How To Set Up Parental Controls On Samsung Galaxy (2026)
You want to hand a Samsung Galaxy to a child without giving them the whole internet and every app on it.
Samsung and Google each offer parental controls, and they work differently, so the right choice depends on the child’s age.
This guide shows the setup paths for Samsung Kids, Google Family Link, Google Play content limits and Digital Wellbeing, in about 15 minutes.
Which parental control should you use?
| Option | Best for | Needs a child Google account? | Remote control from your phone? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Kids | Young children on a shared phone | No | No, it is set up on the device |
| Google Family Link | Children and teens with their own phone | Yes, a supervised account | Yes |
| Google Play content restrictions | Limiting what can be downloaded | No | Only through Family Link for managed accounts |
| Digital Wellbeing | Your own screen-time habits | No | No |
How do you turn on Samsung Kids?
Samsung Kids is a locked-down home screen with its own approved apps, and it needs a Galaxy running Android 9 or later.
- Swipe down with two fingers to open the Quick settings panel.
- Tap the Samsung Kids icon, then tap Continue twice.
- Create a Samsung Kids PIN and allow the permissions.
If your phone has no screen lock, Samsung says you must create a Kids PIN.
What if the Kids icon is missing?
Samsung says the icon can be added back to Quick settings, and carrier limits can also stop it appearing.
- Open Quick settings and tap the Edit pencil.
- Tap Edit under Full, then tap Kids at the bottom.
- Tap Done.
Samsung Kids parental controls and apps
From the Kids home screen, tap More options, then Parental controls, and enter your PIN.
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Set profile | Create up to 6 child profiles |
| Screen time | Set daily playtime schedules and goals |
| Bedtime | Set a bedtime |
| Allowed content | See the apps, contacts and music you approved |
| Add and edit apps (More options) | Add, rearrange or delete apps on the Kids home screen |
To leave Samsung Kids, tap More options, tap Close Samsung Kids, and enter your PIN.
If you forget the PIN after five wrong tries, Samsung says to email [email protected] from your registered address for a temporary password.
How do you set up Google Family Link on a Galaxy?
Family Link gives you remote control over a child’s phone, and Samsung lists Android 7.0 or later for the child’s device.
- On your phone, add your Google account under Settings > Accounts and backup > Manage accounts > Add account.
- On the child’s phone, use the same path and choose Create account for a child, or sign in with an existing child account.
- Link the parent’s Google account, confirm supervision and choose which apps the child can use.
- On your phone, open Settings > Parental controls > Open Google Family Link and sign in.
Samsung’s Australian page lists a similar on-phone route through Settings > Digital Wellbeing and Parental Controls, so use whichever name your software shows.
What can you control with Family Link?
| Control | What you can do |
|---|---|
| Screen time | See the child’s devices, set daily limits, schedule downtime and lock the device |
| Google Play | Manage permissions and usage limits |
| YouTube, Chrome and Search | Manage permissions and usage limits |
| Location | Check current and recent location after sharing is turned on |
The child’s phone must be on, recently active and online for you to manage it remotely.
How does supervision change with age?
Google says supervision is mandatory for children under 13.
For ages 13 to under 18 it is optional, and stopping it requires parental approval.
At 18, the user can opt out of supervision.
How do you restrict apps and content in Google Play?
Google Play filters downloads and purchases by content rating, and the setting applies only to the device where you set it.
- Open Google Play and tap your profile icon.
- Go to Settings > Family > Content restrictions.
- Tap Go to Parental controls, then Set up a parental controls PIN.
- Pick the content types and how strictly to filter each one.
If the child uses a Family Link account, open Family Link, pick the child, then tap Controls > Google Play instead.
How do you set screen-time goals and app timers?
Digital Wellbeing needs Android 10 or later, and menu names can vary by carrier, software version and model.
- Open Settings > Digital Wellbeing.
- Under Screen time goal, tap Set goal and choose hours and minutes.
- Tap App timers, pick the apps, and set a daily schedule.
Samsung also lists Sleep mode, under Settings > Modes and Routines > Sleep, as the replacement for Bedtime mode.
What about the on-device controls in newer Android?
Google’s Android help page describes on-device parental controls protected by a PIN of at least 4 digits, but says setup needs Android 17 or later.
The page lists daily limits, downtime, app limits, blocked apps and web content filters.
If your Galaxy is not on that Android version yet, use Family Link or Samsung Kids.
Other ways to keep the phone locked down
For hiding private apps behind a lock, see our guide to setting up Secure Folder on a Samsung Galaxy.
For browsing protection beyond the phone, our guide to setting up a VPN on a Samsung Galaxy is a separate option.
Your mobile carrier may also offer its own content filters, so check its account page.
Symptom-to-fix table
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Kids icon missing | Edit Quick settings and add Kids, or check carrier limits |
| Forgot Samsung Kids PIN | Email Samsung from your registered address after five wrong tries |
| Family Link cannot reach the phone | Make sure it is on, recently active and online |
| Restricted app still appears in search | Expected, since Play limits do not block search or direct links |
| Old apps still installed | Block them separately in Family Link |
| Forgot Play PIN | Clearing Play Store data resets it but erases your settings |