ChromeOS privacy settings

Controls & Settings guide

ChromeOS is the operating system that is used on a Chromebook.  It features a range of parental controls that you can use alongside Google Family Link to manage and monitor children’s online use. The settings allow you to supervise screen time, access to sites and apps and much more.

What do I need?

Chromebook with ChromeOS versions 71 or higher and a Google Family Link account

Restrictions you can apply

icon Browser Access
icon Downloading file sharing
icon Inappropriate content
icon Media streaming
icon Phishing & Malware Infected Sites
icon Purchasing
icon Sharing Data
icon Sharing location

Step by Step instructions

1

How to set up Google Family link on a Chromebook

Step 1  – Click on the right-hand side of the desktop where the digital clock is

Step 2 – Choose the gear icon from the top of the pop-up screen

Step 3 – Click on ‘Advanced’ on the right-hand toolbar to allow more options to appear and a dropdown menu should appear.

Step 4 – Choose the ‘Privacy and Security’ option

Step 5 – Go to the People section to find the ‘Parental Controls’ setting and choose ‘Set up’ to start

Step 6 – Click on the ‘Get started’ pop-up that appears, you’ll see a screen that will show you what features you can change, click next to move on.

Step 7 – when you see ‘Is this the child that you want to supervise?’ click the ‘yes’ button to continue or ‘No’ to choose a different account.

Step 8 – Read through the instruction on the next screen and click next.

Step 9 – You’ll see the ‘About supervision’ page’. Read the information and tap ‘Agree’ when you’re finished.

This will connect your account to your child’s supervised account and you can add multiple children in this way.

 

2

How to manage app access

Step 1

Open the Family Link app on desktop

Then select your child.

Step 2

Tap on ‘Control’ and then go to Content restrictions’ and then ‘Google Chrome’.

Step 3

Within this option you can choose one of three options:

  • Allow all sites
  • Try to block sites
  • Only allow approved sites

You can also go to the Google family website to manage this setting.

If a site is blocked a child will be prompted to ask permission to see it and you can deny or approve it.

See more information on the Google For Families website.

3

How to 

Step 1  – Go to the Systems Settings menu and go to the ‘Allow application downloaded from’ option

Step 2 –  Under ‘App store’ select ‘Allow only apps that have been downloaded from the App Store.

Step 3 – Under ‘App Store and identified developers choose ‘Allow apps only from App Store and from developers identified by Apple.’

4

Set up content and privacy restrictions in Screen Time on Mac

Step 1 – Ensure you have set Screen Time for your child – see how

Step 2 –  If you are connecting through Family Sharing, log into the Mac user account and then make sure you are signed into your Apple ID. If you are not using Famil Sharing just log in to a family member’s Mac user account.

Step 3 – Select the Apple icon in the menu and click on the Screen Time icon in the sidebar.

Step 4 – If you are using Family Sharing, select the Family Member pop-up menu on the right and then choose the family member.

Step 5 – Select the Content & Privacy option – turn it on if it’s off.

5

Change Content Restrictions settings in Screen Time

Web content 

Go to Web content and choose ‘Limit Adult Websites’ from the options. Or you can choose ‘Allow Websites Only’ and then create a customised list for your child of allowed websites.

Siri 

Toggle the following options off, ‘Explicit language in Siri and Dictionary’ and ‘Web Search Content Siri’

Game centre 

Turn off the following option to restrict access

  • Adding Friends
  • Connect and Friends
  • Private Messaging
  • Avatar & Nickname Changes
  • Profile Privacy Changes

Multiplayer games 

Go to this option to choose who your child can play with in the Game Centre:

Choose the following options for these settings

Allow multiplayer games with – select ‘only friends added their Game Centre account’

Allow Nearby Multiplayer – If you switch this on your child will be able to play with players who are connected to the same Wi-Fi or Bluetooth range.

6

Restrict films, TV programmes and app purchases in Screen Time

Step 1 – Select ‘Store restrictions’

Step 2 – Then turn all the options on  or off

7

Manage Preference Restrictions settings

Step 1 –Select ‘Preference Restrictions

Step 2 – Then turn the options available on or off

Here are the options that you can allow on iOS or iPadOS devices:

  • Passcode
  • Account
  • Mobile Data
  • Driving Focus
  • TV Provider
  • Background App Activity

If an option is turned off, the Screen Time passcode is required to make a change.