Quick Answer
Using Google Family Link is the easiest way to set up parental controls on a Chromebook. It offers features like app approvals, screen time limits, content filtering, and more. You can also set up SafeSearch in Google Search and restricted mode on YouTube to block inappropriate content from showing in search results. For more control, you can install third-party extensions and apps and set customised restrictions.
Chromebooks are often used for education. It is a good idea to set parental controls to prevent kids from accessing inappropriate content or spending too much time on social media, which can affect them mentally and distract them from their studies.
Chromebooks come with built-in parental control features, such as blocking certain websites, enabling safe browsing, and more. However, Google’s dedicated family link app offers advanced features and more control over your child’s activity. You can connect multiple child accounts and manage them directly on your phone. Also, there are plenty of third-party extensions which offer more flexibility. In this guide, you will learn about three different methods to set parental controls on your Chromebook and create a safe environment for your child.
Table of Contents
3 Ways To Set Parental Controls on Your Chromebook
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Use the Google Family Link App
If you want complete control over your child’s activities, you can set up parental controls using the Google Family Link app. It is easy to set up; the best part is you can control everything from your phone. The app is available for both Android and iPhone. Here is what you can do using the Google Family Link app:
- Set daily limits on how much time your child can use their Chromebook.
- Approve or deny apps your child tries to download from the Play Store.
- See which apps your child is using, how often, and for how long.
- Lock your child’s Chromebook remotely when it’s time for a break.
- Automatically lock devices during certain times, such as sleep hours.
- Filter explicit and inappropriate content in Google searches, block certain websites, and set restrictions.
- Track your child’s location if they also use a mobile phone.
- Control whether your child can make in-app purchases.
- Get detailed daily reports of how your child is using their device.
- Your child cannot remove the Family Link app or the settings you’ve set up without your permission.
- Family Link is automatically applied to children under 13; however, you can continue to manage their accounts as they grow older.
How to Set Up the Family Link App for Your Child
Family Link is an app that works only with Google accounts. Both you and your child must have a Google account(s). If you do not have one, you can create one using this link. If your child is under 13, you can create a supervised Google account for them using the Family Link app. If your child already has a Google account, you can link it to the Family Link app.
Here is how to set it up:
- Install the Family Link app. For Android, download it from the Play Store, and for iPhone, download it from the App Store.
- Now, open the Family Link app and sign in with your Google account. If you are already signed, Family Link will recognize it. If you have multiple accounts, select the Google account you want to use for Family Link.
- Next, you need to connect your child account. Click on “+Add child” and add your child’s account.
- If your child already has a Google account, click “Yes.” If your child doesn’t have a Google account, click “No, ” and then create a new Google account for your child. You can also link the current account your child is using on the Chromebook. Once added, Open your child’s Chromebook to set up parental controls.
On Chromebook
- Go to Settings > Accounts and click on the Set up button next to Parental controls.
- Click on the Get started
- Click on the Next.
- Now, select your child’s Google account. If you want to monitor your child using an existing Google account on the Chromebook, click on Yes; if you want to add a new account, click on No, and then add a sign-out from the Chromebook with the old account and sign in with a new Google child account.
- Click on Next based on the on-screen suggestions and Enter the Gmail of your (parent account) to monitor and password.
- Click on Next.
- Follow the on-screen instructions and control the settings on your child’s Chromebook. For instance, on the first screen, you can control access to the apps on your child’s Chromebook. You can also configure these settings later on the Family Link app on your mobile phone.
- Finally, after the settings, Click on “Sign out” to sign out of your parent account when Google prompts.
- That’s it. Your child’s account is successfully linked to your Chromebook. To view it, open the Family Link app on your mobile, and you can control all the settings here.
Turn On Safe Search on Google Search Results
If you want to prevent specific results from showing up in search results, you can enable Safe Search filtering on Google Search. When you enable this feature, explicit content will automatically be blocked from appearing in Google search results. This also applies to images and videos in Google Search. You can also enable Safe Search using the Family Link app or manually enable it in Chrome on your child’s Chromebook.
However, this method has some downsides. It only works on Google Search. If you have enabled Safe Search, you must also visit each search engine’s settings individually to enable Safe Search. Also, it is not 100% guaranteed to block all explicit content, as filtering is somewhat limited.
One major downside is that if you have multiple users on Chrome on a Chromebook, Safe Search can be easily turned off by the user. Additionally, you cannot manually add specific terms or keywords to block certain content. It relies on Google’s algorithm to flag inappropriate content, giving users limited control.
How to enable safe search on Google Chrome
- Step 1: Open Google Chrome browser or any other default browser you are using. Visit Google.com.
- Step 2: In the bottom right corner of the page, click on Settings and select Search Settings from the list.
