- 91.5LEGITIMACY SCORE
- 92.0SAFETY SCORE
- 4+CONTENT RATING
- FreePRICE
Google Family Link App Complaints & User Negative Comments 2024
Google Family Link app received 185 complaints, negative comments and reviews by users. Have you ever had a bad experience using Google Family Link? Can you share your negative thoughts about google family link?
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Google Family Link for Negative User Reviews
✓ Terribly disappointedGoogle what have you done? This app is so limited and the instructions you provide do not match the app at all. Add to that the fact that this process has made my child’s channel and associated videos completely disappear, I’m left extremely confused and disappointed..Version: 1.89.20732
✓ Not compatible in my country, but it supposed to...I love in Canada and I have installed this application to help configure my son's tablet and Google home. On the web site, it said that it is supported in Canada, but when I launch it, I have an error that it is not supported in my country... Very misleading!.Version: 1.24.11057
✓ Annoyed at them changing the layout todayI have found this app very useful in keeping an eye on what my children are up to, and limiting access to certain apps and controlling how long they spend on their devices, and when the devices can be locked time for bed at a recent change to the layout of this app. No longer shows what time the device will lock when you grant bonus time. Slightly annoying they’ve made it so that you have to press more buttons to get to the options you want. it seems typical of Google to take something that works and make it more complicated. and less convenient..Version: 1.102.23372
✓ It’s okI find it doesn’t apply the time accurately quite often. At the moment I’ve had to change the lock time as it isn’t recognising my daughters time on decide which isn’t really very helpful..Version: 2.18.26234
✓ Not working since updateI can no longer see or change access times on my child’s device. So frustrating and disappointing..Version: 2.7.24767
✓ It's good but frustratingMy son has defeated it on his phone by stopping certain processes in start up (not 100% sure how). More probs for his chromebook I have to add parental pin and sign in every time he uses it. Can't stop this happening after trying all the options making use of laptop possible only when I am there and have to enter my complex password. Finally he's 12 and can watch some you tube but in chromebook it blocks all access as he's not 13 yet he can access on phone. Good thing is unlike other apps it does seem to work for timers and scheduling..Version: 1.76.18719
✓ Google Classrooms doesn’t work with this!I have used family link for the last year and have really liked it for the controls it gives me over my kids Samsung tablet BUT our kids school like many in the country at the moment are now using google classrooms for homeschooling and this does not work with Family Link - really frustrating (basically won’t let you log in despite having the option of adding a school account it just won’t work) - have 2 very good tablets that the kids cannot use for their school work! This really needs to be sorted asap with current lockdown and everyone homeschooling..Version: 1.72.17978
✓ ConfusingComplex, not user friendly. Hard for parents to manage permissions.Version: 1.49.14591
✓ IPhone app won’t recognise child’s chromebookI have a gmail account. I have set up my child’s gmail account. We set restrictions when setting up the chromebook. Maybe this was the wrong order of doing things, because I am now trying to connect it to the iPhone app and I cannot get past the first page. The instructions say go to “people” then parental controls in settings. There is no “people”- there is “manage other people” but that’s not it. The “parental controls” on the chromebook brings up a kids version of the app and states that I am the family manager. Why won’t the iPhone app connect? Yes I have iOS 11 or above..Version: 1.98.22361
✓ UselessFamily link is the worst family app I have ever used. Once my son turned 13, I wanted to remove family link, but it wouldn’t let me delete his family link account, it kept saying “You cannot delete a family link account if the person is under 13” My son is over 13! Worst app ever!.Version: 2.0.23540
✓ Problem with setupReading older reviews, the problem appears to still not have been solved. Tried several times unsuccessfully to create an google account for my child. Got up to the credit card information page, then only arrive on blank page. Very basic interface and still not working, what the heck?.Version: 1.55.15206
✓ Is not workingMy brother start this app few month ago. Nowadays it is not working properly. If he use all the time, the phone do not lock my brothers phone. We do not know the problem. Please tell me.Version: 1.68.17369
✓ Frustrated with photoI’m extremely frustrated. Spending more than an hour trying to display my child’s photo for classroom. How difficult could this be? It’s ridiculous..Version: 1.60.16001
✓ Buggy and limitedHad to to through the process of creating accounts multiple time for it to work. Sometimes would it jam, loop or sometimes would say I am not allowed, for country or for age. They need to add screen time limits for Chromebook..Version: 1.24.11057
✓ Access to YouTubeCreated account for my daughter as she wants to be a blogger. No access to YouTube. Filters are good. No access is strange.Version: 1.38.13196
✓ Malware.My mother put this app on my phone (I'm on my iPad) as a punishment fo4 something I did about two years ago. Okay parents I know you don't want to listen to me because “kids aren't supposed to like their parental controls!!” but take a minute. To any parents reading this, if you want to make your children NEVER trust you again our this piece of malware on their phone. They can't do anything with it, even things you might find safe like signing into among us (a popular game for children) put yourself in their shoes for a moment and realize that if you really need this app your not communicating with your child properly and are just putting a bandage on a bullet wound. They will not trust you, and they will find a way to avoid you. Tldr: if you really think you need to download this, your not communicating with your child about internet safety. Only get this app if you don't want your children to trust you..Version: 2.6.24566
✓ App will not openApp has stopped working. It will not open. Title screen only for a few seconds then it shuts down. Please fix..Version: 2.21.26786
✓ ConfusedSoooo confusing.Version: 1.61.16100
✓ Do not waste your timeThe instructions simply don’t work - this app is worse then useless..Version: 1.41.13643
✓ Can’t access google classroomCan’t access google classroom through my child’s family link accoun.Version: 1.62.16274
✓ Newest Update is Terrible!!!We’ve been using this for our two younger son’s tablets for a year now. Used to be user friendly, straight-forward, and easy to make adjustments and app approvals, etc. All of a sudden the interface COMPLETELY changed. No warning, just totally different than the way it used to be. It’s no longer user friendly. Extremely confusing and frustrating just trying to figure out simple controls. App reviews and approvals are no longer on the main page. Immediate “Lock Now” option is gone. Adjusting screen time and down time is much more complicated. Who even thought this new setup was a good idea?? Used to be awesome and simple. Now it’s just ridiculous. It’s like the update went backwards and reverted to an older version rather than one that fixes or updates anything. At least not in a way that makes sense. Went from 5 stars to 1..Version: 1.102.23372
✓ Ruins your accountGot this when I first got my account and it worked exactly as it should have, however, once I hit 18, the pain it is to free my account again has taken me months, careful with valuable accounts when using this app such as google accts with names and other such things.Version: 2.10.25196
✓ NOT HELPFUL!!!I download this app to limit my child's screen time. Tried to set up but then I had trouble on the payment. I can't edit the details on my card for the bill. Wasted time for nothing! Jeeez!!!.Version: 1.66.16910
✓ Terrible AppEasily hacked by kids. Over Zealous control and little flexibility. Takes away even the basic needs you have as a parent to contact your kids..Version: 1.45.14150
✓ Ehhhh, it’s alright but it leaves a lot to be desired.It’s better than having no parental controls at all but there are very clear cut features which they need to improve. The one that jumps out at me is that parents should be able to set “blackout” times at several points throughout the day, instead of only being allowed to set one at a time. We should be able to say something like, lock the phone from 8am-11:59pm but unlock it from 12:00pm-4:59pm and then locked again from 5:00pm-8:00pm for dinner, family time, etc. Then say maybe unlocked again for an hour from like 8:00pm-9:00pm before bed, or something similar. Basically I’m just saying that we need more flexibility to select the schedule that works for us. Simply giving one unlock/lock time per day is not enough..Version: 1.71.17870
✓ Family payment methodI’m trying to set up a family payment method and it’s so difficult! I’m not getting anywhere. The instructions written online look simple but they’re impossible to follow because there are dead ends..Version: 1.68.17369
✓ Not family friendlyGmail forces parents to have their child login from a specific mobile device only (it restricts logins in family desktop computers). It assumes it’s best for kids to have their own device and won’t let them compose emails on a desktop promoting proper typing skills..Version: 1.47.14363
