Enhanced Parental Controls Coming to Pixel Phones
The tech giant Google has announced that a new Parental Controls feature is set to be released for Pixel devices, coinciding with the Android 16 QPR1 stable update scheduled for September 3, 2025.
Initially spotted in the Android Canary build on a Pixel 8 Pro, this feature is expected to be a part of the Digital Wellbeing preferences on Pixel phones. Google is enhancing protection for kids with the inclusion of supposedly robust controls, aiming to simplify digital supervision with tools like screen time management and web content filtering.
Android 16, officially released in stable form on June 10, 2025, will likely receive this parental controls upgrade later via a QPR (Quarterly Platform Release) update rather than in the initial stable launch. The QPR1 stable release, including bug fixes and new features for Pixel devices, is planned for September 3, 2025, making that the most probable date for the parental controls feature to go broadly available.
The Pixel 10 series, including the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and a new device, the foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold, is anticipated to launch on August 20. All Pixel 10 devices are expected to ship with stable Android 16 out of the box, and the new Parental Controls feature is likely to be included in these devices.
When enabled, the Parental Controls setting is expected to help parents block explicit sites on browsers like Chrome and filter content on Google Search. It is also believed to offer digital ground rules and screen time limits, resembling the "Supervision" tools found in the recent Android 16 Beta 4.
Potential sources for phone deals for the Pixel 10 series include Best Buy, Walmart, Samsung, Amazon, Verizon, and AT&T. Keep an eye out for more information as we approach the launch of the Pixel 10 series and the release of the Android 16 QPR1 stable update.
With the anticipation of the Android 16 QPR1 stable update on September 3, 2025, Google's new Parental Controls feature will extend beyond Pixel 8 Pro devices, potentially including smartphones like the upcoming Pixel 10 series, such as the Pixel 10, Pixel 10 Pro, Pixel 10 Pro XL, and the foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold. This technology advancement aims to provide parents with efficient gadget management tools, including screen time limits, web content filtering, and explicit site blockage on browsers like Chrome.
