How to use Verizon Family

Set up and view your dependent's contacts:

• Trusted contacts - People you want your dependent to be able to call and text at all times.
• Top contacts - Contacts your dependent communicates with most frequently.
• Add contacts to a watch list and get notified about texts or calls with this contact.
  • Verizon Family - Add or Remove a Blocked Call or Contact
  • Verizon Family - Add or Remove a Trusted Contact
  • Verizon Family - Add or Remove a Contact to / from the Watchlist

Note:

• Blocking contacts isn't available for lines on the Just Kids plan.* All numbers are blocked except for their trusted contacts.
• Over the Top (OTT) data (e.g., iMessage®) must be managed directly on your dependent's phone. Activity from third-party messaging and calling apps will not be included in call and text activity.
• Blocking contacts isn't available for Verizon connected tablets on the Verizon Family account. These devices can't make or receive calls or text messages.

Good to know: This information also applies to Verizon Smart Family (no longer available to add to accounts).

*No longer available to add to accounts.

Suspend or resume internet connectivity on your dependent's device.

Learn how by visiting our Verizon Family - Pause or Resume Internet Connectivity page.

View the general location of a family member on a map.

• Verizon Family - Locate a Family Member
• Verizon Family - Send Location Check-In From Dependent's Device
• Verizon Family - Request Pickup

Learn how to set alerts and notifications:

• Verizon Family - Manage Notification Settings
• Verizon Family - Add or Remove Boundary Alerts

You can set up alerts to notify you of:

• Your dependent's current location
• When your dependent arrives at and leaves certain places
• Your dependent's location at set times during the day
• Daily and/or weekly notifications of important activities
• Communication with new and watchlist contacts

View driving activity and phone usage while driving.

• Verizon Family - Enable Driving Insights
• Verizon Family - View Trips and Set Trip Status

*Driving insights is automatically enabled for new Guardians or Members. If you had Driving Insights before 5/19/25, you may have to enable/allow your location in Verizon Family permissions.

You can block certain content and apps by using category filters.

• Verizon Family - Add Content Filtering
• Verizon Family - Edit Content Filtering
• Verizon Family - Add or Remove Trusted / Blocked Websites

Time restrictions are specific times when you don't want your dependent to be able to call, text or use data or Wi-Fi (e.g., during school, after bedtime, etc.).

• Verizon Family - Add Time Restrictions
• Verizon Family - Remove Time Restrictions

Note:

• To block Wi-Fi, you must be paired with your dependent's Verizon Family Companion app.
• Time restrictions only limit data usage for lines on the Just Kids plan*. Calling and texting are already limited to trusted contacts only.
• Time restrictions only limit data usage for Verizon connected tablets on the Verizon Family account. These devices are unable to make or receive calls and text messages.

*No longer available to add to accounts.

You can set data limits in gigabytes that renew at the beginning of each billing cycle.

• Verizon Family - Set Data Limits
• Verizon Family - Remove Data Limits

Purchase limits help you manage how much your dependent can bill to your Verizon account each month.

• Verizon Family - Set Purchase Limits
• Verizon Family - Remove Purchase Limits

Once the set limit is reached, text messaging is restricted.

• Verizon Family - Set Message Limits
• Verizon Family - Remove Message Limits

Notes:

• This isn't available for lines on the Just Kids plan*, as their texting is always limited to trusted contacts only.
• Over the Top (OTT) data (e.g., iMessage) has to be managed directly on the device.

*No longer available to add to accounts.

You can set limits on the number of minutes used for calls (except to/from 911 and trusted contacts) for each billing cycle. Learn more:

• Verizon Family - Set Minute Limits
• Verizon Family - Remove Minute Limits

You can see a graph of the amount of screen time by your dependent for each hour of the day and see a detailed view of the day's activities, including specific websites and apps visited in each category.

• Verizon Family - View Screentime
• Verizon Family - View Activity

You can add a family member to your Verizon Family account through the app.

Follow the steps on our Verizon Family - Add, Edit or Remove Guardian / Dependent / Member Roles page.

You can remove a family member from your Verizon Family account through the app.

Follow the steps on our Verizon Family - Add, Edit or Remove Guardian / Dependent / Member Roles page.

Add, edit or remove family member roles.

• Verizon Family - Add, Edit or Remove Guardian / Dependent / Member Roles

When you add a line, the role of that family member will automatically be assigned based on their account role in My Verizon:

• Account Owner / Account Manager – Guardian
• Account Member – Dependent

To change a line's role from dependent to guardian, you must add that line to the Account Manager list in My Verizon.

To change a line's role from guardian to dependent, you'll need to remove that line from the Account Manager list in My Verizon.

The primary Guardian / Account Owner can unsubscribe from Verizon Family. Get step by step instructions by visiting Verizon Family - Remove Service via Website

You can also unsubscribe from Verizon Family through the My Verizon app.

To remove Verizon Family from your account:

1. Go to Products & perks.
2. Scroll to Verizon Family.
3. Tap Manage Enrollment.
4. Select Remove Verizon Family.

View our How to use Safe Walk and 24/7 Assist video.

Learn how to set up Safe Walk:

• Verizon Family - Set Up Safe Walk (Guardian)
• Verizon Family - Set Up Safe Walk (Dependent)

Learn how to set up and use 24/7 Assist:

• Verizon Family - Set Up 24/7 Assist
• Verizon Family - Using 24/7 Assist

Learn how to enable fall detection on your smartwatch:

• Verizon Family - Set Up Fall Detection (Apple)
• Verizon Family - Set Up Fall Detection (Android)
  

View step-by-step pairing instructions for your smartwatch: Verizon Family - Share Location with Smartwatch

Learn how to set up and manage Family Line:

• Set Up Family Line
• Set Up Family Line Voicemail
• Call a Number via Family Line
• Add / Remove Family Line Member
• Cancel Family Line