Family Link Purchase Approvals: Stop Kids Overspending in Games

At a glance

Tool	Google Family Link app
Purchase approvals	All content, paid content only or in-app too
Content ratings	Set by age rating
Screen time	Daily limits and bedtime
Gift cards	Can still need approval to spend
Cost	Free

Quick steps

1. Open Family Link. Open the Family Link app on your phone and select your child.
2. Go to Controls. Choose Controls, then Content restrictions, then Google Play.
3. Set purchase approvals. Pick the approval level, such as all purchases.
4. Review requests. Approve or deny requests as they come in.

Why purchase approvals matter

Mobile games make spending easy. A child can buy diamonds, gems or coins in a couple of taps, sometimes without understanding real money is involved. Family Link lets parents decide what can be bought. When a child tries to buy something, you get a request on your phone to approve or deny.

Approval levels

You can usually choose to require approval for all content, only paid content, or paid content and in-app purchases. For games with in-app items, choose the option that covers in-app purchases. This catches diamond and gem top-ups as well as paid game downloads.

Content ratings

Family Link lets you set the maximum age rating for apps and games your child can download. Choose a rating that fits their age, and review each game’s rating on its Play Store page.

Screen time and bedtime

Set daily time limits and a bedtime when the device locks. You can also limit time on specific apps. Clear limits help children balance gaming with homework and sleep.

Gift cards and balances

If you add a Google Play gift card to a child’s account, approvals can still apply when they spend it. This gives children a set budget while you keep the final say.

Game-specific settings

• Roblox has its own parental controls; see our Roblox guide.
• Many games let you turn off chat or limit friends.
• Some games have spending limits inside their own settings.

Talk about spending

Explain to your child that game currency costs real money, and agree on a budget together. Children who understand the rules ask for approval more thoughtfully, and you get fewer surprise requests.

For teens

Family Link options can change as children get older. Review your settings each year and adjust them to match your teen’s maturity.

Setting up Family Link

To use Family Link, install the Family Link app on your phone and follow the steps to supervise your child’s Google account. If your child is under the age of consent in your country, their account may already be supervised. For older children, they will need to agree to supervision. Once set up, the child’s Controls appear in your app.

Handling purchase requests

When your child tries to buy something, a request appears in your Family Link app. It shows the item and price. You can approve or deny it. If you approve, your payment method or the child’s balance is charged. Some parents agree in advance on a monthly budget, which makes approval decisions easier.

App approvals

Family Link can also require approval before a child installs any new app or game. This lets you review a game’s rating, reviews and in-app purchases before saying yes.

Tips for families

• Review game content and chat features before approving.
• Set screen time limits together with your child.
• Use gift cards for a predictable budget.
• Check Family Link activity reports weekly.

Family Link works best alongside each game’s own controls, such as Roblox parental controls and in-game chat settings.

Review monthly

Check approval settings monthly.

In short

Turn on purchase approvals that include in-app items, set content ratings and screen time, and review requests together with your child.

Revisit settings as children grow.