This document provides instructions for setting up parental controls on Android devices to restrict children's access and filter content. It covers setting up a restricted user profile, filtering mature content in the Google Play Store by categories like apps and games, requiring authentication for in-app purchases, disabling downloads from unknown sources, and introduces KidGuard as a tool that allows parents to track text messages, location and more for added online safety monitoring.

1. Enable Parental Controls
on Android
How To
1

2. Table of Contents
Introduction (p.3)
Why are parental controls
important?
1. Setting Up a Restricted
Profile (p.4)
A universal limitation on
how your child may access
the device.
2. Setting Maturity Level
Controls on Content (p.13)
Filter and restrict mature
level content by type
(games, apps, TV, movies,
music, and books).
3. Settings Restrictions on
App Purchases (p.21)
Restrict certain purchases in
the Google Play Store as
well as purchases in-app.
4. Setting Restrictions on
App Purchases Outside the
Google Play Store (p.25)
Protect your child from
“third-party” Android apps
all over the net.
Kidguard (p.30)
What is Kidguard? And
more resources.
2

3. ...there are many things these devices can access which at
best may be too much information and at worst, a danger to
children and our security as well. Google’s Android OS is one
of the most ubiquitous operating systems in the digital world.
You would be well-advised to know how this works… at least
enough to know how to set parental controls on your device
for limiting your kid’s access to the vast information highway
that is the net. Lucky for you, this guide will show you exactly
how.
As much as our devices stimulate and educate our kids...
3

4. Setting Up a
Restricted Profile
A universal limitation on how your child may access the device.
1
4

5. Setting Up a Restricted Profile
1. Drag down the top of
the screen and locate the
Settings icon. If it doesn’t
show up here, open your
apps list and locate it
there. (The icon looks like
a gear or cog. )
5

6. Setting Up a Restricted Profile
2. Once Settings is
opened, scroll down,
locate, and open Users.
6

7. Setting Up a Restricted Profile
3. In Users, select
+ Add User.
7

8. Setting Up a Restricted Profile
4. Select OK.
8

9. Setting Up a Restricted Profile
4. Select SET UP NOW.
9

10. Setting Up a Restricted Profile
5. Select Continue.
10

11. Setting Up a Restricted Profile
6. You can set up your
child’s email account
here by selecting
Personal, or you can
skip this step and set it
up later by selecting
Not Now.
11

12. Setting Up a Restricted Profile
7. You will be asked to
set up an Android
account. Select Skip so
that all apps and content
are downloaded and
monitored through your
account only.
12

13. Setting Maturity Level
Controls on Content
Filtering the content that shows up in the Google Play Store.
2
13

14. Setting Maturity Level
Controls on Content
1. Locate then open the
Play Store. (The icon will
be a colorful triangle. )
14

15. Setting Maturity Level
Controls on Content
2. Select the stack of 3
horizontal lines in the
top left corner.
If you haven’t signed in
to your (or your child’s)
Google account yet, do
so now.
15

16. Setting Maturity Level
Controls on Content
3. Scroll down the menu
and select Settings.
16

17. Setting Maturity Level
Controls on Content
4. Scroll down and
select Parental Controls.
17

18. Setting Maturity Level
Controls on Content
5. Set up a PIN. You will
be asked to enter it
twice.
18

19. Setting Maturity Level
Controls on Content
6. Once the PIN is set
up, you will be able to
set restrictions on
content by category.
19

20. Setting Maturity Level
Controls on Content
7. Select a category and
then set the level of
restriction for it.* Be
sure to click SAVE at the
bottom of every
category screen.
20
*For Apps & Games, the PEGI # refers to the age of your child.
So PEGI 7 is the 3-7 years, PEGI 12 is 7-12 years, and so on.

21. Setting Restrictions
on App Purchases
Applying restrictions on purchases: in the Google Play Store and in-app.
3
21

22. Setting Restrictions
on App Purchases
1. Go back to Settings in
the Play Store.*
22
*Instructions for locating the Play Store and its Settings can be
found starting on p.14.

23. Setting Restrictions
on App Purchases
2. Scroll down and
select Require
authentication for
purchases.
23

24. Setting Restrictions
on App Purchases
3. You can select when
you want to set this
restriction. Select For
all purchases through
Google Play on this
device.
24

25. Setting Restrictions
on App Purchases Outside
the Google Play Store
Applying restrictions on “third party”apps available for download on the net.
4
25

26. Setting Restrictions
on App Purchases Outside the
Google Play Store
1. Drag down the top of
the screen and locate
the Settings icon. If it
doesn’t show up, open
your apps list and locate
it there. (The icon looks
like a gear or cog. )
26

27. Setting Restrictions
on App Purchases Outside the
Google Play Store
2. Under the Personal
section, locate and
select Security &
fingerprint.
27

28. Setting Restrictions
on App Purchases Outside the
Google Play Store
3. Check to make sure
that the Unknown
Sources switch is turned
off, and if it’s on, turn it
off. This prevents third
party app downloads
from the net.
28

29. Setting Restrictions
on App Purchases Outside the
Google Play Store
4. If you choose to turn
Unknown Sources on,
you will receive this
warning message.
29

30. What is KidGuard?
The easiest and most efficient way of keeping your child safe.
4
30

31. What is KidGuard?
KidGuard is a technology services
company that provides information &
tools for parents to keep their kids safe
online. KidGuard is the #1 call
monitoring & child cell phone tracker!
Track text messages, GPS location, and
more. Check it out by clicking here.
31

32. Additional Resources
Parents
Survival
Guide to
Online
Safety
KidGuard
10 Day Free
Trial
KidGuard
Live Demo
32
Courtesy of KidGuard. Click to learn more.