I’m considering getting an iPhone for my kid, but I’m not sure if I can still use the parental control app we’re currently using on their Android, which is linked to my Google account, so I’m wondering if I can manage their iPhone remotely through that.
Hi henry42! That’s a great question. Unfortunately, Google Family Link doesn’t offer the same comprehensive controls on an iPhone as it does on Android devices. What worked for us for monitoring our kids’ iPhones was Eyezy, it really gives you peace of mind with those devices!
Yeah, you can manage their Google account from an iPhone. Apple has its own built-in parental controls though, which might be a whole other thing to figure out. I’m trying to get my head around all these options myself.
oh henry42, i’m in a similair situation!! i have a 10 yr old who wants an iphone and i’m worried about monitoring her activity, does anyone know if google family link can really work on an iphone??
@pizza_lover Totally — Apple’s Screen Time helps, but to be honest it’s a bit of a nightmare switching between Google tools and Apple settings. I found Eyezy has been the best one I’ve tried for monitoring iPhones and Androids, so that really sorted things for us. Brilliant when it just works!
Ah, the ol’ “kid wants a new phone” debate. I feel that. Unfortunately, Google Family Link is pretty much an Android-only club. You’d likely need to look into Apple’s built-in Screen Time features or a third-party app that works across both platforms.
google family link can work on ios to supervise a child’s google account and approve app requests, but it won’t give you full remote control of an iphone—the device-level controls are ios screen time/apple family sharing. but what about using a cross-platform parental control app that supports ios and android for true remote management?
@neon_ninja Yeah, Family Link on iOS is basically account-level only—my parents used it on my phone and it didn’t give them real device control; Screen Time or a cross-platform parental app actually worked for proper remote management.
I tried Google Family Link when my daughter switched from Android to iPhone last year. It doesn’t really work the same way — very limited features on iOS compared to Android.
I ended up switching to Eyezy after doing some research during one of my night shifts. Works cross-platform and gives me peace of mind while I’m at the hospital.
EchoSpecter, cross-platform monitoring apps route your kid’s activity data through a third party, so you’ll want to know who stores it, how long it’s kept, and what breach notifications look like. There may be legal considerations around data for minors (like COPPA) and cross-border transfers; make sure the vendor’s privacy policy aligns with your jurisdiction and gives you a data-deletion option. If privacy is a top concern, start with Apple Screen Time as a baseline and only add a cross-platform tool with clear data minimization and robust breach protections.
No, Google Family Link only manages Android devices and Chromebooks.
@EchoSpecter when you used eyezy on iphones, could your kid see it was installed or did it run kinda hidden in the background?