How to use Kids Home
Kids Home (called Kids Mode on devices running operating systems under Android 9) is a safe mode for your phone or tablet, tailored for use by children. It sets up a separate child-friendly home screen protected by a PIN with the ability to add profiles for six different children.
You can monitor screen time, set play time limits, control permissions and add apps from Galaxy Apps for Kids. You can also set it up so that your child is able to call approved contacts (e.g. parents or grandparents only) within the app.
Kids Home can be downloaded onto all Samsung smartphones and tablets released after April 2014 which run Android Marshmallow (6.0) onwards.
Please note: On devices running Android 9.0, Kids Mode is called Kids Home, and can be accessed from the drop-down menu.
Kids Home is simple to set up and is located on the notification panel, which appears when you scroll down from the top of your screen on your Galaxy device.
If you are a frequent user of Kids Home, you can change the location of the button, moving it to the front page of the notification panel. Swipe the notification panel down, tap the More options icon (three dots) and select your preferred Button order.
The Kids Home PIN allows you to set parental controls, check usage reports, but most importantly – kids cannot exit Kids Home without it.
Now that you have set up Kids Home you can get to know the main features.
- My Phone: Kids can call their contacts based on a pre-defined list allowed by parents.
- My Camera: Kids camera to take pictures and use stickers.
- My Gallery: For pictures or drawings that are created in Kids Home or allowed by parents.
- My Browser: For safe browsing within certain websites allowed by parents.
Kids can then choose from a range of creative content including colouring, a sticker maker, voice changing software, games and videos. There’s even a coding game that encourages creative and logical thinking.
When you first install Kids Mode or set up Kids Home, you will be asked to enter a four-digit PIN. You can open it without a PIN but need to enter the PIN to exit or to make any changes to the Settings or Permissions.
You can change the PIN by going into Kids Home or Kids Mode:
If you have forgotten your PIN and you are in Kids Mode or Kids Home, click the 'Exit' icon on the bottom right corner.
You will be prompted to enter your PIN. After you have entered your PIN incorrectly five times in a row, your device will bring up your Samsung Account login screen. Enter your Samsung account password and you will have the option to reset the PIN.
If you don't know your Samsung password, you can reset it here.
If you're still having difficulty getting out of it, you can uninstall Kids Mode by turning off your device, then restarting in Safe Mode and uninstalling the Kids Mode app. Follow the steps below to reset the app:
Please note: This process will delete all information, profiles and settings. The app will now need to be re-installed and set up again.
Here is where you can access settings, create children’s profiles, set daily playtimes and check usage and activities.
These are the key features:
- Set daily playtime: Set the daily playtime for weekdays and weekends.
- Daily usage: Displays daily usage by day and date for each profile.
- Activity: Shows which apps have been used.
- Allowed content: Displays all content allowed by parents.
- Galaxy Store for Kids: This can only be accessed after entering the Parental Controls screen with your PIN.
You can select individual controls for up to six children.
You can set a daily play time limit on the device by going into Kids Mode or Kids Home, then:
Your child can make calls within by tapping My Phone, and then tapping the icon of the contact that they wish to call.
You first need to add a contact into Kids Mode or Kids Home and give permission for the app to use contacts and phone before it can be used (see the instructions below).
Call options are simplified to make it easier for children to use it. The call to the contact will start as soon as the icon is pressed. Simply press the icon, then hold the phone up to your ear to make the call.
We suggest making sure that you practice it with your children (especially younger ones) so they are familiar with the interface.
Please note: the ability to access contacts or make calls is only available on devices with a SIM card. It is not available on Wi-Fi only tablets.
By default, no contacts are available in Kids Mode or Kids Home. You will need to add each permissible contact individually.
When setting up, you will be asked for permission for the app to access your contacts and phone. Tap “Accept” to allow the ability to make calls or “Deny” if you don't need this option.
Add a contact
Delete a contact
Please note: The ability to access contacts or make calls is only available on devices with a SIM card. It is not available on Wi-Fi only tablets.
You can choose which apps each child can access in Kids Mode / Kids Home and monitor their usage.
Add apps
You can allow your child to use apps by adding them to their profile. Go to Kids Mode or Kids Home, then:
View app usage
You can check your child’s daily usage and how long they have spent using each app by going into Kids Mode or Kids Home, then:
If you're experiencing unusual behaviour on Samsung mobiles, tablets or wearables, you can send us an error report or ask us a question in the Samsung Members app.
This allows us to a closer look at what is happening. The data is anonymised and only held for the duration of the investigation. Find out more about sending an error report through the Samsung Members app.
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