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Phones & tablets

Block apps and set bedtimes on your child’s phone.

KidShield protects your child’s computer browsers. For phones and tablets, use the free controls that Google and Apple build in. They block whole apps, not just websites. It takes about 10 minutes, once.

Android phones & tabletsiPhone & iPad

Android phones & tablets

Google Family Link

Free from Google. You control the child’s phone from your own phone: block apps, set time limits and bedtime, and approve new apps.

  1. 1Install Family Link on your phoneGet Google Family Link from the Play Store (or the App Store if you use an iPhone).
  2. 2Link the child’s phoneOn the child’s phone open Settings → Google → Parental controls → Get started, choose Child or teen, and sign in with your Google account when asked. The child needs their own Google account; Family Link helps you make one.
  3. 3Block appsIn Family Link, tap the child → Controls → App limits. Pick an app and choose Block, or set a daily time limit.
  4. 4Set bedtimeIn Controls → Downtime, choose the hours the phone locks, for example 9pm to 6am on school nights.
  5. 5Approve new appsIn Controls → Content restrictions → Google Play, turn on approval so the child has to ask before installing anything.
Bonus: block adult websites (30 seconds)On the child’s phone open Settings → Network & internet → Private DNS (on Samsung: Connections → More connection settings → Private DNS). Choose Private DNS provider hostname, type and tap Save. This free Cloudflare filter blocks adult and harmful sites in every browser and app.

Works on most Android phones and tablets, including Tecno, Infinix, itel and Samsung. Menu names can differ slightly by brand.

Google’s Family Link help

iPhone & iPad

Screen Time

Built into every iPhone and iPad, and free. You control the child’s device from your own iPhone: block apps, set time limits and bedtime, and approve new apps.

  1. 1Add the child to your familyOn your iPhone open Settings → your name → Family and add the child (Apple helps you create an account for them).
  2. 2Turn on Screen Time for themOpen Settings → Screen Time (or Settings → Family), tap the child and turn on Screen Time. Choose a passcode the child doesn’t know.
  3. 3Block appsTap App Limits → Add Limit, pick the apps or categories (for example Social), and set the time to 1 minute to block them, or a daily limit.
  4. 4Set bedtimeTap Downtime and choose the hours the device locks.
  5. 5Approve new appsIn Content & Privacy Restrictions → iTunes & App Store Purchases, set Installing Apps to Don’t Allow, or turn on Ask to Buy in Family settings.
Bonus: block adult websitesIn the child’s Screen Time, open Content & Privacy Restrictions → Content Restrictions → Web Content and choose Limit Adult Websites.

Works on iPhone and iPad. Settings names can differ slightly between iOS versions.

Apple’s Screen Time help

Using a computer too? Connect its browser to KidShield.