Tablets designed specifically for children have become more and more common over the last couple of years, but the same isn’t true of smartphones. While our tutorial here applies to tablets running Android Lollipop (the screenshots were taken on a Nexus 9, reviewed) we wrote it primarily because it’s a new feature for smartphones running Google’s latetst version of Android. You can read more about Lollipop in our full review.
How to set up restricted users on Lollipop
Step 1) To create a more child friendly profile on the latest version of Android (Lollipop) you’ll first need to go to Settings. The fastest method is to drag down twice from the top of the screen and tap on the cog shaped icon in the top right corner.
Step 2) Now you’ll be presented with a large menu of options. Look for Users in the Device section and tap on this.
Step 3) Here there is a list of the current Users, which includes Guest, a default account introduced by Google in Lollipop and designed for handing your device to friends without them having access to your data. Tap on the option ‘Add user or profile’.
Step 4) Now you’ll be asked which type of User account this should be. The normal User option is a fully featured profile, but for children you’ll need to select the Restricted Profile option. You’ll be prompted to create a passcode here too, just to ensure that your child can’t alter the settings.
Step 5) Once you’ve entered the passcode you’ll be shown the various settings you can apply to the new account. To change the name just tap on the round icon next to ‘New Profile’ and type in your preferred title.
Step 6) Take your time to look through the list, turning off any features that you don’t want you child to be able to access.
Step 7) When you’re happy with the settings you can go back to the home screen and now when you drag down the menu from the top and tap on the User icon you’ll see the freshly created profile in the list. To switch between profiles just tap on the icon.
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.
