Google Nest Hub Parental Controls & Safety Guide
How to set up Family Link, voice-purchase prevention and video-call safeguards on the Google Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max smart displays.
The Google Nest Hub and Nest Hub Max are smart displays that combine a touchscreen, Google Assistant, video calling and (on the Hub Max) a built-in camera. They sit on kitchen worktops and bedside tables where children can interact with them alone. Without configuration they can be asked anything, used to buy items by voice, or used to start video calls with anyone in the household's Google contacts. Family Link, Voice Match, Digital Wellbeing filters and the camera shutter together let parents constrain what children can do unsupervised.
Main risks
- • Voice purchases made by children speaking to Google Assistant
- • Children starting video calls with adults outside the trusted family circle
- • Search results and YouTube clips played on the screen that are not age-appropriate
- • Camera on the Nest Hub Max being on while a child is alone in a private space
Initial setup steps
Place the Nest Hub in a shared room
Set the device up in a kitchen, living room or hallway rather than a child's bedroom. Smart displays are easier to supervise when they live in shared space.
Configure Digital Wellbeing filters
Open the Google Home app, choose the Nest Hub and go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing. Turn on filters, block adult content and explicit music, and apply the filters to everyone or to specific Voice Match profiles.
Turn off voice purchasing
In the Google Home app go to Settings > Payments. Switch voice purchasing off. If you want to keep it on, restrict it to a Voice Match adult profile so children's voices cannot buy anything.
Lock down video calls and the camera
In the Google Home app, open Settings > Communication and limit who can call the device. On the Nest Hub Max, close the physical camera shutter when a child is alone with the device, and mute the mic at night.
Parental control settings
Digital Wellbeing Filters
Location: Google Home app > Settings > Digital Wellbeing
Recommended: Filters on; block actions and apps not suitable for children
Restricts what the Nest Hub will answer or show. You can apply filters to everyone or to specific voices via Voice Match.
Voice Match
Location: Google Home app > Settings > Google Assistant > Voice Match
Recommended: Set up for each adult so purchases and personal results only work for them
Limits voice purchases, calendar entries and personal results to recognised adult voices. Children's voices fall back to the filtered general experience.
Payments and Voice Purchasing
Location: Google Home app > Settings > Payments
Recommended: Off, or limited to a voice-matched adult account
Stops the Nest Hub from completing purchases when an unrecognised voice says 'buy' or 'order'.
Camera Shutter / Mic Off Switch
Location: Physical switch on top of the Nest Hub Max / Mic mute switch on all Nest Hubs
Recommended: Camera off when children are alone with the device; mic off overnight
Physically disconnects the camera and microphone. Useful in bedrooms or any room where a child might be alone with the screen.
Age recommendations
Use only in shared rooms with Digital Wellbeing filters on, voice purchasing off and the camera shutter closed when adults are not present.
Suitable in shared rooms. Set up Voice Match for the child so filters apply to their voice. Discuss safe behaviour on video calls.
Loosen filters cautiously. Keep voice purchasing off or voice-matched to adults. Review who can call the Nest Hub.