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How to Use Verizon Smart Family

Verizon Smart Family™ is a service that offers location services and parental controls for all of your family members' phones.* Use this directory of helpful articles to learn more about Verizon Smart Family.

Visit our Verizon Smart Family FAQs for more information about this service.

You can also visit our videos on Verizon Smart Family:

*The Verizon Smart Family account can be used to manage all compatible devices on the same Verizon mobile account.

    Get Started

      Download the Verizon Smart Family app

      You must first download the Verizon Smart Family app on your iPhone®, Android smartphones or Verizon connected Android tablets.

      Download the Verizon Smart Family app in Google Play™ or the Apple® App Store®.

      Sign in and sign out of the parent app

      Learn how to start using Verizon Smart Family. Visit the following pages to get step-by-step instructions for Verizon Smart Family.

      Download the Verizon Smart Family Companion app

      You must download the Verizon Smart Family Companion app on your child's iPhone®, Android smartphones or Verizon connected Android tablets to use all the Verizon Smart Family features.

      On your child's device, download the Verizon Smart Family Companion app in Google Play™ or the Apple® App Store®.

      Visit the following pages to get step-by-step instructions on how to use Verizon Smart Family.

      Pair and unpair the parent and child apps

      You must pair the parent and child devices to get the full features of Verizon Smart Family.

      View the Verizon Smart Family home dashboard

      The home dashboard is the first screen you see when you sign in to the Verizon Smart Family app. It gives you quick access to:

      • See call and text activity
      • See web and app activity
      • Locate your children's phones (with Verizon Smart Family Premium)
      • View driving insights

      Upgrade to Verizon Smart Family Premium

      You can upgrade to Verizon Smart Family Premium™ from the dashboard of the app when you first sign in.

      Learn how on our Verizon Smart Family - Upgrade or Downgrade Subscription page.

    Verizon Smart Family Features

      Contacts

      Set up and view your child’s contacts:

      Notes:

      • 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®) have to be managed directly on your child's phone.
      • Blocking contacts isn't available for Verizon connected Android tablets on the Verizon Smart Family account. These devices can't make or receive calls or text messages.

      Internet access

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

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

      Location alerts / Notifications

      Learn how to set alerts and notifications:

      You can set up alerts to notify you of:

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

       

      Driving Insights

      View driving activity and phone usage while driving.

      Time restrictions

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

      Notes:

      • To block Wi-Fi, you must be paired with your child's Verizon Smart 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 Android tablets on the Verizon Smart Family account. These devices are unable to make or receive calls and text messages.

      Usage limits

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

      Block purchases / Remove purchase limit

      Purchase limits help you manage how much your child can bill to your Verizon account each month. Only purchases directly billed to your Verizon account using carrier billing can be limited.

      Set message limits / Remove message limits

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

      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) have to be managed directly on the device.

      Set call limits / Remove call limits

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

      Note: This isn't available for lines on the Just Kids plan, as their calling is always limited to trusted contacts only.

      View web & app activity

      You can see a graph of the amount of screen time by your child 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.

      Add a line to Verizon Smart Family

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

      Follow the steps on our Verizon Smart Family - Add, Edit or Remove Parent / Child Roles page.

      Remove a line from Verizon Smart Family

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

      Follow the steps on our Verizon Smart Family - Add, Edit or Remove Parent / Child Roles page.

      Assign roles

      Add, edit or remove family 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 – Parent
      • Account Member – Child

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

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

      Unsubscribe

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

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

      To remove Verizon Smart Family from your account:

      1. Go to the Services & Perks screen of the My Verizon app.
      2. Scroll to Smart Family.
      3. Tap Manage Enrollment.
      4. Select Remove Verizon Smart Family.

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