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Google is rolling out a significant redesign to the Android Family Link app, aiming to place the most crucial items like screen time management tools front and center. After announcing this change as “coming soon” back in February, Google has flipped the switch to bring the refreshed UI to users across the board.
What has changed
First up, the “Highlights” tab is gone, replaced by a dedicated “Screen time” section. Up top, you’ll find a clear display of “Time spent today,” along with a list of the most used apps.
Below this, you’ll find quick access cards for the managed device, complete with a convenient “Lock” shortcut, followed by cards for setting time limits and schedules. Google has also simplified the process of managing time limits by combining app and daily limits into a single button, making it seamless to control screen time.
The “Controls” tab remains at the heart of the app, now enhanced with Material You design elements. You’ll find prominent links to essential Google services like Google Account settings, Google Play, YouTube, Chrome, Search, Photos, Location settings, and a list of signed-in devices. This centralized access allows parents to quickly adjust settings across various Google platforms.
The “Location” section has also received a facelift, featuring modernized map visuals. Additionally, Google has focused on simplifying the supervision of multiple devices and children, introducing a new pill-shaped design in the top-left corner for easy navigation.
This redesign is being deployed with version 2.47 of the Family Link app on Android. As of now, it’s exclusive to Android, with no word yet on when or if it will arrive on iOS. Overall, the UI update doesn’t’ add or take away from the utility of the Family Link app, but it all looks a bit better and the layout of all the elements most people use makes far more sense, too.
VIA: 9to5 Google
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