How to use Family Link with WhitelistVideo on Chromebook

Set up Google Family Link to prevent your child from removing the WhitelistVideo extension on their personal Chromebook. Family Link provides additional controls for supervised child accounts.

Why use Family Link with WhitelistVideo?

On personal (non-managed) Chromebooks, children can easily remove the WhitelistVideo extension. Family Link adds a layer of protection:

What do I need to set up Family Link?

• Your child's Chromebook (personal, not school-managed)
• A Google account for your child (can be existing or new)
• Your own Google account (for parent supervision)
• The Family Link app on your phone (iOS or Android)
• About 10-15 minutes

How to set up Family Link for Chromebook

Step 1: Create or configure a supervised account

If your child already has a Google account:

1. Download the Family Link for parents app on your phone

2. Open the app and tap Get Started

3. Select your Google account (parent account)

4. Tap Yes to add your child's existing account

5. Enter your child's Google account email

6. Follow the prompts to send a supervision invitation

7. On your child's Chromebook, have them accept the invitation

If your child doesn't have a Google account yet:

1. Open the Family Link app on your phone

2. Tap Create account for your child

3. Enter your child's name and birthdate

4. Create a username and password for them

5. Follow the setup wizard to complete account creation

Step 2: Sign into the supervised account on Chromebook

1. On the Chromebook, click the time in the bottom-right corner

2. Click Sign out

3. Click Add person at the sign-in screen

4. Enter your child's supervised Google account email and password

5. Follow any additional Family Link setup prompts on the Chromebook

Step 3: Install WhitelistVideo extension via Family Link

Now that supervision is active, you can approve the extension:

Option A: Child requests, parent approves

1. On the child's Chromebook, go to the Chrome Web Store

2. Search for WhitelistVideo

3. Click Add to Chrome

4. A message appears: "Ask a parent"

5. On the parent's phone, open the Family Link app

6. You'll see a notification: "[Child Name] wants to install WhitelistVideo"

7. Tap the notification and review the extension details

8. Tap Approve

9. Extension installs on the child's Chromebook

Option B: Parent installs remotely (if available in your region)

1. Open the Family Link app on your phone

2. Select your child's account

3. Tap Manage settings → Google Chrome

4. Tap Manage extensions

5. Search for WhitelistVideo

6. Tap Install or Approve

Step 4: Activate the extension

1. On your child's Chromebook, click the WhitelistVideo extension icon

2. Enter your PAC code from the Parents' App

3. Click Activate

4. Extension connects to your WhitelistVideo account

How to get your PAC code

Recommended Family Link settings for maximum protection

Configure these settings in the Family Link app for your child:

Block extension removal

1. Open Family Link app on your phone

2. Select your child's account

3. Tap Manage settings → Google Chrome

4. Enable "Require approval for extensions"

5. This forces your child to ask permission before removing any extension

Restrict guest browsing

1. In Family Link app, select child's account

2. Tap Manage settings → Chrome OS

3. Disable "Guest browsing"

4. This prevents your child from using guest mode to bypass the extension

Set screen time limits (optional)

1. In Family Link app, tap Daily limit

2. Set maximum Chromebook usage per day

3. Set bedtime hours when device locks

4. Configure Bonus time for special occasions

Block app installation from Play Store (optional)

1. Tap Manage settings → Google Play

2. Set "Require approval for apps" to ON

3. Review and approve any app your child wants to install

4. This prevents installation of Android apps that might bypass filtering

Family Link features for WhitelistVideo protection

How to prevent your child from removing supervision

Children may try to remove Family Link supervision to regain unrestricted access:

What happens if supervision is removed?

• Child can remove extensions without approval
• Screen time limits stop working
• Content filtering stops
• WhitelistVideo extension can be removed freely
• Parent receives notification of supervision removal

How to prevent supervision removal

1. Keep the supervision password secure: Don't share your parent account password

2. Enable re-authentication: In Family Link, require password for any supervision changes

3. Monitor notifications: Family Link sends alerts when supervision settings change

4. Talk to your child: Explain the boundaries and consequences of removing supervision

How Family Link affects WhitelistVideo

Next steps

Family Link troubleshooting

My child can still remove the extension

• Check that supervision is active in the Family Link app
• Make sure "Require approval for extensions" is enabled
• Have your child sign out and back into their supervised account
• Verify the Chromebook is signed into the supervised account, not a regular account

Family Link and WhitelistVideo are both blocking YouTube

• Family Link has its own YouTube restrictions separate from WhitelistVideo
• Disable Family Link's YouTube filtering to avoid conflicts
• Let WhitelistVideo handle YouTube filtering specifically
• Use Family Link for device-level controls only

My child keeps getting "Ask a parent" messages

• This is normal when supervision is active
• Review requests in the Family Link app
• Approve legitimate requests promptly
• Set expectations with your child about approval times

Supervision was removed after a powerwash

• Powerwash (factory reset) removes all device data including supervision
• Re-add supervision following the setup steps
• Reinstall and reactivate the WhitelistVideo extension
• Consider discussing boundaries with your child

Can I force-install WhitelistVideo via Family Link?

• No, force-install is only available via Google Admin Console (enterprise)
• Family Link can require approval for installation/removal, but not force-install
• For force-install capability, you need a school-managed device

More Family Link help from Google (opens in a new tab)