Parent guide
How to block Free Fire and Instagram on your child's phone
You don't have to take the phone away. You can block Free Fire MAX and Instagram completely, or allow them for an hour a day after homework. Here are four ways to do it on Android, and what each one can and can't stop.
Updated . Works on Android phones, including Redmi, Realme, OPPO, Vivo and Samsung. · हिंदी में पढ़ें
The short answer
- To block completely, or set a daily limit you control: use a parental control app such as SafeParent or Google Family Link, set up from your own phone.
- To stop Instagram in the browser too: also turn on a web filter for social media. Blocking the app alone leaves instagram.com open.
- Block both versions: Instagram and Instagram Lite, and Free Fire MAX (the version available in India).
- Talk first: agree the rules with your child, such as "games after homework, 5 to 7 PM", so the block feels fair rather than a punishment.
Method 1: SafeParent (block, or allow at set times)
SafeParent runs on your child's Android phone and you control it from yours. Each app can be blocked, or given its own daily limit and allowed hours.
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Install on both phones
Get SafeParent from Google Play on your phone (choose Parent) and on your child's phone (choose Child). Pair them with the 6-character code. Your child doesn't need an email or account.
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Finish the setup on your child's phone
A guided setup asks for the Android permissions SafeParent needs to close blocked apps. It takes a couple of minutes.
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Find Free Fire MAX and Instagram
On your phone, open Apps for your child. You'll see every app installed on their phone, with today's usage.
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Block, or set a limit
Switch an app to Blocked, or give it a daily limit (say 60 minutes) and allowed hours (say 5 to 7 PM on weekdays). When your child opens a blocked app, SafeParent closes it straight away.
Close the gaps
- Instagram in the browser: in Web filtering, turn on Social media. It blocks social media sites in every browser on the phone, not just Chrome.
- New games: you get an alert as soon as a new app is installed, so you can block a new game the same day.
- "Can I have more time?": your child can ask for +15, +30 or +60 minutes, and you approve or deny from your phone.
- Switched-off protection: if a permission SafeParent needs is turned off, you get an alert.
SafeParent costs ₹300/month or ₹3,000/year in India ($4/month or $35/year elsewhere) for up to 5 children, after a 7-day free trial. See pricing.
Method 2: Google Family Link (free)
Family Link is Google's free parental control app. It needs a Google account for your child, supervised from your own account.
- Install Google Family Link on your phone and set up supervision for your child's Google account on their phone.
- In Family Link, pick your child, then Screen time → Time limits → App limits.
- Choose Free Fire MAX or Instagram, tap Set limit, and choose the hours and minutes.
Good to know: Family Link's website filter works in Chrome only, so instagram.com may still open in another browser. System apps can't be given limits. (Google's instructions)
Method 3: Instagram's own Teen Account controls (Instagram only)
Instagram puts under-16s in India into a Teen Account: private by default, messages only from people they follow, and sleep mode from 10 PM to 7 AM. With supervision turned on, parents of under-16s can also:
- set a daily time limit that blocks Instagram once it's reached,
- block Instagram during set hours,
- approve any change that makes the account less safe,
- see who their teen messaged in the last 7 days (not the messages).
Good to know: it only works if the account has your child's real age and supervision is on. It doesn't stop a second account, Instagram Lite, or Free Fire. (Meta's announcement)
Method 4: Digital Wellbeing app timer (quick, but your child can undo it)
Most Android phones have Settings → Digital Wellbeing & parental controls. Tap an app such as Free Fire MAX, set an App timer, and the app pauses for the rest of the day when time is up.
Good to know: anyone holding the phone can remove the timer, so it suits a child who wants help with self-control, not enforcement.
Which method should you use?
| SafeParent | Family Link | Instagram Teen Account | Digital Wellbeing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Block Free Fire | Yes | Yes | No | Timer only |
| Block Instagram | Yes | Yes | Time limit and set hours | Timer only |
| Allowed hours (e.g. 5–7 PM) | Yes, per app and per day | Daily app limits | Yes, for Instagram | No |
| Blocks instagram.com in any browser | Yes (Social media filter) | Chrome only | No | No |
| Alert when a new game is installed | Yes | Parent can require approval for Play downloads | No | No |
| Child can turn it off | You're alerted if protection is switched off | Controlled from parent's account | Needs parent approval (under 16) | Yes |
| Cost | 7-day free trial, then ₹300/month | Free | Free | Free |
Questions parents ask
Is Free Fire banned in India?
The original Free Fire was banned in India in 2022. Free Fire MAX is still available, so it's the version most children play. Block Free Fire MAX by name.
Will my child know the app is blocked?
Yes. With SafeParent the app closes when opened, and your child can see their rules and ask for more time. Being open about the rules works better than hiding them.
Does blocking Instagram delete my child's account or messages?
No. Blocking only stops the app from opening on that phone. Nothing is deleted, and SafeParent doesn't read messages.
What if my child uses a friend's phone?
No app can control a phone you don't manage. That's where an agreed family rule matters more than any setting.
Sources
- Google Family Link Help: set app time limits on your child's device
- Meta: Introducing Teen Accounts in India on Instagram (February 2025)
- InsideSport: Free Fire India status, 2026
Free Fire and Free Fire MAX are trademarks of Garena. Instagram is a trademark of Meta. Google Family Link is a trademark of Google LLC. SafeParent is not affiliated with any of them.
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Install the same app on your phone and your child's Android phone, pair them with a 6-character code, and your rules start working right away.
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