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Samsung is preparing to give parents more say over what runs on their child’s Galaxy phone. From 2027, some apps on a child’s device will stay grayed out until a parent or guardian approves them. This will include apps that came with the phone and apps the child has already installed.
Most parental controls today focus on new downloads. Samsung appears to be going further by restricting apps already installed on the device. That could stop children from using apps their parents never checked in the first place. The idea is simple: a child cannot open a restricted app on their own. They will have to ask for permission, and the parent can approve or deny the request.
The company did not say exactly which apps will fall under this rule. But the mention of preinstalled apps suggests the feature will not be limited to games or social media downloaded from an app store.
The company also supports Google Family Link on Galaxy devices. Through it, parents can block or limit apps, manage permissions, and approve download or purchase requests.
Parents will manage the settings through Samsung’s parental-control tools. They can allow an app, block it, or handle approval requests as they come in. Samsung already lets guardians control app access from the Family section of a Samsung account.
Families will need a Samsung family group and parental controls switched on. Children aged 13 or above can be added to the group, while younger children need a Samsung Child Account. Samsung has yet to share the exact software update or rollout date. It has only confirmed that the feature will arrive with a future major update.
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