✓ So restrictive my child cannot use text nowCan’t stand this app. The whole point of my child having a phone was to text me in emergencies but they can’t even do that now...Version: 1.79.19295
✓ Not easy to useDoesn’t not give you any help to how to do anything. Once again, apple parental controls are better, easier to navigate, far more helpful..Version: 1.64.16541
✓ Locks my child’s school computerSo frustrated. I have had to by a laptop for my son to use at school. But now I either have to take google to court or return the laptop to the store as google have disabled his account. Google need to stop dreaming up new ways of stopping people using technology at home, school and in business. Things would work just fine if you got out of the way google..Version: 2.2.23957
✓ Please fixThe app generally works well but I would really love to be able to message my children from my device directly to theirs.. I can’t seem to find a way to do this... Often they are on their device while at grandparents etc and I would appreciate the option of being able to send them a personalised notification etc..Version: 1.60.16001
✓ Still accessing phone when should be lockedApp is suppose to lock child out of device but is flawed, child can still access device when locked by going on contacts>messages>stickers>get more stickers>takes him to google play and from there can access his downloaded apps which are suppose to be locked.Version: 1.44.13931
✓ Helpful but a big buggyStarted out great for limiting apps and play time for kids, but lately has been having errors on a regular basis when changing settings..Version: 1.76.18719
✓ Frustrating HonestlyWhy can’t the clock or anything else I choose to have unlimited access actually have unlimited access? My son can’t stop his alarm without me unlocking the phone ie: since mine isn’t glued to my hand especially in the evening, I have to stop what I’m doing, go to my phone, unlock, find app, open, and unlock his device or he has to bring it to me and I have to enter my password. It is extremely overstimulating to listen to a beeping alarm because unlimited is only unlimited during unlocked times. But I feel it is ridiculous that the alarm clock gets locked as well..Version: 2.17.26129
✓ Horrible updateThe recent is a huge change in single update. It is made over complicated and not very user friendly.. people with children and busy life will be left struggling at times to figure out simple task which were done easily. Responsible app makers should gradually change the app features and not overnight. Really unhappy and frustrated after the upgrade. I hope this is not repeated in the future..Version: 1.102.23372
✓ I can’t get my child’s account loaded on the mail app 😖Somehow having this family link thing has blocked me from creating an account on my Mac mail app for my child’s gmail..Version: 1.61.16100
✓ CrapWhat a piece of crap.Version: 1.62.16274
✓ Frustrated parentMy husband and I just recently gave in to our son having a cell phone. He has started middle and with it, more responsibilities. While setting up his phone, a Samsung, this app was presented to us. It looked very promising. We were going to get an app to keep track of him anyways. Unfortunately, I have been very disappointed with this app. When I go to check on his activities or location, the app will not refresh with current info. This is not helpful if I need to know where my child is. Tonight, I needed to unlock his phone to check his alarm, which he uses to wake in the morning. The app would not grant me access, an error kept occurring. If this had been an emergency, it would have been useless. Needless to say, I will be looking into other options for my child and I..Version: 1.26.11363
✓ Limits don’t workTrying to set time limits for apps on my child’s tablet. When you open each app to set the time limit, nothing comes up..Version: 1.59.15947
✓ Fix to improveIt's not high accuracy at all with this being a google app you would expect to see where the phone and user are located at any given time. It's weird to get multiple addresses for one place where a child isn't located or suppose to be. For other parents this could cause problems. I understand nothing is 100% so I tried changing the settings and refreshing them plenty of times. But it's just not accurate at all or close enough for some degree. But google maps will get me to where I'm going but I am unable to find the device or unknown where my child is. High accuracy gives a guess (smh) your child is near here somewhere out there in the world. So when it gives an address to where they may be they aren't even there. It bounces around unnecessarily. Heck, That's a very reliable source to go by..Version: 1.102.23249
✓ PainfulCan’t enable app download on sons phone and I get no guidance on what to do..Version: 1.41.13643
✓ Would be 5 star if ..So long story short I love this app. I think it’s ridiculous for any parental monitoring app to charge because this is our children’s health/ safety we’re talking about. It SHOULD be free. Family Link is free so I hold respect for Google. The one majorly upsetting issue is that my daughter is reaching the age where she will get her first phone. We use iPhones for more than one reason in this house. So she’ll be getting an iPhone. There’s no way to set up the child portion of Family Link on an iPhone. I’ve done my research and all of the good parental control apps for iPhone cost money. With the way the world is these days we NEED family link on iPhone. We need that free option. Not all of us have the extra cash to pay to protect our kids. We shouldn’t be given the choice of pay to protect your kids from the trash of the world or don’t pay and have no option. It’s sad. I’m so sad Google Family Link doesn’t have iOS compatibility for the child portion. Please change this! We need it..Version: 2.7.24767
✓ Doesn’t seem to work very wellWhen my son sends approval requests the app sends a notification, then I open the app and then there’s nothing there. End up having to manually type word into my sons device! If only there was a better option!.Version: 2.13.25634
✓ Can’t find the ‘Children & Teens’I run a Pixel, but my daughter has an iPad, I cannot find the iOS app to be able to finish setting her device controls up. Our whole house runs with google, it would be really annoying to have 1 device not in the network & secured..Version: 1.65.16787
✓ No idea how I (the parent)Can sign in to my own gmail account on my son’s device..Version: 1.60.16001
✓ Good until kids figure out how to bypass it!Works like a charm until clever 13 year old works out that by using Google Assistant they can bypass all restrictions even when it’s locked. And time used when it’s been bypassed doesn’t count to allocation. This needs to be fixed as it renders a great app as pretty much useless..Version: 1.43.13811
✓ HorridI got this app as my sons had a Samsung and me an iPhone- I hated it from the off, I’m not a big Samsung fan and would rather have just had two iPhones so I could do the family account that way, however this app was meant to be just as easy. The whole process has been horrid, having to create a google account for my child just to set up the app was a hassle, then the app setup is a hassle too. The app wasn’t very helpful other than to stop my son playing till all hours in the morning, the layout and functionality is poor. I also found that adverts have been popping up on the Samsung phone since installing this app which eat at the data and are just annoying in general- not needed or wanted. I also found I couldn’t do anything on the Samsung in settings due to the app being the admin on the phone now- a password override should be in place. Uninstalling was a nightmare as you have to remove the account from both phones but if you don’t do it from the kids phone first it’s a nightmare. Not a great experience and would not recommend it or use it again.Version: 1.42.13706
✓ Won’t let me inSome how my child email account say it was deleted and now I can’t get in to fix it on my end or his at almost of what to do and help out there for this.Version: 1.47.14363
✓ HORRIBLE!!! DANGER!!!I set up Family Link with Google when I got my minor son a phone, and the phone was for safety purposes. There was some back door way for him to disable the Family Link and didn’t require my approval for app purchases anymore. It took my credit card company over 2 months to notice some “unusual” purchases. Now I’m stuck with thousands of dollars in charges that the credit card company won’t remove and when I tried to contact Google (ha ha) their automated system “decided” not to do anything about it. I need to speak to an actual person. These were UNAUTHORIZED purchases by a minor and the fact that he could disable the Family Link is terrifying. I cannot afford the charges and I don’t want my credit ruined. I don’t want my life ruined either. I’m sure that this has ruined many families’ lives..Version: 1.48.14507
✓ Child & Teen AppJust out of curiosity, how come the parent app is only available to download, but not the child and teen app? Makes no sense to me..Version: 1.59.15947
✓ Can’t actually change my kids settingsIt says you’ve changed the access but nothing really has changed.Version: 1.67.17192
✓ AwfulFaced similar issues after battling to create gmail accounts and having to input wrong ages to make them work?!?!? Tried to sign in with phone number it told me my phone number wasn’t linked to an account despite three steps earlier telling me I had two gmail accounts with that number. Due to creating one child’s email that automatically created a family group which now I’ve had to delete completely and google only allow you to switch once every 12 months. This means that as the new family account set me up as a member rather than a parent I cannot now use it for a year. It’s like it was designed by various committees who refused to talk to each other..Version: 1.38.13196
