
2. To view or edit ‘Daily limit’ settings, tap ‘Daily limit’.
3. Sign in or use your Parent access code to verify your identity.

Insider Tip: Daily limits reset for each device separately. For instance, a 2-hour limit means your child can use each of their devices for up to 2 hours.

Setting Downtime

On a Parent’s Device

1. Open the Family Link app.
2. Select your child.
3. Tap on ‘Controls’ and then ‘Downtime’.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to schedule downtime.

On Your Child’s Device

1. Open ‘Settings’.
   • For Android 8.1 (O) and later, tap ‘Digital Wellbeing & parental controls’.
   • For other versions, go to ‘Google’ then ‘Parental controls’.
2. Tap ‘Downtime’ to view or edit settings.
3. Authenticate as a parent to make changes.

Limiting Screen Time for Specific Apps

You can set daily limits for specific apps on Android devices (version 9.0 and up) and Chromebooks (OS version 83 and up).

1. Open the Family Link app.
2. Select your child.
3. Tap on ‘Controls’ and then ‘App limits’.
4. Choose the app you want to limit.
5. Tap ‘Set limit’, then select the duration for the limit.
6. Confirm by tapping ‘Done’.

Insider Tips:

• These limits apply to all of your child’s Android and ChromeOS devices.
• System apps do not support the app limit functionality.

Selecting Always Allowed Apps

Important Considerations

• “Always Allowed” apps are available for children on Android 9+ devices, excluding Google Kids Space users. Verify your child’s Android version first.
• Some system apps, necessary for the phone’s operation, can be used even when the device is locked, provided “Always Allowed” apps are enabled.

Steps to Select Always Allowed Apps

1. Open the Family Link app on your device.
2. Select your child.
3. Tap ‘Controls’ and then ‘App limits’.
4. Choose the app you wish to always allow.
5. Tap ‘Always allow’ and then ‘Done’.

Editing Always Allowed Apps

Steps to Edit

1. In the Family Link app, select your child.
2. Go to ‘Controls’ > ‘App limits’.
3. Choose the app you want to edit.
4. You can now select to:
   • Always allow the app.
   • Set a specific time limit.
   • Block the app entirely.

Insider Tips

• These apps don’t contribute to your child’s screen time limits and are inaccessible during downtime.
• If you use the “Lock now” feature, “Always Allowed” apps won’t be available unless you adjust this setting from the device lock card by:
  • Tapping ‘Settings’ on the device lock card.
  • Selecting ‘Allow “Always Allowed” apps’ and then ‘Save’.

Updating or Turning Off Screen Time Limits

Locking or Unlocking Your Child’s Device

1. Open the Family Link app and select your child.
2. Tap ‘Controls’.
3. At the top, tap your child’s device and choose ‘Lock’ or ‘Unlock’.

Giving Your Child Bonus Time

1. In the Family Link app, select your child.
2. Go to ‘Controls’, select your child’s device, and then ‘Bonus time’.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to grant additional time.

Changing Time Limits for Specific Apps

1. Open the Family Link app and select your child.
2. Navigate to ‘Controls’ > ‘App limits’ and select the app.
3. Tap ‘Change the app limit’ and then ‘Done’.

Disabling Screen Time Limits

1. In the Family Link app, select your child.
2. Go to ‘Controls’ > ‘Screen time’.
3. Turn off ‘Daily limit for today’. For multiple days or permanently, tap ‘Weekly Schedule’ and follow instructions.

Video Instructions

Check our list of the best games to play with your child on Chromebook.