Android Family Link setup

Configure Google Family Link to prevent your child from deleting the WhitelistVideo app, accessing YouTube through Chrome, or bypassing protections on their Android phone or tablet.

What is Family Link?

Family Link is Google's built-in parental control system that lets you:

• Control app installation and deletion - Require your approval for app changes
• Block websites in Chrome - Prevent access to YouTube and other sites
• Set screen time limits - Manage daily usage and bedtime
• Filter content - Block mature content in Google Search and Chrome
• Track location - See where your child's device is

Official documentation: Manage apps on your child's device (opens in a new tab)

What do I need?

• Your child's Android phone or tablet with WhitelistVideo installed and activated
• A supervised Google account for your child (Create one here)
• The Family Link parent app on your Android or iOS device
• About 10 minutes to configure settings

Key settings for WhitelistVideo

For WhitelistVideo to work effectively, configure these critical settings:

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How to prevent app deletion

This is the most critical setting to prevent your child from deleting WhitelistVideo.

On your (parent's) device using the Family Link app:

1. Open the Family Link app
2. Tap your child's name
3. Tap Controls or Manage settings
4. Tap Google Play
5. Under Require approval for, select one of: (This setting may be labeled differently depending on your Family Link version and region.)
   • All content (recommended) - Parent approval required for all downloads and deletions
   • Only paid content - Parent approval for paid apps only

Verify the setting:

On your child's device, press and hold the WhitelistVideo app icon and try to uninstall. Your child should see a message indicating they need parental approval, or the option should be unavailable.

Official guide: Manage apps on your child's device (opens in a new tab)

How to block YouTube in Chrome

Prevent your child from accessing YouTube through the Chrome browser.

On your (parent's) device using the Family Link app:

1. Open the Family Link app
2. Tap your child's name
3. Tap Controls
4. Tap Content restrictions
5. Tap Google Chrome
6. Select Try to block mature sites (this enables site blocking)
7. Scroll down to Manage sites
8. Tap Blocked
9. Tap Add a website and enter:
   • youtube.com
10. Tap Add a website again and enter:
    • m.youtube.com
11. Repeat for these domains:
    • youtu.be
    • youtube-nocookie.com

Verify the setting:

On your child's device, open Chrome and try to visit youtube.com. You should see a "Site blocked" or "Ask a parent" message.

Official guide: Manage your child's browsing on Chrome (opens in a new tab)

Keep Chrome, block google.com (optional)

Don't block Chrome. It is the one browser Family Link can filter, so it stays available with youtube.com blocked, and every other browser is blocked instead (see below).

Optionally, tighten Chrome further:

1. Block google.com: Family Link → child's name → Controls → Google Chrome → Manage sites → Blocked → add google.com. Google search results play video snippets.
2. Set DuckDuckGo as the default search engine in Chrome on the child's device (Chrome → Settings → Search engine → DuckDuckGo). DuckDuckGo is privacy-focused.

Block the YouTube app

The WhitelistVideo app filters YouTube, but the child can still open the regular YouTube app and bypass protection. Block YouTube, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids:

1. Block via Family Link: Open the Family Link app → select your child → Controls → App limits → find YouTube → tap Block. Repeat for YouTube Music and YouTube Kids
2. Or uninstall them: On your child's device, go to Settings → Apps → YouTube → Uninstall (or Disable if Uninstall is not available), and the same for YouTube Music and YouTube Kids

This ensures the child can only watch YouTube through WhitelistVideo.

Set the parent PIN

Open the WhitelistVideo app on your child's device and set the parent PIN when setup asks for it. The app's settings then need your PIN, so your child can't change them.

How to configure battery optimization (CRITICAL)

On your child's Android device:

1. Go to Settings → Apps (or Applications)
2. Find and tap WhitelistVideo
3. Tap Battery (or Battery optimization)
4. Select Unrestricted or Don't optimize

Manufacturer-specific settings

Different Android manufacturers have additional battery settings:

Samsung (One UI)

1. Settings → Apps → WhitelistVideo → Battery
2. Enable Allow background activity
3. Settings → Battery and device care → Battery → Background usage limits
4. Add WhitelistVideo to Never sleeping apps

Xiaomi (MIUI)

1. Settings → Apps → Manage apps → WhitelistVideo
2. Enable Autostart
3. Tap Battery saver → Set to No restrictions

Huawei (EMUI)

