This wikiHow teaches you how to gain control of your Android device by blocking the download of certain apps (including automatic updates), as well as preventing notifications from being sent by apps.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Using Google Family Link
Step 1. Download and install Google Family Link
Family Link is the official parental control app from Google. You must install Google Family Link for parents on your phone, and Google Family Link for children/teenagers on your child's phone/device.
Use this method to block apps that have been installed on the child's device
Step 2. Sign in to Google Family Link
You must be signed in to the parent's Google account on your phone and the child's Google account on the child's device.
Step 3. Open Google Family Link on your phone
This app icon is yellow, green, and blue.
Step 4. Touch the child account
This account has your child's profile picture.
Step 5. Touch More under Installed Apps.
" This section lists the various applications that have been installed on your child's device.
Step 6. Touch the app you want to block
Options for the application will open.
Step 7. Slide the toggle next to "Allow app
" That way, the application will be blocked and cannot be opened on the child's device.
Method 2 of 4: Blocking App Downloads from Play Store
Step 1. Open Play Store
Usually you can find this app in the page/app drawer.
Use this method to set up parental controls that restrict users from downloading apps that aren't age-appropriate
Step 2. Touch the Google account profile photo
It's in the top-right corner of the screen.
If you haven't selected a photo for your Google account, you'll find a colored circle with your initials in the middle
Step 3. Swipe the screen and touch Settings
This option is at the bottom of the menu.
Step 4. Touch Family
This button is at the bottom of the Settings menu. After that, you can set up parental controls on the Google Play Store.
Step 5. Scroll down and select Parental controls
Step 6. Slide the switch to position
Now you will be asked to enter a PIN code.
Step 7. Enter the PIN code and touch OK
Choose a code that you can remember because you will need it to bypass future controls or restrictions.
Step 8. Confirm the code and touch OK
Now, the parental control feature has been successfully activated.
Step 9. Touch Apps & games
A list of age groups will be displayed.
Step 10. Select a group limit or age level
The selection will depend on the content the user is allowed to download. The app developer enters the user's age range information when registering his app to the Play Store.
- If you want to block apps that have adult content, for example, but don't mind apps with teenage content, select “ Teen ”.
- To block all applications, except those suitable for all ages, select “ Everyone ”.
Step 11. Touch OK on the confirmation window
This message informs you that future downloads of apps from the Play Store will be limited based on the options you set.
Step 12. Touch SAVE
After enabling parental restrictions, device users can't install apps that don't fall into their age category from the Play Store.
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To turn off restrictions, return to the “ Parental controls ” and slide the switch to the off position
- Or, enforce parental controls on Google Play downloads and purchases using the Family Link app. To do this, open the Family Link app and select your child's account. Touch Manage Settings and Controls for Google Play. After that, select Apps & Games and set the level of parental control you want.
Method 3 of 4: Blocking App Updates
Step 1. Open Play Store
Usually you can find this app icon on the page/app drawer.
Use this method to prevent the app from automatically updating to its latest version
Step 2. Touch your profile photo
It's in the top-right corner of the screen.
If you haven't selected a photo for your Google account, you'll find a colored circle with your initials in the middle
Step 3. Swipe the screen and touch Settings
This option is at the bottom of the menu.
Step 4. Touch Network Preferences
This is the second menu in Settings. After selecting this option, the Network Preferences menu will open.
Step 5. Select Auto-update apps
A pop-up menu will be displayed.
Step 6. Touch Don't auto-update apps
This option is the first option on the list. App updates will no longer be downloaded automatically.
To update the app manually, go to Play Store, touch the button “ ≡", choose " My apps & games, and touch the button “ UPDATE ” next to the application name.
Method 4 of 4: Blocking App Notifications
Step 1. Open the device settings menu or “Settings”
To open this menu, drag the screen from the top down and then touch the icon that resembles a gear. Alternatively, open the Settings app from the Apps menu. This app icon is similar to a gear.
Step 2. Swipe the screen and touch Apps or Apps & Notifications.
Depending on your Android device model, this button might say "Apps", "Apps & Notifications", or something similar.
Step 3. Touch the app whose notifications you want to block
The application information page will be displayed.
Step 4. Scroll down and select Notifications
This option is under the Settings app.
Step 5. Slide the switch to the off position
Depending on your Android device model, this switch might say "Show all" or "Block", or something similar. Touch this switch to turn off notifications.
