Android tablet owner's can now enforce parental controls on their devices. This article discusses how to use Android's newly introduced restricted profile feature to create a child account and block or allow access to apps, disable In App Purchases etc. You can even dig deeper and configure settings on a per app basis.
All you have to do is :
- Go to Settings → Users → Add user or profile.
- Choose restricted profile.
- If you haven't already set password or enabled screen lock you will be prompted to do so.
- You may create a new user profile and set the rules.
This feature is available on tablets running Android 4.3 and later versions. In the Samsung series this is available on Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, Tab 4, and newer ones (Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4, Tab S 8.4, Tab S 10.5)
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3
Follow these steps on a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3
- Press Home Key
and then press the Menu Key 
and select Settings → Users - Touch
and then choose Restricted Profile - Follow the onscreen prompts and configure the profile
Samsung Galaxy Tab 4
- Press Home Key and then press the Menu Key and select Settings → General → Users
- Touch to add user and then choose Restricted Profile
- Follow the onscreen prompts and configure the profile
Google Nexus
- Touch Settings
→ Users → Add user or profile - Touch Restricted profile and start configuring using the ON/OFF toggles
- When you are finished configuring, press the Power button to return to the lock screen.
- You may now setup the new profile by pressing the new profile icon
Do enable lock screen and passwords, otherwise there is no point in creating a separate restricted profile.
Sony Xperia Z2 tablet
- Touch
from the Home screen to go Application Screen - Touch Settings → Users → Add user or profile → Restricted profile
- Follow the instructions on your device to complete the procedure.
Dont forget to enable lock screen and passwords, otherwise the controls are not effective.
This restricted profile feature is not a full fledged "child mode" or "kids corner". It is up to the parent to judge which apps are suitable to their kid's age. Although you can block an app altogether, whether or not granular app specific restrictions work depends on the app developer incorporating this feature on their app. Hence parents have to exercise caution and it would be better for them to try out the apps themselves before allowing access.
