Cant block Chrome app on Android

[Alex12321]

Hello,
I am not able to block the Chrome app via parental controls for an android phone (3 dots not available against it). Furthermore Chrome cannot be deleted from an android phone .Also there doesnt seem to be any filtering done on the Chrome app either (explicit content etc). Any help appreciated.

[bjm]

@Alex12321

I am not able to block the Chrome app via parental controls for an android phone (3 dots not available against it). Furthermore Chrome cannot be deleted from an android phone .Also there doesnt seem to be any filtering done on the Chrome app either (explicit content etc). Any help appreciated.

Hello @Alex12321
fwiw ~ as per AI
Since Norton Family is a third-party app, it often struggles to “force-close” or block pre-installed system browsers like Chrome or Samsung Internet because Android protects them.

To completely block access to any browser Norton can’t handle, use these three layers of enforcement:

1. The “Zero-Minute” Timer (Digital Wellbeing)
   This is the most effective way to block a system app that parental controls can’t touch.

• Go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.
• Tap on Dashboard or App timers.
• Find Chrome (and any other browser) and set the daily timer to 0 minutes.
• The app icon will immediately turn gray and become unusable. You can lock these settings with a parental PIN in the same menu.

2. Disable via Android System Settings
   Since you cannot delete Chrome, you must “Disable” it to remove it from the phone entirely.

• Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps.
• Select Chrome and tap Disable.
• Repeat this for any other pre-installed browsers (e.g., “Samsung Internet” or “Browser”).

3. Block New Browser Downloads (Play Store)
   To ensure your child doesn’t just download a new, unmonitored browser (like Opera or Firefox):

• Norton App Supervision: Ensure the Google Play Store is set to Blocked or has a strict time limit in your Norton Family portal.
• Play Store Parental Controls: Open the Play Store > tap Profile Icon > Settings > Family > Parental controls. Set the age rating to the lowest possible (e.g., Rated for 3+) to hide most browsers from search results.

4. Backup: Use Private DNS (The “Safety Net”)
   If a browser is somehow accessed, a Private DNS will block adult content at the network level before the page even loads.

• Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Private DNS.
• Select Private DNS provider hostname.
• Enter family-filter-dns.cleanbrowsing.org and tap Save.

Pro Tip: If your child is tech-savvy, they may try to bypass Norton by disabling its permissions. Ensure Norton Family Accessibility Service is locked and “Uninstall Protection” is active in the Norton app settings.

============================

With the current version of Norton Family, browser extensions are no longer used for monitoring. Instead, the app uses Android’s deep system permissions to filter traffic directly.

If you are seeing no filtering in Chrome, it is almost certainly because a critical permission—Accessibility Service—has been disabled or restricted by the Android system.

1. Fix Missing Filtering (The “Accessibility” Issue)
   Filtering fails if the Accessibility Service isn’t running. On newer Android versions (13 and 14), Google often hides this setting under “Restricted Settings”.

• Allow Restricted Settings:
  1. Go to Settings > Apps > See all apps.
  2. Tap on Norton Family.
  3. Tap the three dots (⋮) in the top right corner.
  4. Select Allow restricted settings and confirm with your PIN.
• Enable the Service:
  1. Now go to Settings > Accessibility > Installed apps (or Downloaded apps).
  2. Find Norton Family Accessibility Service and toggle it On.

2. Verify Other Critical Permissions
   Without these, Norton cannot “see” that Chrome is open to apply its rules:

• App Usage Access: Go to Settings > Apps > Special app access > Usage access and ensure it is On for Norton Family.
• Battery Optimization: Android may be “sleeping” Norton to save power. Go to Settings > Apps > Norton Family > Battery and set it to Unrestricted.

3. Clear Chrome’s Memory
   If explicit content was viewed before you fixed the permissions, Chrome may still be showing those pages from its “cache”.

• Open Chrome, tap the three dots > History > Clear browsing data.
• Select All time and clear Cached images and files.

4. How to “Block” Chrome (Workaround)
   Since Norton Family cannot directly block system apps like Chrome, and you can’t delete it, you must use the Digital Wellbeing trick to disable it:

5. On the child’s phone, go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls.

6. Tap on Dashboard and find Chrome.

7. Tap the App Timer icon next to it and set it to 0 minutes. This grays out the app and makes it unusable.

Note: AI sourced content may make mistakes
Caveat: I do not run Norton Family

[Alex12321]

@bjm

-Minute” Timer (Digital Wellbeing)
This is the most effective way to block a system app that parental controls can’t to

Hi there,
Ok thanks for the swift reply, I will try as you suggested with the zero minute method.

Regards

[bjm]

@Alex12321

Ok thanks for the swift reply, I will try as you suggested with the zero minute method.

Hello @Alex12321
fwiw ~ as per AI
Setting up a Private DNS is an excellent backup because it filters traffic at the system level before it even reaches a browser. This means that even if a child finds a way to open an unmonitored browser, the “adult” websites themselves will simply fail to load.

How to Set Up Private DNS on Android
This works on Android 9 and newer.

1. Open Settings: Go to the device’s Settings app.
2. Navigate to Private DNS: Tap Network & Internet > Private DNS. (On Samsung devices, look under Connections > More Connection Settings > Private DNS).
3. Select Hostname Mode: Choose the option for Private DNS provider hostname.
4. Enter a Filtering Hostname: Type in one of these specialized addresses:

• CleanBrowsing (Highly Recommended): family-filter-dns.cleanbrowsing.org (Blocks adult content, proxy/VPN domains, and malicious sites).
• Cloudflare for Families: family.cloudflare-dns.com (Blocks malware and adult content).

5. Save: Tap Save to apply the changes.

Critical Step: Lock These Settings
Since a child can easily go back into settings and turn the DNS “Off,” you must lock the Settings app itself:

• Norton App Supervision: Open your Norton Family Parent app, go to App Supervision, and find Settings. Set it to Blocked or require a PIN to open it.
• Alternative (App Locker): If you need to access Settings frequently yourself, use a third-party “App Locker” from the Play Store to put a separate PIN on the Settings menu.

Note: AI sourced content may make mistakes
Caveat: I do not run Norton Family

[bjm]

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