✓ Serious functionality issuesDays I have spent just trying to install. I open link and it indicates to enter a code when I open link on my childs device. The only option on my childs device is to create s family even though they are already on one. Useless. Settings should work from the chrome browser.Version: 1.65.16787
✓ Useless nowThis used to be a really great app and I really found it easy to use but now you have to be a developer to understand how to use it. It is so frustrating and aggravating. I think I might need to find a new parental app to use that is more user-friendly, because this is just mind-boggling, I would’ve given it a five star rating as it was before but now like I said, I can’t understand it and when I thought I had changed the permissions for my daughter to have unlimited time while she was away with her friends but it’s it’s locked… it shouldn’t be locked it… I just can’t find the words to how disappointed I am now. Even my IT wife says that the app is now very difficult from what it used to be. It is really truly totally disappointing..Version: 2.0.23540
✓ Cannot set time limits.When trying to make time limits for certain apps there is no toggle or option to make a time limit for that app and comes up with 0minutes time limit. Would be great if they fixed this fracture, especially since we are using the device to teach at home..Version: 1.62.16274
✓ Dodgy App!I’m simply trying to make accounts for my kids and thought I’d give this a go. This app however, makes google look like some dodgy Russian website. Poor usability in iOS systems, screen blanking unless you rotate your device. And after many minutes entering data and credit card details, blanks and crashes. Great way to degrade your brand Google. Needs action!.Version: 1.26.11363
✓ Garbage appSimilar to Chromebook experience, awful.Version: 1.57.15701
✓ Familylink is created to entice you to buy more stuffGoogle tied all their products to this useless app and the basic function of product such as google home can’t work for a family setting because this app make sure you must have google products for all family members before it allows google home to work for young kid..Version: 1.47.14363
✓ Family Link is a TrapI made a google account many years ago when I was at the age where I needed a guardian account to link with it. I didn’t actually use the account very much then, but now, many years later where I am way beyond the age where I need a supervised account I have it linked with other software accounts. Now family link doesn’t allow me to basically do anything and me and my mom have been trying for the past week to get this wretched curse off of our accounts. We have iPhones so Im not sure if it works better with androids. Google family link is unremovable if you are on iPhone. No tutorial, no link, no tech support can help you remove this binding. I can’t even log in to family link through my “child” account because the page refreshes every time. Can someone PLEASE tell me why this is happening and how to fix it?? DONT USE FAMILY LINK PLEASE!!! P.S. : It may seem pathetic that the review about a restriction app is coming from the person being restricted but the only reason my mom didn’t write this review is because she doesn’t want anything to do with it. We are both so unsatisfied and still can’t lift the lock on both of our accounts. She can’t remove family link because I’m above 13 yet I still have restrictions!!!! Why can’t I change my age? Awful app and software..Version: 1.98.22361
✓ Unable to allow in app purchasesI don’t know if there’s a problem with the latest update/version of Family Link or if it’s just an oversight on my part but I’m not able to approve any In app purchases for my kids anymore. I’m beside myself with trying to figure out a solution for this issue. I noticed this began when I updated to the latest version of the app. I reached out to the community and still haven’t received anything useful. I don’t want to go the route of uninstalling everything if at all possible. I’ve updated my payment information and looked at everything that I can think of and I’m very perplexed about what’s happening with the app..Version: 2.0.23540
✓ Somewhat frustrating...This app is great when it’s working but malfunctions often on one of my children’s phones. I even kept her phone for a period of time to see if she had somehow managed to override it, but the app just drops out.. when I open the app on my phone it says that I need to connect the user’s device to my phone.. I must have gone through this process about 30 times now.. it works for a while and then the same thing happens. When it drops out she has no access to the play store, but I have no control over the apps she already has. Like I said great when it works, frustrating when it doesn’t..Version: 1.48.14507
✓ Giant sack of garbagePointless..Version: 1.64.16541
✓ Do not get this.As a parent I want to protect my child, and make sure my daughter isn’t on her phone all day, see messages, and have her location. I try to be flexible with her. For example, if she has a friend over and they want to play a game like roblox, I give her more time. So anyway, I was trying to give her an extra 30 minutes and it was not working. I tried for almost over an hour. And sometimes, her location would just go off. I assumed she found a way to turn it off. So I had her phone while she went to school one day trying to fix the many problems, and the location randomly just went off! So annoying. And when I would Lock her phone, she wasn’t able to text or call, even though I changed the settings to allow that. If you want app limits, please find another app or check devices settings. I know apple has a screen time setting. Not sure about apple though..Version: 1.102.23249
✓ PoorI’m a parent. This app has some useful features like setting time limits and location tracking but it sometimes doesn’t refresh for several hours, so monitoring how much gaming time your kid has had on the same day is virtually impossible. The tracker only works half the time too and you can’t specify times when different categories of apps can or cannot be used. I will be opting for one of the paid parental monitoring platforms like Norton or Qustudio..Version: 1.70.17708
✓ GlitchCan’t enter credit card details as per previous comments. Using iPhone 6. Frustrated..Version: 1.31.12521
✓ App doesn’t work properlyHave recently upgraded my child’s device, and despite it being linked to the family link app, none of the settings shown in the app work on my child’s device Google support is no good at helping Fix the app google.Version: 2.8.24899
✓ Great apart from….The location tracking doesn’t work. Please don’t rely on this app to safely track your loved ones - it will let you down. Apart from that, it’s really good. Full control over what the kids can (and can’t) do on their phones with lots of options to limit time. You will need a separate proper tracking app alongside it though..Version: 1.84.20042
✓ Will never provide so much private details on my childThe idea is brilliant, but why such a small children need to have a google account and provide all these personal details when they are less than 18? I am waiting for similar app from Apple where Apple ID or similar concept will be sufficient..Version: 1.44.13931
✓ Tracking does not work -Rest is spot onPure and simple the GPS tracking doesn’t work. Went through all the steps. If the kid doesn’t have their phone “on” it doesn’t even register their last “active” location. It just says it can’t find their location. Stupid. Most of the time a kid’s phone will be in their bag/pocket and inactive because they’re going somewhere or simply at school. The rest of the app works great so far. But as the GPS was my main reason for getting the app, I’m looking at other options..Version: 1.97.22256
✓ Can’t even set up to get started.For an app made my google this is a shocker. Only trying to use it to sign up my son to use a chrome book. The app just does let me get past the accept screen for the credit card details. Have tried over and over. Massive let down for something so simple. How can the power of google not have this sorted..Version: 1.30.12089
✓ Issues downloading the children&teenager versionI’m currently trying to download the kid version onto my child’s iPhone 7 and it doesn’t even show, it keeps saying it downloading to a Samsung phone which she has an iPhone!! Bet frustrating because I like this app very much. I used it for my son. Him and I both have galaxy’s though is this the reason? Is this app not compatible with iPhone yet?.Version: 1.47.14363
✓ Missing key featureCompare to Screen Time, It should be able to limit the time of use by group of applications, keeping the possibility to have unlimited time for phone or school apps and limit the time for YouTube and co. Hope to see that soon..Version: 1.52.14915
✓ Google sucksSetting these chrome books up for kids sucks. They are not straight forward. The schools don’t know what they are doing. Google thinks everyone can read their mind and knows what they are thinking but they done. Returning this chrome book and going back to apple. C ya google. At least your map works !.Version: 1.48.14507
