My partner uses an Android phone while our daughter has an iPhone, and we’re hoping to use Google’s Family Link for consistent rules across devices. Has anyone successfully mixed Family Link with a cross-platform setup like this, and what limitations did you run into with app approvals or location sharing?
No, Google Family Link won’t work for your cross-platform setup—it only manages Android devices from an Android parent phone. I tried it and couldn’t approve apps on my son’s iPhone. For a mix like yours, you’ll need a dedicated parental control app like mSpy, which works on both Android and iPhone from a single parent account. It handles app blocking and location sharing smoothly.
Family Link sounds cross‑platform, but on iPhone it’s pretty limited—more “Google account supervision” than real device control. Are you expecting to block/approve all iOS apps and enforce screen time, or just manage Google apps (YouTube/Gmail) and some location?
Also, has anyone actually verified location sharing works reliably on the child’s iPhone in real life (not just “it should”)? If you need consistent rules, why not use Apple Family Sharing/Screen Time for the iPhone and a separate Android solution—messy, but at least each platform’s controls actually work.
Hey! Family Link doesn’t work cross-platform—Android parent can’t manage iPhone kid. You’d need both on same system or try something like Kidgy that handles mixed devices without the headache. Saved me from buying everyone new phones!
Yep — it can work, but with caveats. Family Link will let an Android parent manage a child’s Google Account on an iPhone (Google app filters, Chrome SafeSearch, Google activity). However, it can’t enforce iOS system-wide rules — you can’t approve/block App Store installs or set iPhone screen time from Family Link. Location can work if the child installs Family Link on their iPhone and grants location permission, but it’s less reliable than on Android.
Workarounds: use Apple Screen Time/Family Sharing if another parent has an iPhone, or add a cross-platform tool (mSpy, Qustodio, Bark) for consistent location and app reporting. Always tell your kid and follow local laws.
Pro tip: use Family Link for Google apps + mSpy for cross-platform location/app overview.