1. Settings → Apps → Apps → WhitelistVideo
2. Tap Battery → App launch
3. Toggle to Manage manually and enable all three options

Oppo/Realme (ColorOS)

1. Settings → Apps → App management → WhitelistVideo
2. Enable Allow auto startup
3. Settings → Battery → More settings → Optimize battery use
4. Set WhitelistVideo to Don't optimize

OnePlus (OxygenOS)

1. Settings → Apps → App management → WhitelistVideo
2. Tap Battery → Battery optimization
3. Select Don't optimize

Other manufacturers

Go to Settings → Apps → WhitelistVideo → Battery and set to Unrestricted or No restrictions. If you can't find this, search your device settings for "battery optimization" and exclude WhitelistVideo.

How to block other browsers

Block every browser except Chrome (Samsung Internet, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Brave, DuckDuckGo and others). Family Link's web filter only works in Chrome, so Chrome stays and the rest are blocked. Also prevent your child from downloading new browsers.

On your (parent's) device:

1. Open the Family Link app
2. Tap your child's name
3. Tap Controls
4. Tap Content restrictions
5. Tap Google Play
6. Under Apps & games, select an age-appropriate rating (e.g., Rated for 7+)

Or rely on the approval system:

• With Require approval for all content enabled, any browser download will need your approval first

Block specific browsers if already installed:

1. Family Link → child's name → Controls → App limits
2. Find any other browsers (Samsung Internet, Firefox, etc.)
3. Tap the browser → Select Block

Recommended Family Link settings

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How to verify your Family Link settings

After configuration, test that everything works:

Test app deletion blocking:

1. On your child's device, press and hold the WhitelistVideo app icon
2. Try to Uninstall the app
3. Your child should see a message like "Ask a parent" or the uninstall should be blocked
4. You should receive a notification in Family Link

Test YouTube blocking in Chrome:

1. On your child's device, open Chrome
2. Go to youtube.com
3. You should see a "Site blocked" message or an "Ask a parent" option

Test WhitelistVideo works:

1. Open the WhitelistVideo app
2. Search for a video from an approved channel
3. The video should play normally

Troubleshooting

My child can still delete apps

1. Verify Family Link supervision is active on the device
2. Check Controls → Google Play → Require approval for is set to All content
3. Make sure your child is using a supervised Google account
4. Restart the child's device

My child can still access YouTube in Chrome

1. Verify all YouTube domains are blocked:
   • youtube.com
   • m.youtube.com
   • youtu.be
   • youtube-nocookie.com
2. Check that Try to block mature sites is enabled in Chrome settings
3. Clear Chrome's browsing data on the child's device
4. Keep Chrome available (don't block it); make sure every other browser is blocked in App limits

Family Link settings aren't syncing

1. Ensure the child's device is connected to the internet
2. Open the Play Store on the child's device to force a sync
3. Restart the child's device
4. Wait a few minutes—some settings take time to propagate

WhitelistVideo keeps getting killed by the system

1. Follow the battery optimization steps for your specific manufacturer
2. This is especially common on Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo, and Samsung devices
3. Check that the app is listed in "Never sleeping apps" or equivalent

My child bypassed Family Link

1. Check if they signed into a different (unsupervised) Google account
2. Verify the device is still enrolled in Family Link supervision
3. Check Family Link → child's name → Devices to see device status
4. For teens 13+: They may have removed supervision (you should have received a notification)

I can't find certain settings in Family Link

1. Make sure you have the latest version of the Family Link app
2. Some settings are only available for children under 13
3. Some settings may be in different locations on different Android versions
4. Try accessing settings from families.google.com (opens in a new tab) in a browser

Official resources

• Manage apps on your child's device (opens in a new tab)
• Manage your child's browsing on Chrome (opens in a new tab)
• Set screen time limits (opens in a new tab)
• Family Link help center (opens in a new tab)
• Don't kill my app! (Battery optimization guide) (opens in a new tab)

Family Link setup complete

Your child's Android setup now has both content and device layers:

• WhitelistVideo filters YouTube within the app
• Family Link can require covered Google Play approvals and helps you review installed apps
• youtube.com is blocked in Chrome, and every other browser is blocked in App limits
• The YouTube, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids apps are blocked, and the parent PIN is set
• WhitelistVideo only plays approved content inside its child experience

Test the regular YouTube app, youtube.com in Chrome, and every alternative browser installed on the child device. Family Link coverage varies, and it does not universally prevent uninstalling apps.