- Step 3: Check the box next to Turn on SafeSearch.
- Step 5: Scroll down and click Save to confirm your changes.
Use Third-Party Extensions and Apps To Block
Using third-party apps and websites offers more advanced features and greater flexibility than methods like Google Search filters or even the Family Link app.
There are plenty of apps and extensions that can help you set different parental controls on a Chromebook. For instance, using tools like Unblockorigin, you can block ads shown on websites, some of which might be inappropriate for your child. You can also block specific websites and even certain keywords and terms from the search.
Plus, there are plenty of digital detox apps that allow you to add screen time restrictions to apps and get detailed reports and alerts when your child accesses certain content. There are many apps and extensions you can use for these tasks. Here are some of the most popular, and my personal favorite, extensions and apps and how they can help you set parental controls.
Extension | Description | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
BlockSite | Block any website you don’t want your child to access. You can also set password to prevent changes. | |
StayFocusd | Limit how long your child can use certain websites. You can set time. | |
uBlock Origin | Best adblocker. You can also use it to block specific websites. | |
WebFilter | Block all websites based on categories (like social media or games). | |
SiteBlock | Block multiple websites .Best part you can also schedule when sites are blocked. |
App Name | Features | Free/Paid |
|---|---|---|
Block distracting websites and set time limits for specific websites. | Free |
|
Track screen time and view detailed reports on how time you child spent online. | Free (basic) / Paid (premium) |
|
Along with blocking apps and website you can block the entire internet access for a set time on your child's chromebook. | Free (basic) / Paid (premium) |
How to install these extensions:
- Click on the extension link from the table
- Click on Add to Chrome.
- Once added, Click on the extension icon at the top and select the extension. Then, click on the three-dot menu to access extension options. Depending on the extension, you will get different options; in this case, you can manage the site permission.
- To discover more extensions, visit the Chrome web store and search for an extension that meets your needs.
Control Youtube
YouTube is another widely used platform for kids to use. If you want to prevent kids from accessing inappropriate content on YouTube, you can add restrictions. Similar to Google Safe Search, YouTube uses its algorithms, community, and moderated content to restrict what is shown to kids. However, there is no option to block specific channels or add your content filters manually. For more advanced controls, you can use the Family Link app or third-party extensions.
For a simple parental setup on YouTube, you can try setting Restricted Mode. As always, YouTube’s algorithm might not prevent harmful content 100%, so your child could still be exposed to inappropriate content, but in most cases, this method works well.
How to enable restricted mode on YouTube:
- Step 1: Open YouTube on your Chromebook.
- Step 2: Sign in to your YouTube account if you aren’t already logged in.
- Step 3: Click on your child’s profile picture in the top right corner of the screen
- Step 4: Find Restricted Mode and click on it.
- Step 5: Toggle the switch to Turn on to enable Restricted Mode.
Create a Safe Environment for Your Child
Those are the three different ways you can enable parental controls on your Chromebook. If you want advanced controls with a simple user interface and easy management, I highly suggest setting up the Family Link app for your child on their Chromebook. For more flexibility, you can install extensions and apps, though these might require some initial effort to set up. If you have a younger child, you can enable Safe Search on Google and the Chromebook to prevent exposure to inappropriate content.
You can also set up router-based filtering to block inappropriate content at the network level. Additionally, there are plenty of third-party tools like Notion Family, Bark, and Qustodio, which are paid options. However, the Google Family Link app is equally great and free to use.
FAQ’s on Setting Up Parental Controls on Chromebook
1. Can I set different time limits for different apps on the Chromebook?
Yes, using the Family Link app, you can set different time limits for different apps on your kid’s Chromebook. To do so, Link your kid’s Google account to the Family Link app, open the Family Link app on your mobile, scroll down and click on the app limits, select the app, and then set the time for each app.
2. How can I prevent my child from bypassing the parental controls?
Ensure you link your kid’s account to the family link app. Your kid’s account will now be treated as a supervised account. Using the family link app is one reliable way to prevent your child from bypassing parental controls.
3. Can I monitor or limit YouTube access more specifically than just enabling Restricted Mode?
Restricted mode is only used to prevent explicit content from showing up; if you want to have greater control, you can install third-party extensions like Bark or Qustodio for advanced control and monitoring.
4. Are there other free alternatives to the Family Link app with more advanced features?
As of now, Family Link is the only reliable and free option for setting parental controls for your child.
5. How do I manage parental controls if my child has multiple Google accounts?
If your child has multiple Google accounts, you can link them to the family link app on your device. As of now, there is no limit on linking your child’s accounts to the parent’s account. However, there might be a soft limit when there is an excessive number of accounts linked to the family link app.
