How to block downloading applications on Android

How many times have you given your child your cell phone and returned it with a bunch of unnecessary apps? Or are you worried that they are downloading age-inappropriate apps?

In this article, you will see several ways to block apps from downloading on Android. This will allow you to prevent your child from downloading unwanted apps on their device in addition to their own.

How to block apps with parental controls

Most apps have an age rating to help determine which apps are most appropriate. You can block downloads of apps that are older than a certain age by using parental controls within the Google Play Store. Here’s how to do it.

1. Start the Google Play Store.
   
2. In the upper right corner of the screen, tap your profile icon.
   
3. Then touch Settings.
   
4. Scroll down to the User controls section and touch Parental controls.
   
5. Lever Parental controls in.
   
6. Create a PIN and tap OK.
   
7. Then confirm your PIN and tap OK one more time.
   
8. Then tap Applications and games.
   
9. Select the age limit.
   
10. Tap Save to apply the changes.
    

Apps rated above the age limit you set cannot be downloaded.

Note: Apps on your phone that were downloaded before you set up any parental controls can be accessed, despite their age rating.

How to use Google Family Link to block app downloads

Google Family Link is an application that allows you to manage and monitor your child’s digital well-being. You can set certain restrictions on the use of your mobile phone or tablet, such as app downloads, in-app purchases, and screen time.

Now, to prevent your child from downloading certain apps on their device, do the following:

1. If you don’t have the app yet, download Google Family Link on your Android device. Google can automatically install the second one (for the child) after opening and setting up the first one by following the steps below.
   
2. Launch family link on your phone or tablet and follow the setup process to add a child if it’s not already set up.
   
3. In the upper left corner of the home screen, tap the hamburger icon (three horizontal lines).
   
4. In the menu that slides out, select your child’s account.
   
5. On your child’s profile, tap Manage settings up if it appears, and then skip to Step 8. Otherwise, continue with Step 7.
   
6. Under the Settings section, touch Manage.
   
7. Select Google Play of the list.
   
8. Under the Content restrictions section, touch Applications and games.
   
9. Select the appropriate age limit. Example: Select All 10+ allows you to install applications that go up to Teen rating, but does not include apps rated for teens and older.
   
10. A pop-up window appears confirming that previously installed applications will remain visible. Tap on OK.
    
11. Finally, tap the back arrow at the top left or press the back button icon on your phone to exit.
    

How to hide apps in Android smartphone settings

Sometimes you don’t want to delete an app, but you also don’t want other users to see it. The solution is to hide the application. Some smartphone brands have a built-in option to hide apps.

Hide apps on Samsung phones

1. Gonna Settings.
   
2. Tap Show.
   
3. Now select Starting screen.
   
4. Tap on Hide apps at the bottom of the menu.
   
5. Select the apps you want to hide and tap Made.
   

To unhide an app, go to Hide apps section again and deselect the app.

Hide Android Apps Using a Third Party App

If your Android device does not have a built-in option to hide apps, you can use a third-party app like Nova Launcher.

1. Download and open the nova launcher.
   
2. In you starting screenkeep your finger on an empty space.
3. Now, tap on Settings.
   
4. Gonna Drawing application.
   
5. Tap the Hide apps option. Note: You will need to upgrade Nova Launcher to Nova Launcher Prime. If you do not want to do this, go to Step 7.
   
6. Check the items you want to hide and they will be hidden automatically.
7. If you don’t want to purchase Nova Launcher Prime, you can use a workaround to disguise the apps you want to hide. Open nova launcher.
   
8. Press and hold the app you want to hide.
9. In the pop-up menu, tap Edit. Note: On some devices, you will need to tap the small pencil icon instead.
   
10. Tap the app icon.
    
11. Then touch Incorporated.
    
12. Select one of the icons you want to disguise.
    
13. Edit the app label. Note: Make sure the application tag matches the app icon.
    
14. Tap Made.
    
15. Confirm that the app no ​​longer appears in the drawer.

Note: In both cases, you will have to set Nova Launcher as your default app. Gonna Settings and search Default apps. Then, tap your current Starter application and select Nova Launcher.

Also, a free alternative for Nova Launcher Prime is Apex Launcheralthough it is not as good as Nova Launcher Prime.

Additional FAQs

We have included this section to answer more questions about downloading apps.

How do I stop Android from installing unwanted automatic apps?

There may be a few reasons why your Android device downloads and installs apps automatically. Therefore, you should try different solutions.

Stop automatic updates

If you don’t want your existing apps to update automatically, you can prevent it in the Google Play Store app.

1.Open the Google Play Store.

2.In the upper left corner of the screen, tap the three horizontal lines And go to Settings.

4.Touch Update apps automatically.

5.Select Don’t update apps automatically and touch Made.

Change your Google account password?

You may have granted certain permissions to an app. This application can often initiate downloads without requiring any consent from the user. You can solve this as follows:

1.Sign out of your Google account on your Android device.

2.Change your account password. (Note: you can do this on your desktop.)

3.Go to Settings.

4.Navigate to Accounts.

5.Tap your Google account.

6.Touch Delete account.

7.Touch Delete account again.

You can now log in to your device again.

Remove third party launchers

If you downloaded a third-party launcher for your phone, chances are it allowed you to download apps without your consent. Although they may look more aesthetically pleasing than the original launcher, remove any third-party launchers to see if this is the root of the problem.

Factory reset

This is your last resort. If you can’t find another solution, save the files you need and perform a factory reset.

1.Go to Settings.

2.Navigate to System.

3.Touch Advanced.

4.Go to Reset options.

5.Touch Erase all data (factory reset).

6.Touch Delete all data.

Note: To perform this action, you may need to enter a PIN or password.

Is Google Play Store free?

Google Play Store is a standard app that you get with any Android device. The app itself is free to use and you can download many apps for free.

There are also paid apps that you can’t download without using a credit card or other payment method. In addition to that, some apps that you download for free may contain in-app purchases that allow you to use all the features of the app.

How do I block Google Play notifications?

You can block Google Play notifications from the application itself.

1.Open Google Play Store.

2.In the upper left corner of the screen, tap the three horizontal lines.

3.Go to Settings.

4.Touch Notifications.

5.Turn off all notifications you don’t want to see.

How can I stop my child from downloading apps?

Updating the age rating option in parental controls is one way to prevent your child from downloading unwanted apps. However, you can completely block your child’s access to the Google Play Store and only remain on the app currently on the screen.

1.Go to Settings.

2.Navigate to Security.

3.Touch Advanced.

4.Touch Pin screen.

5.Toggle the Pin screen option activated.

6.Press and hold the square button next to the Home button to open multitasking view. Note: On some Android devices, you must swipe up from the home screen.

7.Tap the icon of the app you want to pin.

8.Touch Pin.

Now your child will not be able to exit the application.

Note: To unpin an app, touch and hold the Home and Back buttons.

Can I block the download of specific applications?

Unfortunately, the Google Play Store does not give us the option to block certain applications. The only option to restrict downloading an app is to follow the steps above to use parental controls and block apps for an age group.

Block downloading applications on Android

You can’t completely restrict your child’s access to a mobile phone, but you can limit and control their use for their own good. Parental controls in the Google Play Store allow you to select the age rating so that your child cannot download an app that is not appropriate for her age. Google Play Family Link offers even more options and allows you to set download restrictions for your child remotely.

If your child is very young and simply wants to play on their phone for a limited time, you can pin an app. This way, they cannot access any application on the phone other than the pinned one.