Giving your old Android phone to your child involves resetting the device, setting it up from scratch and configuring parental controls and family sharing features.
What is an Android phone?
An Android phone is a type of smartphone that uses Google's Android system to work. Popular Android phone brands include Samsung, Google Pixel, Motorola, and OnePlus. It is likely that if your phone is not an iPhone, it’s probably an Android.
Get Started
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you through the process, click each item for more detail:
Step 1. Backup Your Data
- Before resetting the phone, make sure to back up any important data.
- You can back up your data to your Google account by going to Settings > System > Backup and ensuring Back up to Google Drive is turned on.
- If you prefer, you can also manually back up files, photos, and contacts to an external device or computer.
Step 2. Sign Out of Your Google Account
- Before erasing the phone, sign out of your Google account to ensure that your personal information is removed.
- Go to Settings > Accounts.
- Tap on your Google account and select Remove account
Step 3. Erase All Data (Factory Reset)
- Now you can reset the phone to remove all your personal data
- Go to Settings > System > Reset > Erase all data (factory reset)
- Confirm your choice and enter your PIN or password if required
- The phone will restart and erase all content, returning it to factory settings
Step 4. Set Up the Phone for Your Child
- After the reset, the phone will restart and show the setup screen
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set up the phone
- When prompted, sign in with your child’s Google account, or create a new Google account for them if they don’t already have one
Step 5. Set Up Google Family Link
Google Family Link is a tool that helps parents manage their child’s Android phone usage.
- On your phone (the parent's phone:
- Download and install the Google Family Link app from the Google Play Store
- Open the app and follow the instructions to set up Family Link for your child
- You will be guided to create a Google account for your child if you haven’t already done so
- On your child’s phone:
- During the initial setup or after setup, you’ll be prompted to install Family Link
- Sign in with the child’s Google account, and link it to your account using Family Link
- Follow the prompts to enable parental controls and manage the child’s account
Step 6. Configure Parental Controls
Once Family Link is set up, you can configure various parental controls:
- Screen Time: Set daily limits on how much time your child can spend on the phone
- App Restrictions: Approve or block apps your child wants to download from the Google Play Store
- Content Filters: Restrict the types of content your child can access (e.g., mature content)
- Location Tracking: Track your child’s location if they have their phone with them
Step 7. Enable Purchase Approval
- To control in-app purchases or downloads, you can enable purchase approval
- In Family Link, go to Manage Settings > Google Play > Purchase approvals
- Set it to All content to ensure your child needs your permission for any purchases
Step 8. Set Up Safe Browsing and YouTube Restrictions
You can further protect your child by enabling safe browsing:
- Chrome Browser: Go to Settings > Privacy > Safe Browsing and ensure it is enabled
- YouTube: Use the YouTube Kids app instead of the regular YouTube app, or enable Restricted Mode in the YouTube settings to filter inappropriate content
Step 9. Review and Test the Setup
- Go through the phone to ensure everything is set up correctly
- Test the parental controls by trying to download an app or access restricted content to see if the settings are working as intended
Step 10. Place it in the box and hand over to your child
- Be part of this shared moment as they open their new device
- Finally, discuss with your child what it means to use the phone responsibly with the guidance provided, including:
- Respecting screen time limits
- Understanding the importance of privacy
- Knowing what to do if they encounter something inappropriate online
By following these steps, you’ll have your old Android phone reset, set up for your child, and configured with parental controls using Google Family Link, ensuring a safe and controlled environment for them to use their new device.