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Android Lockdown Guide

← Back to Device Lockdown Overview

Step 1: Set Up Google Family Link

Family Link lets you control your child's phone FROM YOUR phone.

On YOUR phone (parent):

  1. Download Google Family Link for parents from Play Store
  2. Open it and sign in with your Google account
  3. Tap Get Started → follow the setup

On your CHILD'S phone:

  1. Make sure your child is signed in with their own Google account
  2. Open Settings → Google → Parental Controls
  3. Or download Family Link for children & teens from Play Store
  4. Follow the prompts to link to your parent account

Step 2: Require Approval for App Installs

On YOUR phone in Family Link:

  1. Open Family Link
  2. Select your child
  3. Tap Controls → Google Play
  4. Set Require approval for → All content

Your child now cannot install ANY app without you approving it on your phone.

Step 3: Install NextDNS

  1. On your CHILD'S phone, open Play Store

  2. Search for NextDNS and tap Install

  3. You'll get a notification on YOUR phone - tap Approve

  4. Once installed, open NextDNS on your child's phone

  5. Tap Get Started

  6. Enter your Configuration ID (from my.nextdns.io)

  7. Tap Enable NextDNS → Allow the VPN configuration

  8. Toggle NextDNS ON

Step 4: Verify It's Working

On your child's phone:

  1. Open Chrome and go to test.nextdns.io
  2. It should show your configuration ID

Step 5: Block NextDNS From Being Uninstalled

On YOUR phone in Family Link:

  1. Open Family Link → select your child
  2. Go to Controls → Apps
  3. Find NextDNS in the list
  4. Make sure it's not blocked (so it keeps running)

Your child cannot uninstall NextDNS without your approval.

Optional: Additional Settings

Set Screen Time Limits

In Family Link on YOUR phone:

  1. Select your child → Controls → Daily limit
  2. Set time limits per day

Block Specific Apps

  1. Family Link → your child → Controls → Apps
  2. Find the app → tap to block

Location Tracking

  1. Family Link → your child → Location
  2. Enable location sharing

Bedtime Mode

  1. Family Link → your child → Controls → Bedtime
  2. Set device bedtime hours

For Older Teens (Alternative: Private DNS)

If Family Link feels too restrictive for an older teen, you can use Android's built-in Private DNS:

  1. Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS
  2. Select "Private DNS provider hostname"
  3. Enter: abc123.dns.nextdns.io (replace with your config ID)

Note: This is easier to bypass than the NextDNS app + Family Link combo.

Troubleshooting

Family Link setup fails

  • Both phones need internet connection
  • Child's account must be a child account (under 13) OR you need to supervise an existing account
  • Try removing and re-adding the child's Google account

NextDNS keeps disconnecting

  1. Go to Settings → Apps → NextDNS → Battery
  2. Set to "Unrestricted" or disable battery optimization
  3. Some Android skins (Samsung, Xiaomi) aggressively kill background apps

Child removed supervision

  • This requires parent approval, so you should get a notification
  • If they factory reset the phone, you'll need to set up Family Link again

← Back to Device Lockdown Overview