✓ Family link is one of many apps you have to install to manage family stuffIf your going to use google parental controls get ready to jump through some hoops. You have to manage your apps and payments in google play and just wait you can’t use gift cards for kids under 13 in google play so don’t buy those they are worthless. I wasted 4 hours trying to fix my kids accounts to be able to share apps - which didn’t work, make purchases with birthday gift cards - also didn’t work, and then tried to change their access and once they are designated under 13 you loose all kinds of flexibility. I still can’t share apps with them. Instead I’m expected to pay for each app with my own credit card. What a waste!!!.Version: 1.72.17978
✓ Keeps “losing” settingsWe’ve used this app for over a year and it worked fine until the recent updates. Now all the limits we set for my son’s tablet lasts only a day before it disappears and he has free reign on when and how long he wants to use it. If it persists, we will have to look for another solution..Version: 1.68.17369
✓ HORRIBLEThis is the *worst app* and Family Link as a whole is horrible. Continuously locks my child out of his computer, he has no set restrictions or time limits. He can just be in the middle of his math lessons and the computer will randomly kick him out and lock, requiring me to jump through a whole bunch of hoops to get it unlocked. If this happens when I'm not around, he can't do his school work until I get to it to fix it. Info online regarding the app and program is completely wrong, there's no way to contact support. If you have to use this don't download the app, it doesn't communicate with the devices you're trying to work on, and sends you in circles with no solutions. Doesn't even register that family link is set up in your child's device just tells you how to set it up, even when it's already done. SO BAD. Very frustrating and not at all a help..Version: 2.18.26234
✓ Great when it works, but useless when it doesn’tI’ve used this app for a while and when it works, I love the ease of control. The problem is that it randomly turns off limits. For example, I can set an app to a 30 minute time limit and I can go into the app and sometimes and it has reset to no limit. I have to constantly check to make sure the limits I set are still active. I have to do this multiple times a day. I can reset the limit and go in a minute later and it has reverted to no limit! I don’t know if my kid has figured out a way around this app or if the app is faulty!! I have contacted the company for customer support and they tell me the same things to try that don’t change a thing. I wish this app was better! I will be changing parental control apps very soon. I can’t stand this anymore!!!.Version: 2.12.25475
✓ AwefullTerrible if you are on iOS. It is obvious that Google doesn’t want this to work well on Apple products..Version: 1.65.16787
✓ FrustratingAfter trying to allow my son to share his location with his sister, I gave up and decided to stop supervision. Unfortunately the instruction given do not appear to work as no stop supervision option exists in my sons account info.. Frustrating…….Version: 1.90.21128
✓ AngerWorks only in usa.Version: 1.54.15134
✓ Comes with one big flawFor a year, I though this app was great. Then I discovered that it’s fine when managing only one device per child. Once your child has multiple devices, all needing managing, for some reason one rule fits all devices. Need 6 hours for a Chromebook at school? Great, the child can also have 6 hours on phone and tablet as well. 18 hours per day. Can’t be altered. Need to block one device? Great block them all at once. Need to allow an app on one device but not another? Nope, no can do. It is absolutely disappointing that there is so much granularity, but where it really matters, across devices, there’s none. Find a better app for your multi-device needs..Version: 2.20.26690
✓ Family sharing sucksIt is garbage and won’t let me remove members.Version: 1.68.17369
✓ Typical google poor qualityHonestly, apart from searching the web what other reliable software can google actually build (google for google graveyard for a sad list of their poor track record). This is a great example of their shockingly poor quality design. All we want to do is to manage our 6 year olds account. And indeed the family link app worked, we've linked the account.. Great? Sadly not, if we then go to the child's account we find its disabled because the age is under 13...yes that's why we want to make it. The only option is to say the date is wrong and they are over 18. Isn't the obvious thing to say if the age is too low, link to the family link app????? But no, there's nothing, no help, nothing So now we're totally stuck. Google account is locked and will be deleted in 29 days. Thanks google. Really really helpful..Version: 1.30.12089
✓ Makes no senseWaiting a whole 24 hours because supervision was disabled makes absolutely no sense. Something like that should only take 10 minutes to reset. I have a special needs son who is 19 years old that doesn’t understand the concept of needing a password and can’t use his tablet until I come home Because he doesn’t know what to do. I’m trying to find a way to access his tablet without needing a password but now I have to wait 24 hours to get back in to try again… Makes no sense! The company of the tablet will get a bad review also. Older special needs children may have a mind of a younger child because of their intellect but still should be able to get easy access without the need of a password or parent supervision. fix the 24 hour wait that’s so dumb..Version: 2.13.25634
✓ Not goodThis is frustrating and difficult to sort out.Version: 1.72.17978
✓ Unable to update year of birth on the app or through Google supportAn email was created for my business and I entered the year it started and it won’t let me change the year since. As Google now thinks I’m under 13 with the year of birth being underaged, the account is now useless with functions like sharing calendar being restricted. I’ve reached out to Google support and even they couldn’t help. The app lets you change the year of birth, but you can’t save it..Version: 1.87.20510
✓ Absolutely uselessGot this app as a way to restrict what my 7yo looks at, as I discovered he had accessed adult sites. Turns out that it would be simpler constructing your own functioning device out of rocks. Was an absolute headfuk to (unsuccessfully in the end) setup. Would give minus 100 stars if I could. Don't waste your time with this dud app from Google..Version: 2.15.25937
✓ Unable to deinstall without deleting child’s accountInunable to watch YouTube videos. Tried deinstall but forced to delete child’s account.Version: 1.58.15797
✓ Doesn’t work 100% of the timeMassive delays. History is very out of date. It’s stopping my children from getting the apps they need for school. If there is another way of doing this I’d choose it. Very unhappy with the product..Version: 1.57.15701
✓ Can’t cancel this without closing your child’s email accountDon’t sign up for this because you can’t cancel without closing your child’s email account. When I initially set the app up I set a 3 hour limit on screen time. I quickly realized my child needed more time with her computer at school and increased it to 9 hours. The increase to 9 hours was made months ago and yet her computer still times out at 3 hours. The highlights page does not show the app use history like it is supposed to. I have contacted support multiple times and they have tried to help but none of their trouble shooting steps have worked. At this point I want to be done with the app entirely, but the only way to delete it is to close down my child’s email account that they had for many years before I tried this app. Truly disappointing. Try a different app..Version: 2.15.25937
✓ Cannot use/link school accountThe app itself is fab, I can control what my child accesses... but you CANNOT ADD A SCHOOL ACCOUNT if family link is enabled on a device. If you are thinking of getting family link to monitor your child’s activity especially during home schooling or remote learning you CANNOT do it with family link. I’ve been chatting to app support today and have been told that school accounts using google classroom/ meets/hangouts etc cannot be used if a device is set up with a personal google account that has family link supervision. Either you need to delete family link and have no supervision or you delete your personal account and use the school account BUT you still CANT use family link as you are unable to supervise an account managed by someone else (I.e the school) so even if you’re prompted to add a School account as a user your request will not be completed. Basically you can’t add a school account if you have family link! I am really unhappy and the developers need to address this, create a working option to add a school account..Version: 1.72.17978
✓ StressfulTo difficult.Version: 1.69.17483
✓ Needs tweakingI used this to control my 8 year olds phone. While I like that I can set limits and bedtimes, and turn off his phone on command, the website approvals need work. I have it set to where he can’t access the internet at all. He needs permission for each site. When I approve a site, I would like it to automatically approve all links related to the parent site. For example, a Disney game site. I have to approve the website. Then he’ll click a character, let’s say Mickey. So then I have to approve the “new” Mickey site. On that page, he can pick whether he wants to read, draw, color, or play. He wants to read, so now I have to approve that site as well. Oh but now he wants to color. Have to ask for permission again. It’s exhausting. Every single move he makes needs to be approved. This was when I first got the app. Now, I’m having trouble even approving a site all together. I have approved the same site 5x and every time I go to refresh it after the approval, I get promoted to ask for permission again!! I literally have his phone in one hand and mine In the other trying to approve websites to no avail. PLEASE FIX.Version: 1.44.13931
