Feeling overwhelmed by your kids' screen time? Want to reclaim some family time without constant nagging? You're not alone! As parents, we all want our children to be safe and responsible digital citizens, and sometimes that means taking a more active role in managing their phone usage.
This guide will walk you through, step-by-step, how to turn off your kids' phone on Verizon using their excellent parental control features. Let's dive in and give you back some peace of mind!
Step 1: Get Started with Verizon Smart Family
First things first, you'll need to utilize Verizon's dedicated parental control service, Verizon Smart Family. This is your command center for managing your child's device.
Are you ready to take control? If you haven't already, the very first thing you'll need to do is download the Verizon Smart Family app on your smartphone or tablet. This is the "Guardian" app.
For iPhones: Head to the Apple App Store.
For Androids: Go to the Google Play Store.
Once downloaded, you'll need to sign in using your My Verizon User ID and password. Make sure you have Account Owner or Account Manager access privileges on your Verizon account.
Sub-heading: Understanding the Two Apps It's crucial to understand there are two apps involved for full functionality:
Verizon Smart Family (Guardian App): This is the app you, the parent, will use to set and manage controls.
Verizon Smart Family Companion App (Dependent App): This app needs to be installed on your child's device. It allows the parental controls to function effectively, especially for features like content filtering, time restrictions, and location tracking. Without this companion app, some features may be limited.
Step 2: Pairing Your Child's Device (The Dependent)
Now that you have the Guardian app, it's time to connect it to your child's phone. This pairing is essential for Verizon Smart Family to exert its control.
Open the Verizon Smart Family Guardian app on your device.
Tap the Family Profiles tab.
Select the appropriate family member (your child) you want to manage. If they're not listed, you'll need to add them.
You may see a banner indicating that the dependent's device isn't paired. Tap "Learn How" or follow the on-screen prompts to set up pairing.
You'll likely be asked to send a reminder text to your child's phone. This text will contain a link to download the Verizon Smart Family Companion app.
On your child's device: Have them open the text message and follow the instructions to download and install the Verizon Smart Family Companion app. They will also need to grant necessary permissions for the app to function properly.
Back on your device (Guardian app): Once your child has installed and set up the Companion app, the pairing should complete. You'll usually receive a confirmation.
Important Note: Ensure your child's device is powered on and connected to the internet during the pairing process.
Step 3: Pausing or Resuming Internet Connectivity (The Quick Off Switch)
This is often what parents are looking for when they want to "turn off" their kids' phone. Verizon Smart Family provides a very convenient way to pause internet access.
From the Verizon Smart Family Guardian app, tap the Family Profiles tab.
Select the family member (your child) whose internet access you want to manage.
Look for a section related to Internet Connectivity or Pause Internet.
You'll typically have two main options:
"Until I unpause": This will suspend internet access until you manually decide to turn it back on. This is great for an immediate "off switch" during dinner or homework time. To confirm, tap "Pause now".
"For an Amount of time": This allows you to set a specific duration for the internet to be paused (e.g., 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours). Select the desired time from the dropdown menu and tap "Pause now" to confirm.
To restore internet access, simply go back to the same section and tap "Unpause Internet".
Pro Tip: This feature is incredibly useful for instantly cutting off distractions when you need your child to focus on something else.
Step 4: Setting Up Time Restrictions (Scheduled Downtime)
Beyond the quick "off switch," Verizon Smart Family allows you to schedule regular times when internet, calls, or texts are restricted. This is perfect for school hours, bedtime, or family time.
In the Verizon Smart Family Guardian app, navigate to the Family Profiles tab and select your child.
Go to the Parental Controls section and tap on "Restrict usage" or "Schedules".
You can often create custom schedules for different times of the day or week. For example:
School Hours: Block internet and non-essential calls/texts during school.
Night Hours/Bedtime: Restrict all usage after a certain time to encourage sleep.
Select the days of the week and start/end times for the restrictions.
You can typically choose what to restrict:
Internet Access: This will block data usage and Wi-Fi access (if the Companion app is paired).
