Preparing your Android Device for Parental Supervision
Prevent New User Account Creation
Devices running Android 8.0 or later can be configured with multiple user accounts, including the owner profile, user accounts, and guest accounts. By default, these devices come with an owner profile. If needed, you can create additional user or guest accounts to share the device with others.
If your children use one of these devices, their activities are only monitored if Norton Family is installed on the account they use to log in. However, if they log in using the owner profile, they can easily create a new user or guest account and switch to these accounts for their online activities. In such cases, Norton Family will not be able to monitor their activities, as it is installed solely on the owner profile.
Additionally, when a device is upgraded to Android 8.0 or later, the owner profile is created automatically, and all installed apps, including Norton Family, are part of that profile. Therefore, it's important to install Norton Family on the user account your child uses and to prevent them from creating new user or guest accounts.
Ensure App Permissions Are Enabled
Norton Family requires specific app permissions on your child's device to prevent them from bypassing its protection. Ensure that these permissions are turned on before giving the device to your child. If any of these permissions are turned off by your child or the device itself, you will be notified. In that case, re-enable the necessary permissions to maintain protection.
Norton Family requires the following permissions:
- Device Admin
- Accessibility
- App Usage Access
- Display Over Other Apps
- Location
- Phone
Turning On App Permissions
In Android 11 or later, app permissions may be revoked if the app is unused for a few months. To prevent this, click Go to Settings and then select App Permissions
- Open the Norton Family parental control app on your child's device.
- Click the profile icon, then select Permissions.
- On the Permissions screen, enable any permissions marked with a red warning alert ❗️:
- Device Admin: Prevents your child from uninstalling the Norton Family app. Click this option, then select Activate this device admin app.
- App Usage Access: Needed for time supervision and app supervision to function. Click this option, then select Norton Family. On the Usage Access screen, enable Permit usage access.
- Location: Enables tracking of your child's location.
- For Android 10.x and earlier: Click Location, then select Allow All the Time.
- For Android 11 and later: Click Location > Allow all the time.
In the App info page, go to Permissions > Location and select Allow all the time. - Draw Over Apps: Allows blocking of apps that are inappropriate for your child's age. Click this option, then enable Allow display over other apps.
- Accessibility: Required for enhanced web monitoring and to prevent unauthorized uninstallation of Norton Family. Click this option, then enable Norton Family Accessibility Service.
Ensure that the Norton Family Accessibility Service Shortcut is always turned OFF.
- Phone: Allows your child to make calls to emergency contacts during curfew or instant lock. Click this option, then allow Norton Family to access the phone contacts.
- Notifications: Allows your child to receive notifications about House Rules updates. Click this option, then allow Norton Family to receive notifications.
Configuring Settings on a Redmi Device
- Open the Settings app, and go to Apps > Permissions > Other Permissions.
- Search for Norton Family, then click Open new windows while running in the background to turn it on.
Block Settings App
App and time supervision require certain options in the Settings app to always remain turned on. Ask your child not to disable these options. If your child accesses the Settings app and turns them off, you can block the Settings app using the Norton website or the Norton Family parental control app for Android.
To re-enable the Settings app, follow the same steps below, but turn off the blocking.
Blocking the Settings App Using Norton Website
- Sign in to your account.
- Select the child for whom you want to enable mobile app supervision.
- If App Supervision is turned off, move the On/Off switch to On.
- To view or edit the House Rules for app supervision, click the Settings icon
.
- In the House Rules tab, next to Settings, move the slider to block the app.
- Click Save.
Blocking the Settings App Using Norton Family Parental Control App for Android
- Sign in to the Norton Family app in Parent Mode.
- Select the child whom you want to manage.
- Go to the Rules tab.
- Under Activities, select App Supervision.
- If App Supervision is turned off, enable it by clicking the Off button.
- Check the Settings app, then select Done.
If you are using Google account to sign in to your Norton Family account, make sure that you sign out from your Google account in your browser after finishing the Norton Family setup.
Disable Smart Pop-up View
The Smart Pop-up View feature is available on some mobile devices and allows users to view apps or content in a small pop-up window while using another app, enhancing multitasking. To monitor your child's activity more effectively, turn off the Smart Pop-up View feature.
- Open the Settings app and go to Notifications.
- Select Advanced Settings > Floating Notifications.
- Select Off.
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