✓ Developers wise up!Any savvy child can work out how to circumvent all those restrictions. Mine downloaded a “secure folder” app which didn’t need parental approval and stored copies of all the apps they wanted continued access to. This meant they could dodge the time limits set on phone use and have unrestricted time on phone. Flagged this to the developers and no improvement made yet. I’d shop around for a more solid parental control app. If your child is 6yo and below this app works for anyone above with good search/knowledge of internet they’ll figure out soon enough the loopholes!.Version: 1.79.19295
✓ Bug stops you before even startAs per other reviews, I got as far as the “parental consent” screen that requires your credit card. Details entered, but the "accept” button is completely unresponsive. Have had to abort and will look for a proper, child-specific email provider. Just annoying that Google now has sensitive information about my 7 year old, and it’s all for nothing. No conspiracy, just very shoddy coding from Google’s developers, and they seem to be testing it on the public rather than alpha testing properly in-house, first..Version: 1.42.13706
✓ Not worth itI got this app after my son with special needs was not dropped off at his bus stop. Long story short he was over 30 minutes away and scared. This app worked great at first. I had his location all the time, saw when he got to his school, bus stops, etc.. Then it stopped working, and hasn’t worked for months. I have spent hours on his phone and mine making sure everything was on, updated, and corrected. It still doesn’t work. It will update and say he is at home when in reality he is over 8 miles away at school. A lot can happen in 8 miles. I don’t recommend this app to any parents, especially parents with special needs children as it’s not correct in location, locations never work..Version: 2.23.27002
✓ Where is the ‘for kids app’I’d love to use this app, but can not find the ‘for children & teens’ app to download on their phones to sync! Any advice?.Version: 1.55.15206
✓ Do not installOnce you have installed Family Link on your phone and kids phones you cannot remove it without losing your email accounts! Do not install!.Version: 1.90.21128
✓ Parents please read (seriously)Hello parents thank you for reading :) i am very upset that these kind of apps exist... we get it you want to protect your child. but when your kids find out they'll have this horrible feeling inside that you have no trust in them, and that you think we are not responsible. well possibly your child is not responsible. TALK TO US!!! instead of keeping control over our lives and everything we do. i honestly think it's an invasion of our privacy... in some apps YOU CAN SEE WHAT WE TEXT. now may not seem like it but that really would upset us. mom, since you have an app like this with no disrespect please delete it if you are reading this. i'd rather you go through my phone instead of you being able to see my screen time, messages etc. thanks for reading i hope this makes you think. (ps. this is leila) hehe.Version: 1.79.19295
✓ Location failureWhen I try to see my children location it doesn’t update..Version: 2.21.26786
✓ Not user friendly!This app is supposed to allow me to monitor and limit my child's screen time and content. Still, the process of activating the app and monitoring my child’s screen time using it is so convoluted that I can only imagine that it was designed by people wanting uninhibited access to my child’s content. First: my child’s account is the only account allowed on the device. Why can't I have an account? What if I have multiple children with access to the device? Second: once I have set it up, it doesn't alert me of much outside of my child’s log on, and purchase attempts. What if my child (or some outside source) attempts contact that I deem undesirable? Finally: The process of setting up the account took three videos, and several hours of attempts that I would imagine most people would just give up. The directions were so ridiculous such as: “factory reset the device,” among others, that I constantly expected the next step to be: sing Yankee doodle backward while standing on your head and drinking unicorn tears from a laughing stream! Huge disappointment..Version: 1.76.18719
✓ Don’t do itOnce you’re in, you can’t get out. And nothing, literally nothing works here. Hours and hours wasted trying to figure out how to do simple things. Find another way to supervise your kids online because this ain’t it..Version: 2.20.26690
✓ No callsOnce my kid uses his time, he cant call me if he needs to. You can go to emergency call which takes him to the call screen but as soon as he tries to call anyone including police it comes up phone locked..Version: 1.72.17978
✓ HorrificAn absolute buggy, overcooked mess. Half the time commands for extra time don’t go through. And notifications for requested purchases don’t come through at all, so no way to install paid apps..Version: 2.17.26129
✓ HopelessCan’t even use this app to set up. It just keeps freezing or coming up with a white screen. For something recommended by gmail..extremely poor quality..Version: 1.31.12521
✓ App crashes - now working but chromebook not yet supportedCan’t rate it as I can’t get into it after downloading the app. A tad frustrating. Seems to download and open fine on Samsung phone but not iPhone 5S even though I have the latest software. Update: the above is now fixed so I can open it on my iPhone. Daughter has chromebook and Samsung phone. Installed app on her phone and tried to connect but as she is signed in on chromebook it won’t connect as chromebook not yet supported. How frustrating. Cannot connect her phone or chromebook. If I try on phone I have to set up a new account (email) but ensure her current gmail account is not attached to her phone. Grrr!.Version: 1.28.11891
✓ Settings not workingChild account is set to allow sign in without requesting permissions. Constantly requires parent approval for child to sign in. Due to this issue, child is constantly late for online learning/classes. Also, demanding a nickname (all of which have been taken) in order to post this review. JUST LET ME OPERATE THE DEVICE IVE PURCHASED!!!.Version: 1.72.17978
✓ Great idea, but the app has too many bugsI installed this app to monitor my child's tablet activities and to ensure he doesn't go overboard on screen time. I find that when I am trying to set app time limits the majority of the app that I select to add the time limits is not the app that opens up. When I am finally able to select the correct app that I would like to change it gives me an error message saying “Could not set limit try again”. I like that I am able to approve or deny his app downloads from my phone and set an age level for content such as apps & games, music and internet searches. And the location info is nice to have in case you misplace the device. I spend most of my time dealing with errors on this app, not to mention you have to select each individual app to do so. I really wish they would give you the option to set limits on more than one app at a time to set limits and fix the bugs that causes the error messages and this app would be perfect..Version: 1.76.18719
✓ Parents, please read.When I found out this app existed I was just disappointed. I thought google was useful? NOPE! This app is a violation of children’s/teens privacy! and it’s not right. This app has to much power on your children/teens. Do you want to cause them stress? Anxiety? Depression? If the answer is no, then don’t download this app unless you want to have a bad relationship with your child/teen. I don’t get what some of you parents find in this app, do you really want to see your child suffer? If we children/teens don’t even have enough time to talk to our friends, it can also cause stress and anxiety and we will become distant to them. Do you not want your children/teen to have friends? If the answer is no then PLEASE! For you and your child’s/teens safety, do NOT download THIS APP!!!⚠️.Version: 1.76.18719
✓ Inutilisable au CanadaImpossible de créer un compte enfant au Canada..Version: 1.62.16274
✓ Really buggy.I have found this app to be super annoying. The bedtime schedule resets multiple times every day so I’m having to set it up each time I find it has reset itself. Location settings keep resetting too so again I’m in a constant loop of turning it on only to find 30 minutes later it’s off again. Blocked apps reset so they’re unblocked etc. The list is endless. I’ve deleted the app and reinstalled - that doesn’t work. What’s the point of this app?.Version: 1.89.20732
✓ Sold in Canada ... but can't use it!!!!!Thanks for nothing, no really ! Oh and i even had time to see all the companys google shares all my info with.... lovely just effin lovely.Version: 1.55.15206
✓ Can’t even create a log inThese has frozen on the payment page. I just need to create a email for the chrome book! Help!!!!!!! This has also charged me $8 on my credit card! Someone needs to sort it out so we can get a refund and use our chromebook.Version: 1.38.13196
✓ Good until your child finds out and change settingsApp is good until you child finds out how to change settings and unlock their devices to use for longer time than allowed. Other parental control apps have face recognition so you are the only person that can access it. Maybe something that can be added?.Version: 2.0.23540
