The parental control app
How the Parent app and the Child app work together
Family Guardian is two Android apps. The Parent app is your dashboard; the Child app runs on your child’s phone and answers when you check in. Here is what each one does and how you connect them.
Parent app Child app QR pairing Parent PIN
Who does what
Parent app: your dashboard
See each child’s phone, its location, screen time and notification feed, and start a camera or audio check-in.
Child app: answers check-ins
Runs in the background on the child’s phone, uploads screen time and carries out the commands you send.
QR pairing
Show a one-time QR code in the Parent app and scan it with the Child app. The code is valid for 15 minutes and carries the server address.
Parent PIN
Locks the Child app’s sensitive settings so they cannot be changed without you.
The Parent app dashboard
Live camera view with front / rear switch, zoom and flashlight One-way listen-in audio, with mute on your side Location: request a fresh GPS fix and see it on the map Daily screen time and time per app Notification feed (when allowed on the child’s phone) Remote ring, lock, flashlight and ringer switches
Pairing is checked on every connection
Each device is tied to a single account, and the server checks the pairing every time a phone connects. Unpairing from the Child app requires the parent PIN.
Install it together
Family Guardian is made for parents and guardians on their own minor children’s phones, with the child’s knowledge. The child app shows its status on screen and keeps a notification while it runs. Set it up together and explain what it does.
Set it up in about 15 minutes
Install the Parent app
On your phone, and create your family account.
Install the Child app
On your child’s phone, and allow the permissions for the features you want.
Scan the QR code
Show the pairing code in the Parent app and scan it with the Child app.
Set a parent PIN
Protect the Child app’s settings and, if you wish, turn on tamper protection.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Pair each child’s phone with the same Parent app; each phone appears in the dashboard.
Create a new one in the Parent app. Codes are valid for 15 minutes and work only once.
Not without the parent PIN, once you have set one.
Related pages
- Parental control that keeps you close, with consentFamily Guardian: live camera check-ins, one-way listen-in, on-demand GPS location, screen time per app and remote ring or lock for your child’s Android phone.Read more
- Parental control for Android, permission by permissionWhich Android permissions each Family Guardian feature needs and why (usage, notifications, device admin, camera, mic, location), and how to install the APK.Read more
- A practical family safety plan for phonesA practical family safety plan for phones: talk first, agree on rules, use Android’s own controls, add check-ins with Family Guardian and a safer browser.Read more
- Dynamic BrowserThe fast Android browser with an ad blocker and a video downloader built in.Read more
Get started with Family Guardian
Two Android apps, one family account, about 15 minutes to set up.