How to Add a Payment Method to Family Link: A Comprehensive Guide
Family Link, Google’s parental control app, is a powerful tool for managing your child’s online activity. One essential aspect of this management is controlling their spending on apps, games, and in-app purchases. To do this effectively, you need to add a payment method to your Family Link account. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you can set up and manage your child’s Google Play Store spending securely.
## Why Add a Payment Method to Family Link?
Adding a payment method to Family Link provides several key benefits:
* **Control over Spending:** You decide whether your child can make purchases at all, and if so, how much they can spend.
* **Purchase Approval:** You can require your approval for all purchases, even if your child has sufficient funds in their Google Play balance.
* **Prevent Unauthorized Purchases:** By managing the payment method, you can prevent accidental or unwanted purchases.
* **Educational Tool:** You can use the system to teach your child about responsible spending and budgeting.
* **Peace of Mind:** Knowing you have control over your child’s digital spending can provide significant peace of mind.
## Prerequisites
Before you begin, ensure you have the following:
* **A Google Account:** You need a Google account to use Family Link.
* **The Family Link App:** Download and install the Family Link app on your device (parent’s device).
* **A Child Account:** You need a Google account for your child that is managed with Family Link.
* **A Valid Payment Method:** You’ll need a credit card, debit card, or other accepted payment method that you want to associate with your Family Link account.
* **Sufficient Funds:** Make sure the payment method you choose has sufficient funds to cover any potential purchases your child might make (if you allow them).
## Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a Payment Method
There are primarily two ways to manage payments within Family Link:
1. **Family Payment Method:** Adding a credit or debit card directly to your family group’s payment methods. This allows family members to use the card for purchases with your approval (if required). This is the most common and recommended approach.
2. **Google Play Balance:** Your child can also use Google Play balance (gift cards, redeemed codes) for purchases. However, adding funds to a child’s balance is often done through the parent’s account or via Google Play gift cards. This method works well for smaller, infrequent purchases. This article will primarily focus on setting up the family payment method, as it offers greater control and management.
### Method 1: Adding a Family Payment Method (Recommended)
This method involves adding a credit card or debit card to your family group. All family members, including your child, can then use this payment method for purchases, subject to your approval settings.
**Step 1: Open the Family Link App**
* Locate the Family Link app icon on your device (usually a colorful kite icon).
* Tap the icon to open the app.
**Step 2: Select Your Child’s Account**
* The Family Link app will display a list of children whose accounts you manage.
* Tap on the name of the child for whom you want to manage payment settings.
**Step 3: Access Payment Controls**
* On your child’s account screen, look for a card labeled “Controls.” This card typically contains various parental control settings.
* Tap on the “Controls” card.
**Step 4: Manage Purchase Approvals**
* Within the “Controls” section, you’ll find an option labeled “Purchase Approvals” or something similar. The exact wording may vary slightly depending on the Family Link app version.
* Tap on “Purchase Approvals.”
**Step 5: Configure Purchase Approval Settings**
* On the “Purchase Approvals” screen, you’ll have several options:
* **All content:** This setting requires your approval for all purchases made through Google Play, regardless of the price or the payment method used.
* **Only paid content:** This setting requires your approval only for paid apps, games, in-app purchases, and subscriptions. Free apps will not require your approval.
* **No approval required:** This setting allows your child to make purchases without your approval. This is generally not recommended unless you have complete trust in your child’s spending habits.
* Select the option that best suits your needs and your child’s maturity level. For younger children, “All content” is often the most appropriate choice.
**Step 6: Set Up Family Payment Method**
* If you haven’t already set up a family payment method, you’ll see a prompt to do so. Look for a button or link that says something like “Set up family payment method,” “Add family payment method,” or “Manage family payment method.”
* Tap on this button or link.
**Step 7: Add a Credit or Debit Card**
* You’ll be redirected to a Google Play payment settings screen.
* You may be asked to verify your identity using your Google account password.
* Click “Add credit or debit card.”
* Enter your credit card or debit card information accurately, including:
* Card number
* Expiration date
* CVV code (the three- or four-digit security code on the back of your card)
* Name on card
* Billing address
* Double-check the information you’ve entered to ensure it’s correct.
* Click “Save.”
**Step 8: Verify Your Card (If Required)**
* In some cases, Google may require you to verify your card. This usually involves a small temporary charge to your card (e.g., $1.00) that is then refunded within a few days. This charge helps Google confirm that the card is valid and that you are the authorized user.
* Follow the on-screen instructions to verify your card if prompted. This might involve checking your online banking statement for the temporary charge and entering the amount into Google Play.
**Step 9: Confirm Family Payment Method**
* Once your card is added and verified (if required), it will be listed as the family payment method.
* You can now return to the Family Link app and confirm that the payment method is associated with your child’s account.