✓ Management is very difficultI love the idea but it is very tricky to allow features that as a parent I think my daughter is responsible enough for and so very frustrating. Like the App Store it would be great if a request was sent to me from my daughter and then I could approve or not as I see fit..Version: 1.26.11363
✓ UTTERLY USELESS.UTTERLY USELESS..Version: 1.64.16541
✓ Very disappointing waste of timeMultiple Problems - I have the latest version of the app but can’t complete the account creation process. The only thing I’ve succeeded in doing is giving Google my children’s birthdays and my credit card details. I cannot complete the credit card process. Buttons do not always respond and the app seems to crash in the middle of collecting personal credit card data - which is very worrying!! I have visited the help section but cannot find any way to contact tech support. The disclaimer says the account I am trying to create for my child will be exactly the same as an adult account - “not designed for children”. What’s the point? Cannot add an existing account. Why not? Looking at other reviews, Apparently it doesn’t work on Chromebooks. The app requires the child’s full birthdate details - why? Surely they just need year and month. Summary: I think the point of this app is for Google to collect more personalised information in order to target advertising to children. From a parent’s perspective, when compared to Apple’s brilliant Family features, this Google app is a poorly designed waste of time, developed by a legal and marketing team that has no idea what parents need. I wasted 45 minutes on this rubbish!.Version: 1.26.11363
✓ Great idea but with FlawsThe idea behind the app is great it allows me some control over my child’s phone such as, when he can turn it on when he has to turn it off and what he can access. It also so allows me to see his usage and location. Or it should! In reality, half the time I can’t see his usage or his location, and even when his phone is locked there is a loophole which allows him to go to emergency access his contacts, access his messages then follow a link on one of his messages into a game which then gives him full access to the phone. If these flaws were fixed the app would be 5 *..Version: 1.49.14591
✓ Not happyI was able to download the app to my phone but wasn’t able to find the family link for children’s app as suggested. The system keeps saying to head to google play but then no direction from there as it’s just an app to run movies from. I found this very frustrating to try set up on my daughters phone which is IOS 14 iPhone XS.Version: 1.72.17978
✓ Location service is not goodI thought I finally found a great family app, the monitoring of the apps etc is great but I wanted it most for the location service. It keeps saying it cannot connect although I know the kids are using their phone. It says I have to update location service, I do this and it does not work. Sometimes it works but that is nor very often. It uses google maps and it just don’t makes sense that this works so badly?.Version: 1.85.20087
✓ Made for people with nothing else to doAbsolutely terrible. I’d like to meet someone who successfully got through the setup process. I especially love the part where I enter my card details and nothing happens with no feedback at all. I always love a good mystery..Version: 1.29.11978
✓ HopelessHopeless app! Can’t even setup an account for my daughter to use her chrome book! Doesn’t let me get past the credit card details !.Version: 1.55.15206
✓ Not safeThe app doesn’t do what it should. I downloaded on my sons phone after he was caught on inappropriate websites. Set it up to restrict Google searches and inappropriate content. It works for the Google search engine results but when the URL is type into the address bar it goes straight to the adults only website..Version: 1.79.19295
✓ So complicatedWant to find out how to let my daughter use YouTube And if you want to post a negative feedback it won’t let you.Version: 1.38.13196
✓ Great app but does not work with dark modeI really like this app, it allows us to easily manage our kids time on their tablets. It’s been pretty much flawless, however there is a bug currently where if your phone is set to dark mode and you set an app limit you cannot see the times in the spin controls. The times are all white the same as the window background. Please fix this and it’s 5 stars!.Version: 1.61.16100
✓ To parentsThough this app may be useful for younger kids, I personally believe parents should refrain from using these apps for their teens. These kinds of apps feel extremely controlling and manipulative and may make your child feel paranoid. I can confirm this myself. Through tough times, when my parents weren’t there for me, many online friends were and blocking your child from communicating with their friends can really hurt and greatly impact a child’s health. So, instead of monitoring them 24/7 and limiting their phone use talk to your children !! If you really care for them give them their needed space and privacy but keep supporting them as parents. If you think something is wrong speak to them instead of taking away what may be benefiting them instead of, what you may think, is hurting them..Version: 1.72.17978
✓ Difficult to navigateSo hard to use.Version: 1.55.15206
✓ Sending purchase requests.While family link has many good features to help limit screen time, and help control purchases, the place where you receive a purchase request is glitchy. As my son asked for me to get him an add-on for a game, I never got the approval request on my phone, I look in recent requests, nothing. I tried to look on my sons phone to find out if I can send another request for the purchase, “You already sent a pending purchase for this item.” There was a little button that said, “Complete pending purchase” I pressed it, and it just showed me the budget and history. It didn’t actually complete it, it just showed me the history. Nothing else, which has frustrated me and my son..Version: 1.92.21437
✓ Loads of difficulty getting this app to workI’m not even sure how well this app works because every time I think I’ve resolved an issue another poppa up. Initially had huge issues getting the parental controls to work. Then somehow my daughter managed to create a guest user and was accessing apps and content that I had restricted for her user. Now it has in linked from her device and when I go through the parental controls the button to “get started” doesn’t exist so I am unable to follow the steps to get the google link app to re-connect to the device. Overall this app and system has been an absolute headache..Version: 2.0.23540
✓ Don’t use it!!!I am so frustrated right now. This is the very opposite of parental control because this app doesn’t allow me, the parent, to choose what my daughter can or cannot have on her phone. Who are you to decide what is suitable for MY child???!! And as the cherry on the cake I now cannot remove the app from her phone without deleting her google account which I don’t want to do. I can’t tell you how annoyed I am that this has taken up some of our precious family time and I can’t even remove it. Very poor..Version: 1.44.13931
✓ Just not a Healthy Concept in my OpinionIn my opinion, I think it sets a dangerous precedent for a bad child-parent relationship. My reasoning for this is the fact that it doesn’t even work very well, restricts all the wrong things, and is a fundamental catalyst in your most-likely terrible relationship with your child. Also, can everyone actually…listen…to (their) kids and other kids every once in a while. You’ll find that a lot of times, they have the sort of perspective that you lack as an adult. I LISTEN to children, and I’m telling you this to share the benefits of healthy communication. A lack of this is a catalyst for apps like this. TL;DR: Shut up. You don’t need this, but you DO need helpful communication with the child in question..Version: 2.7.24767
✓ Stop!!Too restrictive for my sons schoolwork. There are no instructions for deleting the app without deleting gmail accounts.Version: 1.67.17192
✓ SucksIs completely Useless Doesn’t let you do anything and the “help” does Nothing Was led to before that I could Change the Messed up Wrong birth date that was entered. BUT, NO YOU CAN NOT DO THAT. Second option Delete gmail Account. NOPE, CAN’T DO THAT EITHER. So now we have this Useless account. Now either have to forget all about having an email account or Make Up a Name as we Can’t use the One that took ages to think of and love. So thanks YouTube for making this a Horrible Experience. Looking for a new email service Now.Version: 1.70.17708
✓ Good features, poor executionControls and location etc would be great features if they always work. Often can’t find device, sometimes settings just change or don’t work. My son came to me and said what’s wrong I’ve used my phone a lot more the limit and I checked settings and nothing had changed. Also google management stops at only 13, too young..Version: 1.57.15701
✓ Frustrating experienceIf the app worked correctly, seems like it could be a very helpful product. However, I almost was greeted with the message “trouble updating with this account” when I attempted to log in. My daughter went on a couple overnight field trips and I wanted to change the curfew or provide her with the ability to contact me and I was Never able to get into the account. We’ve had the app for approximately 6 months and I believe I’ve been able to successfully access the account 5-6 times. Today after several login attempts, I was finally able to gain access. I then quickly googled how to remove the app and then I subsequently lost access. I am unable to log back into the account. I’ve spent so much time..,hours of time,on this app and left feeling frustrated..Version: 1.23.10853
