What Family Link actually blocks and what it doesn't

Google Family Link is a parental control system that runs on Android devices and Chromebooks. It lets parents set screen time limits, block certain apps, require approval before downloads, and see location. But it has real gaps — and teenagers know them.

Family Link cannot block websites on Chrome if your teen uses a different browser like Firefox or Opera, because those browsers run independently. It cannot monitor what happens on a school-issued device, because those devices are managed by the school, not by your account. It cannot see what your teen does on someone else's phone or computer. And it cannot prevent a determined teenager from factory-resetting the device and setting it up without Family Link, though that requires knowing the recovery email and password.

The most common workaround is not technical — it is social. A teenager asks a friend to read an app on the friend's phone, or uses a computer at school, or borrows a device that is not monitored. Family Link stops the device in front of them, not the internet in the room.

Key Takeaways

  • Family Link only works on devices it is installed on, so your teen can use any other device to bypass it entirely.
  • Different browsers on the same device are not monitored by Family Link, so switching from Chrome to Firefox removes website blocking.
  • School-issued devices are managed by the school's system, not by Family Link, even if your teen's personal account is on them.
  • The most effective workaround is social, not technical — borrowing someone else's device or using a computer you do not monitor.
  • Removing Family Link requires the recovery email and password, which most teenagers do not have access to.

Why teenagers can use a different browser

Family Link blocks websites in Chrome by filtering the traffic that goes through Chrome's system. But Firefox, Opera, Edge, and other browsers have their own separate filtering systems. When your teen opens Firefox, Family Link does not control what Firefox sees — it only controls Chrome.

This is not a bug. It is how Android is designed. Each app is a separate container, and parental controls on one app do not automatically extend to another. A parent who wants to block websites across all browsers has to use a different tool — usually a network-level filter that blocks at the router or through the mobile carrier, not at the app level.

The practical result: if your teen has downloaded Firefox or another browser before you set up Family Link, they can use it to reach any website. If you set up Family Link first, they cannot read a new browser without your approval — but they can ask a friend to send them the link, or use a computer at school.

Using school devices and public computers

School-issued Chromebooks and tablets are managed by the school's own system, not by Family Link. Even if your teen's Google account is on the device, the school's management system overrides Family Link. Your teen can use the school device to access anything the school allows, which is usually everything except a few blocked categories like adult sites.

The same applies to public computers — library computers, computers at a friend's house, computers at school. Family Link only works on devices where it is installed and active. Once your teen is on a device you do not manage, Family Link has no power.

This is why screen time limits on one device do not actually limit screen time. A teenager who hits the limit on their phone can pick up a laptop, a tablet, or a friend's phone. Family Link stops one door but not the others.

Borrowing devices and using shared computers

The simplest workaround is the oldest one: use someone else's device. Your teen can borrow a friend's phone, use a parent's laptop, or access a family computer that does not have Family Link on it. There is no technical barrier — Family Link only monitors the devices it is installed on.

Many families have multiple devices. A teenager might have a monitored phone but access to an unmonitored tablet, or a monitored Chromebook but access to a parent's Windows laptop. If you want Family Link to actually limit screen time, you need to monitor every device in the house, or accept that the limits only explore to one device.

Some parents try to solve this by setting up Family Link on every device. But that creates a different problem: a teenager with access to the recovery email can remove Family Link from any device by resetting it. If they know the password, they can do it in minutes.

What happens if your teen resets the device

A factory reset removes Family Link completely. Your teen can then set up the device without Family Link, or set it up under a different Google account that does not have Family Link on it. This requires knowing the recovery email and password for the account on the device.

Most teenagers do not have this information — the parent set up the account and kept the password. But some do, either because the parent shared it or because they wrote it down somewhere. If your teen has the recovery email and password, they can reset the device and remove Family Link without your knowledge.

You can prevent this by not sharing the recovery email or password, and by using a strong password your teen cannot guess. But if your teen has physical access to the device and enough time, they can also try to recover the password through the recovery email, or ask Google to verify their identity through other means.

Why monitoring one device does not actually work

Family Link works best when it is part of a larger conversation about screen time and internet use, not as a technical barrier. A teenager who is determined to get around it will find a way — through a different device, a different browser, a friend's phone, or a school computer. The technical restrictions only work if the teenager accepts them.

This does not mean Family Link is useless. It is useful for younger children who do not have the knowledge or motivation to work around it, and for setting a clear rule about what devices you are monitoring. But it is not a substitute for talking about why you are setting limits, what you are worried about, and what your teen actually needs.

The families where parental controls actually reduce screen time are the ones where the parent and teen have agreed on the limits together. The families where teenagers spend the most time finding workarounds are the ones where the controls feel like punishment rather than protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my teen remove Family Link without the recovery password?

Not easily. A factory reset requires the recovery email and password. If your teen does not have these, they cannot reset the device without your help. However, they can still use other devices or browsers to get around the restrictions.

Does Family Link work on iPhones?

No. Family Link only works on Android devices and Chromebooks. If your teen has an iPhone, Family Link cannot monitor it. Apple has its own parental control system called Screen Time, which works differently.

Can I block all browsers except Chrome?

Not through Family Link alone. Family Link can hide apps, which prevents your teen from opening Firefox or Opera — but only if they have not already downloaded them. If they have, they can still open them. To block all browsers except Chrome, you would need a network-level filter at your router.

What if my teen uses a VPN to get around website blocking?

A VPN can bypass website blocks because it encrypts the traffic and routes it through a different server. Family Link cannot see where the traffic is going. However, your teen would need to read and set up a VPN app first, which requires either doing it before you set up Family Link or getting your approval to read it.

Does Family Link work on tablets?

Yes, Family Link works on Android tablets the same way it works on phones. But if you have multiple tablets in the house and only one has Family Link on it, your teen can use the other tablet to get around the restrictions.