How to Setup and Use Family Link for iPhone

Family Link is well known to Google and Android OS users. The app has several parental control features for keeping kids safe. For instance, you can use it to set screen time, block websites, and track friends and family members, among others. However, many Apple and iPhone users need to learn that this app is equally available to them.

In this post, we will consider how the app works on iPhone. Also, we will consider some alternatives and how to remove it if you desire to do away with it.

Does Family Link Work on iPhone?

Yes, the Family Link app works on iPhone. This parental control tool can be used on an iPhone to view and manage your child's smartphone activities. However, you cannot use the app to monitor and manage an iPhone.

Given that Google will not allow children below the age of 14 to register an account, Family Link is used to create a supervised account for them. The compatibility criteria for target and supervising devices are different.

For Parents: The supervising device should feature at least Android 4.4 on Android devices. For iPhone, it should be running iOS 11 and higher.

For Kids and Teens: The target device should have Android 7.0 (Nougat) or upwards. For Chromebooks, it should be operating a Chrome OS of version 71 onwards. However, some devices running Android 5.0 and 6.0 may still be able to install Family Link successfully.

How to Use Google Family Link on iPhone

If you are using the Google Family Link on your iPhone, this section has a thorough guide to applying the features of the app.

Steps to Set up

Before you can use the app on iPhone, you need to set it up such that you can access your child’s phone. Here is how to do that.

Step 1. Download and install the app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Create a supervised Google account for children under 14 from the app.

Step 3. Sign into the account on your child’s phone and link the two devices.

Step 4. Select the Child's account on the app, now you can start managing the account.

Tips: The steps to set up Family Link on iPhone are the same as the steps on Android; you may follow the step-by-step guide with screenshots.

Steps to Manage Screen Time

You can use Family Link to limit your child’s screen if they are spending too much time online.

Step 1. Open the app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Select the child’s account or profile.

Step 3. Click on the Daily Limit icon.

Step 4. Tap on set up, then click on edit limits.

Step 5. Use the available options to set the time limit for your child.

Steps to Block & Unblock Apps and Preventing Be Bypassed

If your child is addicted or exposed to inappropriate content on an app, you can block the app. You could even block it as a disciplinary measure if you didn’t change it when setting up. The feature can also be used to reverse the app block.

Step 1. Open the Family Link app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Select the child’s account or profile.

Step 3. Click on the Apps Installed icon.

Step 4. Select the app you want to block or click more to see all the apps.

Step 5. Choose Block to disable the usage of a certain app. You can also reverse by picking No limit or always allow.

To ensure your child does not bypass or alter the app restriction setting, follow this step.

Step 1. Open the app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Select the child’s account or profile.

Step 3. Click on the Device Card icon.

Step 4. Select View Settings, then click on the App Permissions option.

Step 5. Complete the process by clicking on Only Parents.

Steps to Block Inappropriate Content

You cannot block access to inappropriate content on your child’s device through the Family Link app. Google allows this feature in some apps like Chrome, YouTube, and Search.

Steps to Restrict Websites Access

Similar to blocking apps, you can restrict access to a website. By restricting access to a website, your child will not be able to use it. Use these steps to restrict website access.

Step 1. Open the app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Select the child’s account or profile.

Step 3. Click on the Controls Content restrictions Google Chrome.

Step 4. There are three options in the Managed sites session: Allow all sites, Try to block explicit sites, or Only allow approved sites.

Step 5. If you tick Try to block explicit sites, you can also click on Add a website, then add the website you want to block.

Step 6. Complete the process by clicking on Close at the top left part of your screen.

Steps to View Activity Reports

You can keep track of details about your child's phone. One of such details is knowing how long the phone has been in use, the open apps, and usage time for each app. However, apps running in the background are not catered for in the estimations. Here is how to access their activity report

Step 1. Open the app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Select the child’s account or profile.

Step 3. Click on the App Activity icon.

Step 4. Select the Set-Up option, then tap the Turn on App Activity.

Step 5. After a while, the activity report will appear in the App Activity section.

Steps to Check Location and Set Geo-fences

The location and geo-fencing feature allows parent to monitor their child's movement. Here is how to use it.

Step 1. Open the app on your iPhone.

Step 2. Select the child’s account or profile.

Step 3. Click on the Location icon.

Step 4. Select the Set-Up option and turn on location tracking.

How to Remove Family Link on iPhone

If your child has reached 13 or other certain age, or you want to use other alternatives, or any other possible reasons, you need to remove Family Link. Here are the steps you can follow:

Step 1. Please follow the step-by-step guide to remove your kid’s device from all Family Link accounts that use to set up parental control.

Step 2. Open Family Link on your kid’s device to confirm whether it is still being supervised.

Step 3. After confirming the device is not be monitoring anymore, remove the app from all related devices.

Family Link Alternative for Parental Controls on iPhone

We can only use Family Link to set parental controls on Android devices and  Chromebooks. If your kids are using an iPhone, you can use Screen Time. Besides, it is a functional parental control tool with restricted features. You may use a more robust tool like AirDroid Parental Control to protect your kids on Android devices.

Screen Time

The Screen Time feature allows parents to set content and privacy restrictions on iPhone. In addition, you can use the Family Sharing feature to group or sync all your Apple devices. This feature allows up to six family members to share services.

Through Family Sharing, they can share subscriptions, in-app purchases, share locations, and a lot more. The Screen Time feature also allows you to prevent iTunes and App Store purchases. Other features of Screen Time are:

Disallow Built-In Apps and Features: Without disabling the app, you can temporarily hide it from the home screen.

Content Restrictions: You can use the feature to control videos, music, and other TV content with explicit content.

Prevent Web Content: Prevent your web browser and other apps from accessing adult content.

Restrict Siri Search and Game Center: You can set what content Siri can search on your device and what game center functions are permitted on your devices.

AirDroid Parental Control

AirDroid Parental Control is a highly revered parental control app because of several features. For instance, you can use the screen time feature to limit time spent on the phone generally or on specific apps. It is an easy-to-use app with an intuitive interface for parents to monitor and manage their children's online activities. Some other features of the app are highlighted below.

Live Monitoring: Monitor your children’s phone surroundings and live screen remotely.

Instant alert: Get an alert when your kid tries to open a blocked app or website or engage in inappropriate content, arrive or leave some special zones.

Location Tracking: Track your child’s location in real-time to know where they are.

Activity report: View the phone usage history of your child, including apps they have accessed, how long their phone has been in use, and other details.

Usage and Access limit: You can set the limit of how long you want your child’s phone to be in use. You can block access to your child’s phone, apps, or websites.

Concluding Thoughts

Keeping your child's Android device checked is essential. However, you may need to exercise control if the child is not well-behaved online. Hence, Google created the Family Link app for parents to monitor and control what happens on their children's smartphones.

Unknown to many iPhone users, this app is also available for use through iPhone. That is why this post explores the compatibility criteria and steps to use Family Link on iPhone. However, you might want to use a more functional parental control tool like AirDroid Parental Control.