✓ Why has the app stopped working?I don’t understand why the app had suddenly stopped working, every time I click on the app it takes me straight back off of it. Uninstalling and reinstalling has made no difference either? What’s going on? I cannot manage my daughters account so she can access her tablet because of this..Version: 2.21.26786
✓ Worst app everI thought this would be a convenient way to basically just set time limits on her phone. That part of it worked like a charm and was able to change her limits on a daily basis. BUT she has 2 Gmail accounts and it wouldn’t let us add both accounts since they weren’t school accounts. So she wasn’t able to access one of her accounts at all. We decided just to delete it and have time limits ourselves. When we deleted it she couldn’t login to her chrome book without doing a factory reset on it which was not an option when all of her school stuff was on there. I tried contacting support which was a dead end. So we either have to have the app and not access her one gmail account she uses for her games, or delete it and not access her chrome book. Definitely the worst app! If that was resolved i might change it to 3 stars but since you can never contact support it is staying at 1 star! I definitely wouldn’t recommend this app to anyone!.Version: 1.81.19514
✓ Worst app o ever TRIED to use!!Iv spent over an hour on my device and my daughters device, trying to set up a family link so I can monitor her phone, finally as I thought I was getting somewhere it then says not for children under 13??? It doesn’t say this information on the description!! So Iv wasted my time setting up stupid gmail accounts going back and forth with passwords for nothing!! Not user friendly and just another way of getting peoples details off them!! USELESS !!!.Version: 1.81.19514
✓ Never synchronises with child’s deviceGood bones but wildly frustrating as it never seems to synchronise with child’s device. The daily time limit is always exceeded, morning is night and night is morning. When I try and lock the child’s device, usually nothing happens. Like I said, good in theory. All the fixes do not seem work..Version: 1.76.18719
✓ STUPID.Forced to change GooglePlay music (family account) to YouTube music, that doesn’t transfer the child accounts!!! Now a pointless service! Will need to look at canceling our subscription to a service that works for our whole family..Version: 1.70.17708
✓ Incredibly restrictive and frustratingAs a parent it has been an absolute nightmare using Family Link. Apple and Microsoft both got parental controls right. Google has not figured it out though. I could not install half the apps and extensions my kids needed to use because they aren't 13. I had to actually fake their birthdate and graduate them just so they could use the apps they need in their grade 1 class (they're 6). Additionally now that they are "teenagers" Family Link no longer works and supports adding Chromebooks so they are now using full Google Accounts. Because they are 6 and supervised this is fine but for more tech savvy kids between 6 and 12 this is a big problem. Come on Google you can (and should) do better. You can't make decisions on parents behalf on what is/isn't appropriate for kids to use. That's my job. Not yours. If an app or extension is approved by the entire school division and okay'd by me in my own home than who are you to say my kids can't use it?.Version: 1.68.17369
✓ What a messAbsolute headf*** to remove children and the device being restricted. I’ve spent a good hour just removing the child’s account to then discover the entire device is still locked, can’t even do a factory reset because the family link blocks that option. Don’t get this app if you want to ever use your devices again.Version: 1.62.16274
✓ Won’t let me change to adult accountMy sister is now 15, and I shouldn’t be able to monitor her account anymore, nor do I need to- however it won’t give me the option to change her account to adult, nor let me delete the family link as it ‘has a child under 13’ linked. There are so many unnecessary restrictions that it won’t let me turn off, frustrating both her and I. Just keep an eye on your kids instead, this is a headache when they grow up..Version: 1.99.22533
✓ Too inflexibleMy son needs YouTube on his laptop for school, but there's *no* way to allow this until he turns 13. There's only two ways around this: 1. delete his account, which causes deletion of all his Gmail, Google docs, etc. (Not a viable option.) 2. Edit his date of birth to be the day before he turns 13 and wait 24 hours. After which all constraints are dropped. Not happy..Version: 1.48.14507
✓ Kids quickly work out how to disable itTried everything and my son could still bypass the time limits. Installed another parental control app which works perfectly on a phone without family link but not on my son’s phone where family link was still installed. The uninstall process then deleted my son’s google account. So in trying to get a parental control onto his phone all I achieved was to create havoc. If you install it and it works then great. If you have a child who has an interest in bypassing it, they will. The new app has outfoxed him so thankfully he now has some boundaries over phone use that we found impossible to enforce using family link..Version: 2.2.23957
✓ App not working properlyAlot of bugs.Version: 2.18.26234
✓ No clear instructions on useThere are no clear instructions on how to use this app or how it’s supposed to help me see my kids email...which I initially just wanted them to have full access to but google wouldn’t let that happen since she’s a baby. This is more complicated and difficult..Version: 1.37.13052
✓ Half ok, half uselessThis is free and does SOME of what I need it to do. Its biggest flaw is that just as you begin to need it, it becomes unavailable. Get this parents, It’s only for kids UNDER 13. Whaaaat? What’s the point? My kids really didn’t need restrictions much before then because #1, They were mostly only interested in using one or two specific things, and #2 they were on MY devices. By the time I want to hand a device over to them to begin developing some responsibility and independence, Google apparently thinks they suddenly become ready to completely parent THEMSELVES. 13? Yeah, useless. I was able to get around that for awhile by creating an account for my teen with a false birthdate. (Yeah well, ya do what ya gotta do to protect your kids) The other problem is that I can’t limit time for specific apps. The options are very general and vague. When my 12 y/old’s time is up, she cannot even text me or receive my texts. She can only call me using the emergency function. This is very inconvenient because a phone call during the day is often much less feasible than quick text. If they change these policies, they might have something great!.Version: 1.26.11363
✓ Do not download this app, it’s an invasion of privacyGood parenting does not start with watching the every move they do. If you really don’t trust your child with a device you should’ve had or have a talk with them about online dangers and honesty. If you still don’t trust your child you should’ve not ever gotten the device until they were mature enough to understand. If you are a parent and your child has a device that is theirs, it’s not your property to Do not download this app, it’s an invasion of privacy every move they do with it. The app isn’t good. Children will later understand that if you don’t trust them why should they trust you. Parents, be careful about what you do to your child for monitoring. I have a feeling we will see more of these invading issues in the future from other apps..Version: 2.0.23540
✓ A rubbish that can’t be removedI changed for the competitor and found out, that google doesn’t allow to remove its parental controls! I uninstalled from my device but on the child’s device an option ‘disable’ doesn’t appear so I need to install on my mobile again, check settings and make sure, that the device will never get locked and nothing would interfere with old settings. It is frustrating, disappointing and a shame for google, which doesn’t allow to use its family link to supervise children on windows, iPhones and mac and makes problems, when parents wish their children to use androids being supervised by cross-platform competitors..Version: 2.22.27011
✓ Locked outI’m locked out of account and tearing my hair out getting back in. I’m going round in circles without advice on what to do next.Version: 1.56.15608
✓ Restricts apps and it cannot be undoneI love apples family controls and so when I saw google had a family control app I thought I would give it a go. Big mistake. My daughter was fine with how it worked before, but now she cannot you regular YouTube, she cannot use google play music, or YouTube music, and she cannot sign into chrome. There are other restrictions as well but those are the most frustrating. I pay extra for a family YouTube premium plan just so my kids can listen to their own music without stopping mine, but after installing this ridiculous app my daughter cannot do anything with her own account. The worst part is that there is no way to undo the changes. She is stuck until she turns 13 (which luckily is only 6 months away). I talked to google and they said the only way to go back to the previous way is to delete her current account and sign up for a new one that is not linked. Unacceptable!.Version: 1.64.16541
✓ ConfusingWould you like to manage family access to Google services? Don’t expect to do so using this confusing mess of an application..Version: 1.62.16274
