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Prepare your Android device for parental supervision using Norton Family

Prevent new user account creation

Devices running Android 8.0 or later can be configured with multiple user accounts. These accounts include the owner profile account, user account, and guest account. By default, these devices have an owner profile account. If needed, you can create a new user account or a guest account to share the device with other members.
If your children use any of these devices, their activities are monitored only if Norton Family is installed on the account that they use to login to the device. Moreover, if your children use owner profile account to login to their device, they can easily create a new user account or guest account and switch to these accounts to do their online activities. In this case, Norton Family cannot monitor their activities as it is installed only on the owner profile.
Likewise, when your child's device is upgraded to Android 8.0 or later, you get the owner profile account, and all the installed apps, including Norton Family, will be part of this profile. So, it is required that you install Norton Family on the user account that your child uses to login to the device and you prevent your children from creating new user accounts, including guest account. For more information, read Prevent your child from creating new user accounts on Android 8.0 or later devices.

Ensure app permissions are turned on

Norton Family requires certain app permissions on your child's device to prevent your child from circumventing Norton Family protection. So, ensure that you have turned on the required permissions before handing over the device to your child. You will be notified if these permissions are turned off by your child or by the device itself. In such case, turn on the required permissions again for continued protection.
Norton Family requires the following permissions:
Device Admin, Accessibility, App Usage Access, Display over other Apps, Location, and Phone.

Turn on app permissions

In Android 11 or later, if the app is not used for few months the permissions are revoked. To change this, tap Go To Settings and then tap App Permissions.

  1. Open Norton Family parental control app on your child's device.

  2. Tap the profile icon and then tap Permissions.

  3. In the Permissions screen, turn on the permissions that are marked with red warning alert :

    • Device Admin: Required to prevent your child from uninstalling Norton Family app.

      Tap it and then tap Activate this device admin app.

    • App Usage Access: Required for time supervision and app supervision to work.

      Tap it and then tap Norton Family. In the Usage access screen, turn on Permit usage access.

    • Location: Enables you to track the location of your child.

      Depending on the version of Android OS on your device, do one of the following:

      • For Android 10.x and below versions: Tap Location and then tap Allow All the Time.

      • For Android 11 or later: Tap Location > Allow all the time.

        In the App info page, tap Permissions > Location and then select Allow all the time.

    • Draw Over Apps: Enables you to block apps that you think are inappropriate for your child's age.

      Tap it and then turn on Allow display over other apps.

    • Accessibility: Required for enhanced monitoring of your child's web activities and to prevent unauthorized uninstallation of the Norton Family parental control app.

      Tap it and then turn on Norton Family Accessibility Service.

    • Phone: Allows your child to make calls to their emergency contacts during the curfew or instant lock.

      Tap it and then allow Norton Family to access the phone contacts.

    • Notification: Allows your child to receive notification on House Rules updates.

      Tap it and then allow Norton Family to receive notifications.

Block Settings app

App and time supervision require a few options in the Settings app to be turned on always. Ask your child not to turn off these options. If your child still accesses the Settings app and turns off these options, you can block the Settings app using Norton website or Norton Family parental control app for Android.
To enable the Settings app again, follow the same steps as below but turn off blocking.

Use Norton website

  1. Sign in to your account.

  2. Select the child for whom you want to set mobile app supervision.

  3. If App Supervision is turned off, turn it on by moving the On/Off switch to On.

  4. To view or edit the House Rules for App supervision, click the settings icon .

  5. In the House Rules tab, next to Settings, move the slider to block the app.

  6. Click Save.

Use Norton Family parental app for Android

  1. Sign in to the Norton Family app in Parent mode.

  2. Tap the child whom you want to manage.

  3. Go to the Rules tab.

  4. Under Activities, tap App supervision.

  5. If App supervision is turned off, turn it on by tapping the Off button.

  6. Check the Settings app, and then tap Done.

If you are using Google account to sign in to Norton Family account, make sure that you sign out from your Google account in your browser after finishing the Norton Family setup.

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DOCID: v119047655
Operating System: Android
Last modified: 08/25/2022