Setup Chromebook Child: Parental Controls Guide

To set up a Chromebook for a child, you create a supervised Google Account through Family Link, then sign into the Chromebook with that account. This gives you controls over screen time, app approvals, website filtering, and location sharing directly from your own phone or computer.

What Family Link Does

Family Link is Google’s parental control service that manages children’s accounts across Android and ChromeOS. When you set up a child’s Chromebook with a Family Link account, the device becomes “supervised.” That means you can:

• Set daily screen-time limits and a bedtime (device locks automatically).
• Approve or block apps and extensions from the Chrome Web Store.
• Filter websites – either block specific sites or allow only approved sites.
• See your child’s location if the Chromebook has GPS (most don’t, but Android phones do).
• Lock the device remotely if needed.
• Manage the child’s Google Search results with SafeSearch forced on.

Without Family Link, a child could sign in with a regular Google Account and have unrestricted access to the browser, apps, and settings. Family Link is the core of Chromebook parental controls.

Before You Begin

You need a few things before setting up the child’s Chromebook:

• A Google Account for yourself (the parent). This will be the “family manager.”
• A Google Account for the child, or you can create one during setup.
• The child’s age – Google requires the child’s birthdate. Children under 13 (or the age of consent in your country) get a supervised account automatically.
• If you already have a family group, add the child to it. If not, create a family group in the Family Link app or at families.google.com.
• An Android phone or iPhone with the Family Link app installed, or you can use the web version.

Note: The child’s Chromebook should be fully charged and connected to Wi-Fi during setup.

Step-by-Step Setup

1. Power on the Chromebook and choose your language and keyboard settings.
2. When it asks who is using the Chromebook, select “Set up for a child” (the option may appear as “For a child” or “Child account”).
3. Sign in with the child’s Google Account credentials. If the child doesn’t have an account, tap “Create a new account” and follow the prompts to create one with a parent’s consent.
4. You’ll be asked to verify your own identity as the parent – enter your Google Account password or use your phone to confirm.
5. Review the supervision terms and accept. The Chromebook will then download the Family Link policies.
6. Once signed in, the child’s Chromebook is now managed. You can adjust settings from the Family Link app on your phone or at families.google.com.

If you already have a child account set up on another device, simply sign in on the Chromebook with that same account – the supervision follows the account, not the device.

Configuring Parental Controls

After setup, open the Family Link app (or web dashboard) and select the child’s profile. Here are the main sections you’ll want to configure:

• Screen time: Set a daily limit (e.g., 1 hour on weekdays, 2 on weekends). You can also set a “bedtime” window – the Chromebook will lock during that time.
• App limits: For each app, you can set a time limit or block it entirely. Note that Chrome itself is an app – you can limit browser usage separately from other apps.
• Website filters: Choose between “Allow all sites” (with SafeSearch on) or “Only allow approved sites.” If you choose the latter, you must manually add each allowed site.
• Chrome Web Store approvals: When the child tries to install an extension or app, you get a notification and can approve or deny it.
• Location: If the device has GPS (most Chromebooks don’t), you can see its location. For Android phones, this works well.
• Manage settings: You can change the child’s password, reset the Chromebook, or remove supervision entirely (when the child turns 13, they can choose to manage their own account).

Remember that Family Link settings apply to the child’s account across all devices they sign into, not just the Chromebook.

Common Problems and Fixes

Sometimes setup doesn’t go smoothly. Here are typical issues and how to resolve them:

• “This account is not supervised” error: The child’s account wasn’t added to your family group. Go to families.google.com and add the child, then sign out and back in on the Chromebook.
• Child can’t sign in: Check that the account is correctly typed, and that the child’s age is set correctly. If the child is over 13, they can’t be supervised unless you create a new account with a younger age.
• Parent verification fails: Google may ask for a credit card or phone number to verify you’re an adult. Use a valid payment method (you won’t be charged) or a phone number that can receive a text.
• Settings not applying: Changes can take a few minutes to sync. Ensure the Chromebook is connected to the internet and try restarting it.
• Child bypasses restrictions: If the child creates a new Google Account without supervision, they can use that. To prevent this, consider using a Chromebook with a managed guest mode or disable guest browsing in Family Link settings.

Alternatives and Additional Tips

Family Link is the standard, but there are other ways to manage a child’s Chromebook:

• Managed guest mode: You can enable guest mode and restrict it to a set of approved sites, but this doesn’t track usage or time limits.
• School accounts: If the Chromebook is from a school, it’s already managed by the school’s admin. You can’t apply Family Link controls on top of that.
• Third-party parental control software: Some services like Qustodio or Bark offer more advanced features, but they require installing an app and may not work on ChromeOS as well as on Android.

For a more locked-down experience, you can also use the Chromebook’s “kiosk mode” or set up a separate user account with restricted permissions, but those are less user-friendly for a child.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set up a child Chromebook without a Google Account?

No, you need a Google Account for the child. Family Link requires a supervised account, which is a regular Google Account with parental controls attached.

What happens when my child turns 13?

At the age of consent (13 in most countries, but varies), the child can choose to take over their account and remove supervision. Until then, you remain the manager. You’ll get a notification when they’re eligible.

Can I see my child’s browsing history?

Yes, you can view their Chrome browsing history in the Family Link app under “Activity.” However, if they use incognito mode, that history is not visible (but you can block incognito mode in settings).

Does Family Link work on a Chromebook that is already set up?

Yes, you can add a supervised child account to an existing Chromebook by going to Settings > Accounts > Add account and signing in with the child’s Family Link account. The supervision will apply immediately.

Can I limit YouTube on the Chromebook?

Yes, you can restrict YouTube to “Made for Kids” content or block the YouTube app entirely. You can also set content restrictions in the Family Link app under “Content restrictions.”

What if I forget the parent password?

You can reset your own Google Account password via the standard Google recovery process. Once you regain access, you can manage the family group again. If you lose access to the family manager account entirely, you may need to contact Google support for help.

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