How to Set Up Google Family
Link and Raksha Together
These two aren't competing for the same job — Family Link controls what a child can do on their phone, Raksha keeps the family connected and safe. Most families that use both get more out of either one alone.
Last updated: July 2026 · 6 min read
What Each One Actually Does
Family Link: screen time and app control
Approve or block apps, set daily screen time limits, filter content, and manage a supervised Google Account for a child under 13.
Raksha: family circle, arrival alerts, and recovery
Live location for the whole family (not just children), automatic arrival alerts, ring/flash for a silent or lost phone, SOS, and remote lock if a phone is stolen.
Where they overlap
Both show a rough location. Family Link's location view is basic; Raksha adds safe zones, arrival notifications, battery status, and recovery tools Family Link doesn't have.
Setting Both Up Without Conflicts
Set up Family Link first if your child is under 13
It creates the supervised Google Account your child needs — do this before installing other apps, including Raksha.
Install Raksha on top
Raksha works independently of Family Link's supervision settings — it doesn't need special permission from Family Link to function.
Use Family Link for screen time, Raksha for location and safety
Don't try to replicate Family Link's app controls in Raksha or vice versa — let each tool do what it's actually built for.
Set up Raksha's safe zones for school, home, and tuition
This is the feature Family Link doesn't really offer — automatic arrival alerts that answer "did they get there" without checking an app.
What This Combination Covers That Neither Does Alone
Family Link alone doesn't tell you when your child reaches school, doesn't ring a silent phone, and doesn't help recover a stolen one. Raksha alone doesn't manage screen time or approve app installs. Together, one app handles what your child can do on their phone, and the other handles whether the family knows where everyone is and can act fast if something goes wrong — two different jobs, both worth doing.