Set up parental controls on Google Assistant devices

You can control some of the features your child can use and content they can access on most Assistant-enabled devices with parental controls. If you have more than one child, you can set up different parental controls for each child. Learn more about how to manage or temporarily turn off Google Assistant.

Important: This feature is only available in some countries and languages.

With parental controls, you can:

  • Set up media controls for music or videos
  • Block news or podcasts
  • Schedule downtime
  • Manage use of other Assistant features
  • Add your child to Assistant-enabled devices

Devices with Google Assistant:

  • Most phones and tablets
  • Most smart speakers
  • Smart Displays
  • Smart Clocks
Tip: For parental controls to work correctly, your devices and apps must be up to date.

To set up parental controls, your child must have:

  • A child's Google Account. Learn how to create an account for your child.
  • Voice Match set up on the devices that you want to set parental controls on. With Voice Match set up for each child, Google Assistant can recognize each child by their voice. If Voice Match isn’t set up, you can set it up when you set up parental controls.

Tip: You can also set up Face Match on a Nest Hub Max for your child so Google Assistant can recognize their face.

Set up parental controls

In Family Link

  1. On most Assistant-enabled devices, open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Controls and then Content restrictions and then Google Assistant and then Parental controls and then Set up.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

In the Google Home app

  1. On most Assistant-enabled devices, open the Google Home app Google Home.
  2. Tap Settings  and then Google Assistant Assistant and then Parental controls.
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

With Google Assistant

  1. On most Assistant-enabled devices, say “Open Assistant settings.”
  2. Tap See all Assistant Settings and then Parental controls
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Edit parental control settings

Important: To make sure Google Assistant can recognize your child and apply parental control settings, you must add your child’s Google account to devices your child uses.

  1. On most Assistant-enabled devices, open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Controls and then Content restrictions and then Google Assistant and then Parental controls.
  4. Under the settings you want to edit, tap the option to edit settings.
  5. Choose your child’s settings.
Tip: In Assistant Parental Controls, you can also find and edit the list of Google Assistant devices your child can access.

Turn off parental control settings

  1. On most Assistant-enabled devices, open the Family Link app Family Link.
  2. Select your child.
  3. Tap Controls and then Content restrictions and then Google Assistant and then Parental controls.
  4. At the top right, tap More More and then Turn off filters and Downtime and then Turn off.

Tip: To turn off filters for individual services or delete a Downtime schedule, click the service after Step 3. Then tap More More and tap the relevant option.

How parental controls work

Important: Your child might be able to play videos and other content you’ve restricted through:

  • News.
  • Podcasts.
  • A phone or tablet cast to an Assistant-enabled device.

You can block or allow content or features with Google Assistant parental controls. These parental controls apply to most Assistant-enabled devices set up with your child’s voice. You can set parental controls for these services:

  • Music filters
  • Video filters
  • News
  • Podcasts
  • Calling
  • Answers to questions

For some music, video, and podcast services, you can filter explicit content reported by third-parties. While these filters can help you manage your child’s access to mature content, they might not filter content that you might consider inappropriate.

Tip: If you created a Google Account for your child without a Gmail address and password on a new Pixel Tablet, you can't set up parental controls for:

  • Music filters
  • Video filters
  • Calling

 

Music filters
  • Play any music: Devices play any available music for your child, without filters. Your child can play the same songs that anyone in your home can play.
  • Play some music: Devices play non-explicit music for your child, from the services you choose. The listed services in this option can provide content filtering.
    • If you want to allow music from YouTube, which could include some content that’s unsuitable for kids, you can choose which YouTube experience you want for your child. Next to “YouTube,” tap Content settings.
  • Don’t play music: Devices don’t play any music for your child.
Video filters

Important: If you choose to block videos for your child but allow music from YouTube Music, music videos might still play on Assistant-enabled devices and TVs.

  • Play any videos: Devices play any available videos for your child, without filters. Your child can play the same videos that anyone in your home can play.
  • Play some videos: Devices play videos for your child from the services you choose and based on the filters you set for those services.
    • If you want to allow videos from YouTube, which could include some explicit content, you can choose which YouTube experience you want for your child. Next to “YouTube,” tap Content settings.
  • Don’t play videos: Devices don’t play any videos for your child.
News

Important: Your child might still be able to play news in other media services you allow. Some news might have mature content. You can manage your child’s news sources in their Google Assistant settings.

  • News is allowed: Devices play news when your child asks for it.
  • News is off-limits: Devices won’t play news when your child asks for it.
Podcasts

Important: Your child might still be able to play podcasts in other media services you allow. Some podcasts might have mature content. You can manage your child’s podcast services in their Google Assistant settings.

  • Play any podcasts: Devices play any available podcasts for your child, without filters. Your child can play the same podcasts that anyone in your home can play.
  • Play non-explicit podcasts: Devices play non-explicit podcasts for your child.
  • Don’t play podcasts: Devices won’t play any podcasts for your child.
Calling
  • Can only answer calls: Your child can only answer phone and video calls on devices.
  • Can make or answer calls: Your child can make and answer supported calls, like phone and video calls, on devices.
Answers to questions

Important: This setting doesn't affect how SafeSearch works, which is turned on by default.

  • Family-Friendly answers only: You can restrict Google Assistant responses to:
    • Basic requests like weather and math
    • Family-friendly answers like kids’ dictionary definitions.
  • Answers all answers: If you allow answers with no family-friendly filters, Google Assistant may respond with available answers, including ones that aren't designed for kids.

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