Here are 7 best DIY methods to add parental controls on your Chromebook. As parents, we are always concerned about the safety of our children. This is the era of technology and the internet. I have recently bought a new Chromebook for my son and now, I want to add parental controls on it.
How to Put Parental Controls on Chromebook? Yes, you can add parental controls on Chromebook by using Family link App, adjust settings, add a password, and improving internet security. Kids must be supervised when using a Chromebook.
This is a must to keep an eye on your kids, you should know the activities of your children. We have added 7 easy steps that will help you add parental control on your device. With these features, you can easily monitor all the activities of your kid’s laptop. You can easily add these features within a few minutes.
Chromebooks are laptops designed just to run Google Chrome, Google play store, and all the apps that are inside the play store. These devices use Google OS instead of the typical Windows OS.
In this article, we will introduce to the ways to how to control which content your child should access and what should be restricted. Chromebooks are an ideal choice for kids as you can easily add parental locks.
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How to put parental controls on your Chromebook?
Our editors have explained the best methods that will help you add parental locks on your Chromebook. The most popular way to put parental control on Chromebook is with a Family link.
Steps to add parental controls on Chromebook
If you don’t want to use this app, then you can opt for simple configurations in the google chrome browser too:
- Disable incognito mode
- Disable Guest browsing
- Disable extensions and plug-ins
- Enable Safe search
- Enable Supervised user
- Enable Chromebook parental controls and manage its permissions.
- Block sites by adding their URL’s into the blocked list
- Restrict sign-in to yourself.
In this era of technology, it is indeed the responsibility of parents to look over their children. A little precaution can save your child from any illegal or immoral activity. Adding parental controls on Chromebook just takes a few minutes.
Use Family Link App to add Parental Controls
To use this app on a Chromebook, you will have to install it on your Chromebook through the Google play store.
This will disable the adult content from the browser. It also disables the Incognito mode.
It also allows the parents to filter what type of sites they are only allowed to see. It gives the right to parents to grant permission to a child before he/she can open it.
In addition to these, parents are able to provide a white list for certain apps that the kids can install and use. The location of your kids can also be traced using this app.
Moreover, the best thing is you can set the time limit for your child.
Set up the Family Link
To set up this app, you will first have to create your child’s account and log in using that account. After logging into the child account you will then log in with your password permitting the access.
Set up a Child account on Chromebook:
If you are using the Chromebook then:
- Open the Chromebook
- Add your child’s account into it
If you have already added a child account without a supervision account then make sure to add the supervision account and restart your Chromebook.
You will also have to make sure to turn off the guest browsing.
If your child is 13 or under, make sure to create his Google account first:
- Go to Google accounts
- Go to Create a new account
- Enter your child’s credentials such as name, gender, date of birth, city, etc.
- You will then be introduced to some settings. Follow them will lead you to sign in to your own account too
- Then allow the parental consent on your account so that you can manage your child’s accounts setting.
Or you can:
- Download the app
- Open it
- You will see a Create + option on the top right of the app. Click it
- You will see some guidelines to follow. Following them will lead you to the creation of the account.
- A confirmation will be displayed on the screen once you are done.
After you have set up your child’s account, you would have to log into your account too.
- Log in to your account
- The family link will ask permission to disable the play store. Click YES
- Disable the guest browsing (if it’s still on).
- Click Accept and Continue
- You are ready to go.
Note: you may also restrict other accounts to log into your Chromebook. Just go to the People, you will find this option in the settings.
You will find “Manage other users”. Restrict the sign-in process for your account only. Only you can manage changes to your account then.
Family Link Features:
This amazing app for Chromebook provides a big range of features. Some of them are listed and explained below:
Parental Consent:
Your child cannot download or access any app without your consent. Approval will be sent to the parent’s app and after the allowance, it can be downloaded by the child.
Browsing management:
You can see or manage what your kid has been browsing. Your child would not have any access to Chrome’s incognito mode.
Your child would not be able to see any inappropriate or sexual content on the web.
Again, please make sure not to forget to turn off the guest browsing.
You can also allow a limited number of sites for your child. To do that so; you would have to go to the settings.
Hop on to the manage settings option. Choose Filters on Google Chrome, there you will see the option of allowing certain sites. Laptops for children must be monitored by their parents.
Access to applications:
All applications are blocked by default, but you can allow certain apps to your child too. This will let your kid download or use a specific app.
To change the accessibility of an app follow these steps:
- Select the “Apps Installed” option.
- In the allowed list, click the app you want to be allowed
- Click “App permissions”
- You will be able to turn on or off a specific app.
Moreover, if you do not want your child to change these permissions.
- Select the child.
- Go to settings
- Go to app permissions
- Select the specific app. You will have two options.
- “Only parent” or “Your child and parents”.
- Select “Only parent”.
Time limit:
Probably one of the best features for parents who do not want their kids to surf the internet longer. The App allows the parent to set the time limit for internet browsing.
Adding to this, a parent can also set a time limit to the apps. Just simple the following steps:
- Select the Child
- Select the daily limit option and set the desired limit.
After the applied setting, your child would not be able to log in to the chrome and will be asked to Take a break. Similarly, this setting could be applied at night time too.
Suppose, if you set the time to 11 p.m. the App will automatically disable your child to use the Chromebook or internet anymore.
Location Services:
This gives you access to locate the whereabouts of your child. You can anytime check the location of your child.
To do that so, follow these steps:
- Select the Child
- Go to Manage settings
- Go to the Location
- Go to See your child’s location
- Turn it on
Google Play Store:
Your child would not have any more access to the play store. This means that he would not be able to download any type of app. It also shows how much time your kid has spent on an app.
A major drawback of this feature is that Chromebook is mainly based on play store and its apps, a big feature will be missed in this case.
No Youtube:
Youtube does not work on the family link app on a Chromebook. Even the youtube kids app cannot be accessed. If it’s accessed, then there will be still loads of channels still missing from it.
We hope that you have fully understood how to manage parental controls on your Chromebook. Use them wisely.
Team – Whatlaptops.com
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