### Method 2: Using Google Play Balance
While less direct for parental control, understanding Google Play Balance is important.
* **Google Play Gift Cards:** These can be purchased online or at retail stores. Your child can redeem these gift cards directly on their Google Play account. The funds are then added to their Google Play Balance.
* **Promotional Codes:** Sometimes Google offers promotional codes that can be redeemed for Google Play credit.
* **Adding Funds Via Parent Account:** In some regions and under certain circumstances, you might be able to directly add funds to your child’s Google Play balance through your own Google account, although this functionality isn’t universally available and the primary method for control remains the Family Payment Method.
**Important Considerations for Google Play Balance:**
* Even if your child has a Google Play Balance, you can *still* require purchase approval for all content. This ensures that even if they have funds available, they can’t make purchases without your permission.
* Google Play Balance is non-refundable (except as required by law).
## Managing Purchase Approvals After Adding a Payment Method
Now that you’ve added a payment method to Family Link, it’s crucial to understand how purchase approvals work.
### How Purchase Approvals Work
* **When Approval is Required:** When your child attempts to purchase something on Google Play (app, game, in-app item, subscription) and purchase approval is enabled, they will see a request for approval screen.
* **The Approval Request:** This request is sent to your device (the parent’s device) via the Family Link app.
* **Your Options:** You have two primary options:
* **Approve:** Approving the purchase allows your child to proceed with the transaction.
* **Decline:** Declining the purchase prevents your child from completing the transaction. You can (and should) explain why you are declining the purchase to your child. This is a valuable opportunity to discuss responsible spending habits.
* **Approval Methods:** You can approve purchases directly through the Family Link app, or in some cases, you might receive a notification that allows you to approve the purchase from the notification itself.
### Changing Purchase Approval Settings
You can change the purchase approval settings at any time by following these steps:
1. Open the Family Link app.
2. Select your child’s account.
3. Tap on the “Controls” card.
4. Tap on “Purchase Approvals.”
5. Choose your desired purchase approval setting (“All content,” “Only paid content,” or “No approval required”).
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
Here are some common issues you might encounter when adding or managing payment methods in Family Link, along with troubleshooting tips:
* **Card Not Accepted:** If your credit card or debit card is not being accepted, try the following:
* Double-check that you’ve entered the card information correctly (card number, expiration date, CVV code, billing address).
* Ensure that your card is not expired.
* Contact your bank or credit card issuer to ensure that there are no restrictions on your card that might be preventing online purchases.
* Try a different credit card or debit card.
* **Verification Failed:** If card verification fails, ensure that you have sufficient funds in your account to cover the temporary charge. Also, double-check that the amount of the temporary charge you entered is correct.
* **Payment Method Not Showing Up:** If the payment method you added is not showing up in Family Link, try restarting the Family Link app. You may also need to wait a few minutes for the changes to propagate through the system.
* **Child Still Able to Make Purchases Without Approval:** Ensure that you have correctly configured the purchase approval settings to require your approval for all content or at least for paid content. Also, check if your child has a Google Play Balance and is using that instead of the family payment method. Even with a balance, your approval settings should still apply.
* **Can’t Remove Payment Method:** You might not be able to remove the family payment method if it’s the only payment method associated with your family group. You may need to add another payment method first before removing the original one. Additionally, ensure no subscriptions are tied to the payment method you are trying to remove, cancel those subscriptions first, or move them to a different payment method.
## Security Considerations
* **Protect Your Google Account:** Your Google account is the key to managing your Family Link settings, so it’s crucial to protect it with a strong password and enable two-factor authentication.
* **Monitor Transactions:** Regularly review your Google Play transaction history to ensure that there are no unauthorized purchases.
* **Educate Your Child:** Teach your child about online safety and responsible spending habits. Explain the importance of not sharing their account information or making unauthorized purchases.
* **Be Aware of Phishing:** Be cautious of phishing emails or websites that try to trick you into revealing your Google account credentials or payment information.
## Alternatives to Family Link’s Payment Management
While Family Link offers excellent payment management features, here are a few alternative approaches you might consider, especially for older children:
* **Prepaid Debit Cards:** You can give your child a prepaid debit card with a specific spending limit. This gives them more independence while still limiting their potential losses.
* **Allowance Apps:** Many apps are designed to help you manage your child’s allowance and track their spending. These apps often have built-in parental controls and budgeting tools.
* **Open Communication:** For older teenagers, open communication about budgeting and financial responsibility can be more effective than strict parental controls.
## Conclusion
Adding a payment method to Family Link is a straightforward process that provides you with valuable control over your child’s Google Play spending. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your child makes responsible purchases and that you have peace of mind knowing that their online spending is being managed effectively. Remember to regularly review your Family Link settings and communicate with your child about online safety and financial responsibility. By combining parental controls with education, you can help your child develop healthy spending habits that will serve them well throughout their lives.