Call Limits: Set limits on the number of minutes used (except for 911 and trusted contacts).
Message Limits: Restrict the number of texts sent or received.
Save your schedules.
Remember: For Wi-Fi blocking, the Verizon Smart Family Companion app must be paired on your child's device.
Step 5: Content Filtering and App Blocking
Turning off the phone entirely isn't always the goal. Sometimes, it's about controlling what they can access. Verizon Smart Family offers robust content filtering and app blocking.
From the Family Profiles tab in the Guardian app, select your child.
Under Parental Controls, tap "Filter content".
You'll be able to:
Block specific websites: Manually enter URLs you want to prevent access to.
Filter by category: Choose from predefined categories like "Violence," "Adult Content," "Social Media," "Games," etc., to block broad types of content.
Block specific apps: If the Companion app is installed, you can block access to individual apps on their device. You can usually select a filter type (e.g., Messaging, Games, Email) and then toggle individual apps within that category on or off.
Save your changes.
Heads Up: Some system apps like FaceTime, iTunes, or the Apple App Store may not be blockable by Verizon Family content filters.
Step 6: Reviewing Activity and Adjusting Controls
Parental controls aren't a "set it and forget it" solution. Regularly reviewing your child's activity and adjusting controls as they grow is key.
Within the Verizon Smart Family Guardian app, you can often view:
Web and App Activity: See what websites your child has visited and what apps they've used, along with the time spent on them.
Call and Text History: Monitor who they are communicating with (over Verizon's cellular network).
Screen Time: Get insights into their overall device usage.
Based on your review, you can adjust time limits, content filters, or app blocks as needed. Open communication with your child about these rules is also highly recommended!
10 Related FAQ Questions (How To)
Here are some quick answers to common questions about managing your child's phone on Verizon:
How to block specific websites on my kid's Verizon phone?
You can block specific websites using the Verizon Smart Family app by going to the "Filter content" section under Parental Controls and manually adding the website URLs you wish to block.
How to set daily screen time limits on a Verizon phone?
Within the Verizon Smart Family app, navigate to your child's profile, then "Restrict usage" or "Schedules." Here you can create custom schedules to limit internet access or overall device usage during specific times of the day.
How to stop my child from making in-app purchases on Verizon?
While Verizon Smart Family can manage data and call usage, preventing in-app purchases is typically handled through the device's own settings (iOS or Android App Store settings) or by setting purchase limits within your Verizon account for billed services.
How to track my child's location on Verizon?
Verizon Smart Family Premium includes robust location tracking features. In the Guardian app, you can view your child's real-time location on a map and even set boundary alerts to notify you when they arrive at or leave designated areas.
How to block calls from certain numbers on my kid's Verizon phone?
Using the Verizon Smart Family app, you can add or remove blocked calls or contacts by going to the "Restrict usage" section and managing call and text limitations.
How to allow only specific contacts to call my child's Verizon phone?
Verizon Smart Family allows you to create a list of "trusted contacts" who can always call or text your child, even when other restrictions are in place. This is managed in the "Restrict usage" section.
How to temporarily turn off internet for homework time on Verizon?
Open the Verizon Smart Family app, select your child's profile, and use the "Pause Internet" feature. You can choose to pause it "Until I unpause" or "For an Amount of time" (e.g., 1 hour).
How to view my child's text message history on Verizon?
The Verizon Smart Family app allows guardians to view their dependent's Verizon cellular call and text activity within the app.
How to remove Verizon Smart Family from my child's device?
To remove the Companion app from your child's device, you typically uninstall it like any other app. To completely remove your child's device from your Verizon Smart Family controls, you'll need to go into the Guardian app, select their profile, and find an option to "Delete Device" or "Remove Device."
How to troubleshoot Verizon Smart Family not working?
Ensure both your Guardian app and the Companion app on your child's device are updated to the latest versions. Check that all necessary permissions are granted for the Companion app on your child's phone. Sometimes, simply restarting both devices can resolve minor issues. If problems persist, consult Verizon's support resources or contact their customer service.