✓ Time consuming and frustratingI have been trying to switch my account back from adult to child for days with no success. I eventually had to create another account and had to stop using my old account which had all of my data on it..Version: 1.89.20732
✓ GPS tracking is awful.Arguably, one of the most important features to Family *LINK* is the ability to know where a family member is. This app fails miserably at this basic and core function. One out of 100 attempts to check on a family member will give location data that’s recent enough to be reliable. The rest of the time, the app lags the true location by hours and often days—even if you refresh the location data manually, it doesn’t help. Parents, if you want to use this app to check on the location and enhance the safety of young ones, look elsewhere. The app does ok in locking down a device’s apps and such to help prevent the need for constant nannying, but it’s nowhere near as good as iPhone’s built-in features for that. However, that’s what you get for a “free” app (that monetizes your personal data, most likely)..Version: 2.14.25871
✓ ....Kids deserve privacy.Version: 1.81.19514
✓ DONT DOWLOAD and waste your time - kids iPhoneThe google family link child part of the app you don’t have the option to download onto a iPhone ! Doesn’t work on a IPHONE even if you download Chrome and remove Safari as a workaround they can just sign out. Have full access to the internet This has to be the worst app ever. No protection for your child. Can’t believe that can’t make it work for a iphone! DON’T download even though you can add the parent app!! Throw your iPhone in the bin! If you want to protect your child!.Version: 1.70.17708
✓ Well....This app is terrible I do not recommend it ruined my daughters phone..Version: 1.61.16100
✓ Cant linkCant even link to my kids device from iphone.Version: 1.58.15797
✓ Unnecessarily ComplicatedHard to understand. Every app I try to install for my child is filled with confusing roadblocks. Can’t install YouTube for some unknown reason. Kids reading app won’t work because of some family pay setting that’s wrong but no matter how I set it it still doesn’t work. I basically have a useless device for my child because of how complicated this app makes everything. Stick with apple next time....Version: 1.62.16274
✓ AnnoyingThe new ‘streamline’ update has pretty much rendered this app useless. It was great prior to, now I can’t see the location of my child, and I get notifications that they’ve arrived at school at 12:30am?!.Version: 2.0.23540
✓ This is an awful appI’m very disappointed in this app, I never write reviews on apps but this app is so bad I felt the need to warn everyone that it’s a huge waste of time. I’m a parent and this is such a restricting app and it can bring trust issues into your child’s life. If you want to get this app then your child will probably rebel against you. Not only is this a huge waste of time but it ruins your child’s life because they can’t do anything they want. This is a really terrible app so if you want to be a good parent then you should give your child some freedom in life. I cannot stress how disgusting this app is. I hope you take my advice and don’t waste your time on this app..Version: 1.61.16100
✓ Useful but slowA useful app to control how and when your child uses their device. Good features are time limits for apps and usage times for the whole device. Unfortunately, the app is sometimes 12 hrs out of sync so you can’t see what your child has done recently - it really needs to refresh more frequently to be really useful..Version: 1.72.17978
✓ ProblemsWhy is it that I need to set a day limit in order to lock devices.Version: 2.12.25475
✓ So confusingI want to decide if they get YouRube or not. It is not googles business. This is why I use Apple.Version: 1.58.15797
✓ The guy who build this app don’t have children’sInstallation and managing is Hell!! Web site approval it’s just NOT WORKING!.Version: 1.60.16001
✓ TerribleReally struggling as cannot access you tube videos needed for school. Parent link says must download you tube kids but then says not allowed the app on chromebook. So go around in circles..Version: 1.62.16274
✓ TerribleA half-baked product from Google. Give it a year til they sort it out..Version: 1.59.15947
✓ DisappointedI’m disappointed as my son has recently been accessing sexually explicit site when I have restrictions on them kind of sites, please fix this problem asap.Version: 2.0.23540
✓ DisappointedI was hoping this would be useful as I set up my children’s new chrome books. Unfortunately, the process has been difficult and not user-friendly. I have used a number of other parental supervision applications and this one is the most cumbersome so far..Version: 1.67.17192
✓ Frustration!!I have never been so frustrated with a google program in my life! The app keeps giving me an access code and when I enter it on the device to have control, it states that it is the wrong code! There is no where to chat or contact anyone. I am ready to throw my chromebook across the room. Thanks google 🙄🙄.Version: 1.48.14507
✓ InaccurateIt’s a great app to lock their phone at a certain time or to make sure each app download is sent to the parents phone for approval. But the limits to set for each app is pointless as the time spent on each app is very inaccurate. I’ve timed my child’s usage while comparing it to what the app says and it’s either off by a lot or it doesn’t register she was even on the app, though she was accessing it for an hour. I’ve contacted support and did what they suggested but the times are still off, even after several updates..Version: 1.52.14915
✓ So extreme it would be easier not to give kids techStopped daughter from doing homework andaccessing online school work. Blocked stupid things and it became impossible to override, even putting minimum restrictions on her account. I was sent an email at rhe start if the yearas she was due to turn 13 saying Family Link would no longer control content she could see… Nearly 3 months later and it’s still causing problems!.Version: 1.92.21437
✓ DO NOT USE APP! CANNOT DELETE USERSI am in the situation where I want to remove a child who has turned 13 however this function does not appear either on the app or web version. I cannot remove their device nor delete the entire family as I have a child under 13. I cannot change that child’s birthday to be over 13 to circumvent the problem. Apparently this is not a new complaint..Version: 2.23.27002
✓ PointlessCan’t link my app to my son’s device. Get to the “enter this code when prompted” page - never prompted. No help available at all. Any help link I click on takes me to the setup - which is already done. All I want to do is link the device to the Chromebook so I can use the app..Version: 1.82.19658
✓ This is absurdThere is no way to remove the parental access so now my kid can’t set up a school account and his device is worthless. This is outrageous.Version: 1.92.21437
✓ Totally worthlessSimply doesn’t work. Will not allow creation of accounts for kids and even worse, during the process it throws up a bizarre error message and leaves you with no option but to force shutdown the app. Unbelievably poor..Version: 1.62.16274
✓ Rubbish!I have been trying for 2 days to set up the app so my son can use his new Chrome book, I cant even start him using it as it wont let him log in until the app is set up. It keeps locking up and we are unable to complete it. Over the top total control where you cant even log on to a device without completing a faulty app..Version: 1.23.10853
✓ RuinedMy phone is not working properly limiting random things and limiting random apps and I can’t use my phone properly because of this virus of an app you should not download this app.Version: 2.7.24767
✓ Locked my daughters phoneLocked her phone and was unable to put in parent access as it wouldn’t allow me access to my account without her opening hers but hers had been blocked. No reply from google for help, hundreds of others in the same boat. Had to reboot her phone and lost all her data and photos. Disgusting that this is still up and running as there are obviously issues that google are not addressing. Don’t want to give a star but am forced to to be able to put this up.Version: 1.31.12521
✓ FrustratingApp is frustrating to use - not intuitive. You need a IT degree to get around this.Version: 1.57.15701
✓ You TubeI allow my son to use YouTube, but he can't watch it on his Chromebook even though he is 13 years old. My parental authority should be able to override Google's recommendation..Version: 1.44.13931
✓ Doesn’t work in Canada...Please, learn from Microsoft Family Account and build a solution that works on ALL countries, not just USA..Version: 1.28.11891
✓ Great app until latest updateWe have had this app for quite some time and have found it very useful. The app updated and when i went to help my daughter find her phone the ring function to find the device DOES NOT WORK! i find this to be in the top 5 of important features because we know how kids misplace things. if they could fix this function then i would bump it up 1 star, if they switched the layout of the app back before rhis most recent update then i would give it 5stars because now you have to go through a few more steps just to get to locate device option..Version: 1.102.23372
✓ Impossible to remove supervision to my child’s accountFollowed all the steps but could not find where to remove my supervision to my child’s account. She is over 15 and legally can handle her account herself, why your app tries to make this happen?.Version: 2.4.24212
🙂 Google Family Link Positive Reviews
Google Family Link works most of the time. If it is not working for you, we recommend you excersise some patience and retry later or contact Google Family Link.
⛔ Google Family Link Problems
