Google Family Link just got an update. Did yours?
Issue 1 · Oct 13–19, 2026. This build brings a simplified design and a screen time tab to an app for managing children’s device use, settings and location. It is worth installing now for a clearer route to screen-time tools; the details are on the next screen.
About 2 minutes · what changed, then Google Play
Start NowWhat changed this week
These are the three changes in Google Family Link 2.104.0.2026w41.993639935 that stand out in the developer's update notes and on its Google Play listing this week.
- 01A simpler design for family controls
The notes highlight a simplified design for Family Link. It refreshes how the parental-control app presents its tools for guiding children’s device use.
- 02A dedicated screen time tab
A new screen time tab gives the build a clear focus on device-use information and the tools families can use to set limits.
- 03Useful tools for managing apps
Family Link lets parents set limits for individual apps, block apps, or allow unlimited time for educational and regularly used apps.
Our call on whether to update, and the link to the official Google Play listing, are on this issue's Google Family Link page.
Also updated this week
Google Family Link is one of 50 apps with a full screen in Issue 1. Next up in this issue:
Tips
- Set limits around daily routines
Use Family Link’s screen-time controls to choose a daily limit that fits your child’s routine. The app also supports school-time and downtime schedules, so you can set boundaries for particular parts of the day. Review the available options together where appropriate, and revisit them as schedules or family needs change.
- Tailor rules for individual apps
For more specific boundaries, use Family Link to set time limits for individual apps, block apps, or allow unlimited time for educational or regularly used apps. This can give a child flexibility with selected tools while keeping other app use within limits. Check the child’s app list when you review those choices.
- Use location and arrival alerts
Family Link can show a child’s device location on one map when the child is carrying that device. It can also send alerts when the child arrives at or leaves a location, ring devices and show remaining battery life. Review location options and notifications in the app’s Settings before relying on them.
Menu names follow the developer's help pages and can differ slightly between versions and phones.
How we write the digest
Each week we check the Google Play listings of the apps our readers use most: the version number, the update date and the developer's What's new notes. When an app has a new version, we put the developer's update notes and the listing details together on one page, in plain words, with a link to the official Google Play listing. Google and most developers release updates in stages over several days, so a version listed here may not have reached your phone yet. GoCompareNow is an independent site and is not affiliated with any developer. This page doesn't read your phone or your Google account, and nothing is installed from here.
FAQ
Is this the official list of Google Family Link changes?
No. This is an independent site and is not affiliated with Google LLC. The app’s Google Play page is the authority for its current listing and release information. Google Play describes this build’s changes as a simplified design and screen time tab; check the Play page for the latest details before installing.
Why does Google Play show Open instead of Update?
Google Play may show Open when the app is already current for your account or device. Updates can also become available in stages, so the listing may not offer the same option to everyone at once. Check the Family Link page in Google Play again later if you are expecting an update and only see Open.
Can Family Link locate my child’s device?
Family Link can show a child’s device location on a map when the child is carrying that device. The app also supports alerts for when a child arrives at or leaves a location. Availability of tools can depend on the child’s device, so check device compatibility and review location and notification settings in the app.