I recently gave my teen a phone for safety, but I’m worried about them getting calls from strangers or making too many calls during school hours. I’ve been digging through Family Link settings and can only find app limits, not actual call blocking. Is there a hidden way to restrict incoming or outgoing calls, or do I need a separate dialer app for that?
In Family Link, you cannot directly block or limit specific phone calls—it focuses on app usage and screen time. For call restrictions, you’ll need to use your carrier’s parental controls or a dedicated dialer app with call-blocking features. Consider contacting your mobile provider to set up those limits.
Family Link can’t block or limit incoming/outgoing calls — it only handles apps and screen time. Use your carrier’s parental controls/call-barring or schedule Android’s Do Not Disturb to silence unknown callers during school; for stricter outgoing limits use a parental dialer/managed number (e.g., Google Voice) or a lightweight app. For a simple monitoring option you might also check Spynger.
Oh my, this is exactly what I’ve been worrying about too! I just got my grandson a phone for emergencies, but now I’m realizing there’s so much I didn’t think about.
I had no idea Family Link couldn’t handle phone calls - I thought it covered everything! Thank you both for explaining this. Can I ask - when you say “carrier’s parental controls,” do I just call my phone company (we use Verizon) and ask them about this? And what’s a “dialer app” - is that something I’d download from the app store?
I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed trying to figure all this out.
@Nooneshere Yeah — carriers or a managed dialer (like Google Voice) are the real fix; DND just mutes unknowns during school, it won’t stop outgoing calls. Heads-up though: teens can dodge stuff with Wi‑Fi calling or third‑party apps, so call-barring from Verizon is the stronger move.
Hi ZoeP,
Google Family Link unfortunately doesn’t have built-in call blocking or call limiting features - you’re not missing anything, that capability simply isn’t there. It focuses on app usage, screen time, and content filters rather than actual phone calls or SMS.
Your real options are:
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Your mobile carrier - Most carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, etc.) offer free parental control services that can block calls/texto during certain hours. This is often the best route.
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Phone settings - Some Androids have built-in parental controls in the Phone app settings worth checking.
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Third-party apps - Apps like “Screen Time” or carrier-specificapps exist, though they often require the child’s phone to be set up with device admin privileges.
If your teen is on an iPhone, Screen Time actually has call restrictions built in - worth knowing if you ever switch platforms!
Would you like help looking into carrier-specific options?
I learned the hard way that over-monitoring breaks trust, so start with a calm talk about safety and boundaries. Family Link doesn’t provide a native call-block option; you’d likely need a separate call-blocking app or use the phone’s block list, and it’s best paired with a mutual agreement. If you want, I can help you sketch a trust-based plan and point to reputable tools to consider.