Family Link is getting a makeover and new supervision tools are on the way from Google. The popular parental control app is getting a fresh new look and some exciting new features for parents to help keep their children safe online. Stay tuned for updates on when these changes will be rolling out.

What you need to know

• Family Link is getting a design refresh, reorganizing the app into three pages: Screen Time, Controls, and Location.
• School time will come to Android phones managed with Family Link starting next week.
• Parent-managed controls will hit Family Link devices “in the coming months.”

Google is refreshing the design of the Family Link app and introducing features from kid-friendly Wear OS watches to Android phones, the company announced on February 12. The app is now split into three main pages: Screen Time, Controls, and Location. This redesign is geared towards making it easier for parents to manage multiple children and devices.

With the updated UI, the Screen Time page displays a breakdown of a child’s device and app usage. Parents can create or manage Downtime and School time restrictions from this page. All Screen Time related settings are now neatly organized in one place, regardless of the number of devices or children.

The Controls page allows parents to change account data settings, approve app downloads, and block specific websites. This includes individual options for managing a child’s parental controls for YouTube, Google Search, and other apps. At the top of the screen, parents can easily switch between different child profiles.

The Location page provides a map showing the child’s last-updated location, device battery life, and cellular connection.

Google has introduced new features like School time and parent-managed contacts on kid-friendly smartwatches. Now, these features are being extended to Android phones through Family Link, starting with School time next week. Additionally, parent-managed contacts will be available on Android phones in the “coming months.”

School time and parent-managed contacts are the latest features coming to Family Link on Android phones, following their introduction on smartwatches. Google has also announced plans to make Google Wallet available to kids in a limited capacity.

If you’re new to Family Link, check out our complete guide on how to get started here.