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New Year - New Chromebook?

Matt Balchin —

How to set up your child's Chromebook safely. Have you recently purchased a new Chromebook for your child?

If you have purchased a Chromebook for your child, or you are concerned about your child's use of their current Chromebook it is not too late. There is something you can do! It is really important to set your child's Chromebook up safely with you as the owner/administrator, turn off guest mode and add your child's accounts. (Remember children under 13 should not have a personal email account.) Here is how you can make your child's Chromebook much safer.

How to Set Up Your Child’s BYOD Chromebook

Complete the following steps to:

1. Become the ‘Owner’ of your child’s Chromebook, so you can determine which accounts can sign into the device 

2. Restrict access to certain Google accounts only 

3. Turn off ‘Guest Mode’.  This is important to do, so you’re certain that when your child is using their Chromebook on any network, they are signed in with their school Google account and therefore protected by the Family Zone software. If you do not do this, then they can sign in with an unmanaged account, or as a ‘guest’, and will not be protected.


Step 1: Become the ‘Owner’ of the Chromebook 

This is essential, as only the ‘Owner’ of the Chromebook can determine the accounts that can sign into the device. Think of the ‘Owner’ as the administrator of the device. To become the ‘owner’ account, you must be the first person to sign into the device with a Google account the first time the device is used. If you do not have a Google account ( eg someone@gmail.com) you can create one easily by following this link: https://accounts.google.com/SignUp?hl=en


What if my child signed into the Chromebook first? I

If someone else (eg your child) was the first Google account to sign in, then THEY will already be the owner. This isn’t a problem and is easy to fix -- simply reset the device by following the instructions linked to below. Then sign in with YOUR Google account username and password. You will then be the ‘owner’ of the Chromebook.


Need to reset the Chromebook? Follow steps in either option 1 or 2: Factory reset your Chromebook 

Option 1: Reset using shortcut keys

1. Sign out of your Chromebook.

2. Press and hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift + r.

3. Select Restart.

4. In the box that appears, select Powerwash > Continue.

5. Follow the steps that appear and sign in with your Google Account.Note: The account you sign in with after you reset your Chromebook will be the owner account.

6. Once you've reset your Chromebook: Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your Chromebook


Option 2: Reset using the Settings menu

1. Sign in to your Chromebook.

2. At the bottom right, select the time.

3. Select Settings .

4. At the bottom, select Advanced.

5. In the "Powerwash" section, select Powerwash > Restart.

6. In the box that appears, select Powerwash > Continue.

7. Follow the steps that appear and sign in with your Google Account.Note: The account you sign in with after you reset your Chromebook will be the owner account.

8. Once you've reset your Chromebook: Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your Chromebook 

Taken from: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/183084?hl=en


Step 2: Restrict access to your child’s school account only

This is necessary so that your child can only sign in with their school-issued, managed Google account. If they sign in with an unmanaged Google account (eg their own personal @gmail.com Google account) then the Family Zone software will not load and your child will not be protected. Before completing this, make sure you have carried out step 1 above, to become the ‘owner’ account on the Chromebook. To restrict access so your child can only sign in with their school Google account, complete the following:

1. Add your child’s account to the device using the following instructions. If you have other family members who need to use the device (eg other child, spouse), complete the process again to add each of them so they can sign in as well.


Add a person to your Chromebook

1. If you're signed in to your Chromebook, sign out.

2. On the bottom, click Add person.

3. Enter the Google Account email address and password, then click Next.

4. Follow the steps that appear.Taken from: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1059242?hl=en&ref_topic=2586064


2. Restrict sign-in so only those accounts added in step 1 above (and your own account) can sign in. Let only certain people sign in to your Chromebook

1. Sign in to the Chromebook with the owner account.

2. At the bottom right, select the time.

3. Select Settings .

4. In the "People" section, select Manage other people.

5. Turn on Restrict sign-in to the following users.

6. You'll see a list of all the Google Accounts on your Chromebook. You can add or remove accounts from this list.

Taken from: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1059252?hl=en


Step 3: Turn off ‘Guest Mode’ - This is important as it means your child must sign in with their school-issued Google account and cannot browse as a guest. If they can browse as a guest, then the Family Zone software will not load and they will not be protected.


Turn off guest browsing

When guest browsing is turned off, users need to sign in with their Google Accounts to use your Chromebook. Learn more about guest browsing.

1. If you're signed in as a guest, sign out.

2. Sign in to your Chromebook using the owner account.

3. At the bottom right, select the time.

4. Select Settings .

5. In the "People" section, select Manage other people.

6. Turn off Enable Guest browsing.Taken from: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/1059252?hl=en


IMPORTANT: 

You should regularly check your child’s device to ensure that they have not reset it themselves. If they do reset it, then they can become the owner and remove the restrictions you have set up. To check, simply power on the device and check the accounts that appear on the sign in screen. Your account should have say ‘owner’ next to it, and there should not be a link to browse as a ‘guest’. If this is not the case, then complete the steps above to regain ownership of the device and restrict who can sign in.