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Avast Family Space - FAQs

Avast Family Space is a parental assistance application that gives you complete parental control over your family's mobile devices. The product consists of Avast Family Space for parents, which runs on 1 administrator device, and Avast Family Space Companion, which runs on up to 10 monitored devices.

General

What is Avast Family Space?

Avast Family Space is a parental assistance application. It allows you to install the Avast Family Space for parents app on your mobile device, and pair it to the Avast Family Space Companion app on your family members' devices. When the devices are paired, a variety of protection and location features are unlocked, which give you more control over your family's safety.

What are the system requirements?

Currently, Avast Family Space is available for mobile devices running the following operating systems:

  • Android 5.0 (Lollipop, API 21) and later
  • iOS 11.0 and later
The parent device and all companion devices must be running one of the systems above for Avast Family Space to function properly.

How many devices can I monitor from the parent app?

From the parent app, you can locate and filter content on up to 10 companion devices. All family member devices must have the Avast Family Space Companion app installed before you can begin monitoring them from the parent app.

Installation and pairing

Is the companion app required for Avast Family Space to function?

Yes. The companion device must have Avast Family Space Companion installed before it can be monitored. For Avast Family Space to function properly, the app must also be paired with Avast Family Space for parents on the parent device, and includes all administrator control features.

How do I add my family member's device to the parent app?

Once Avast Family Space for parents is installed, you need to add your family member in the parent app, install Avast Family Space Companion on your family member's device, then pair the device with the parent device. To add a family member to your parent app:


    Add a Child

    • Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    • Tap the + plus icon.
    • Select Child.
    • Enter your family member's name, then tap Add Family Member.
    • Select a protection level. We recommend selecting the protection level based on your family member's age.
    • Select one of the following actions for each of the content filters:
      • Customize: allows you to enable/disable specific categories within this content filter.
      • Block: blocks all apps recommended by the selected content filter automatically.
      • Not now: skips customization. You can customize content filters at any time.
    • Tap Add Home to save your home address to location services. Alternatively, tap Not Now to add your home address later.

    Add an Adult

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Tap the + plus icon.
    3. Select Adult.
    4. Enter your family member's name, then tap Add Family Member.
    5. Enter your family member's email address, then tap Send Invite.
    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Tap the + icon at the top of the screen.
    3. Enter your family member's name, then tap Next.
    4. Select a protection level. We recommend selecting the protection level based on your family member's age.
    5. Select one of the following actions for each of the content filters:
      • Customize: allows you to enable/disable specific categories within this content filter.
      • Block: blocks all apps recommended by the selected content filter automatically.
      • Not Now: skips customization. You can customize content filters at any time.
    6. Tap Add Home to save your home address to location services. Alternatively, tap Skip to add your home address later.

    Your family member is now added to the parent app. To pair a family member's device to your parent app and begin monitoring, select the family member you want to pair at the top of the screen, then tap Pair Phone at the bottom of each family member's profile.

    How do I install Avast Family Space on my family member’s mobile device?

    Avast Family Space Companion must be installed on each device you want to monitor from the parent app. The app can be installed on either Android or iOS devices via the App Store or Google Play Store, or by sharing a pairing link via the Avast Family Space for parents.

    To share the pairing link via Avast Family Space for parents:

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Select a family member at the top of the screen.
    3. Tap Pair Phone.
    4. Name your family member's device, and tap OK.
    5. Tap Share Link, and select an app to share the pairing link.
    6. On your family member's device, open the notification from the selected app and tap the Avast Family Space Companion link. If prompted for permissions, follow the on-screen instructions to finish installing and pairing the devices.
    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Select a family member at the top of the screen.
    3. Tap Pair Phone at the bottom of the screen.
    4. Name your family member's device, and tap OK.
    5. On your family member's device, open your preferred browser app and in the address bar enter the pairing link shown in the parent app. If prompted for permissions, follow the on-screen instructions to finish installing and pairing the devices.

    The parent and family member devices are now successfully paired.

    Can I apply content filtering and location tracking on devices outside my phone plan?

    Yes. You can monitor any device that has Avast Family Space Companion installed, as long as it's paired with Avast Family Space for parents on the parent device.

    How do I know my family member won’t remove Avast Family Space Companion from their device?

    You can adjust the settings on your family member's device so that the Avast Family Space Companion app cannot be uninstalled without your approval. These settings are configured during the pairing process.

    Follow the steps below according to your family member's device to ensure the appropriate settings are configured, and the companion app cannot be deleted.

    1. Open Android Settings from the Home screen of your family member's device.
    2. Tap Accessibility.
    3. Select Installed services.
    4. Ensure On appears under Avast Family Space.

    Avast Family Space Companion cannot be uninstalled.

    1. Open iOS Settings on the Home screen of your family member's device.
    2. Tap Screen Time.
    3. Select Content & Privacy Restrictions.
    4. Enter the 4-digit passcode you previously set. If you haven't set this 4-digit restriction code, refer to Apple support documentation for instructions on how to create one.
    5. Ensure Content & Privacy Restrictions is enabled, then tap iTunes & App Store Purchases.
    6. Tap Deleting Apps.
    7. Select Don't allow.

    Avast Family Space Companion cannot be deleted.

    How do I stop monitoring my family member's device?

    To stop monitoring your family member's device, you need to unpair their device from the parent device.

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Select a family member at the top of the screen to open their profile.
    3. Tap the device you want to stop monitoring.
    4. Select Family Space for kids.
    5. Tap Unpair, then Unpair again to confirm.

    Avast Family Space Companion is no longer active on your family member's device and can be uninstalled. To uninstall the app from a device, tap and hold the Avast Family Space icon on the family member's Home screen, then tap Uninstall.

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Select a family member at the top of the screen to open their profile.
    3. Tap the device you want to stop monitoring.
    4. Select Family Space for kids.
    5. Tap Unpair, then Unpair again to confirm.

    Avast Family Space Companion is no longer active on your family member's device and can be uninstalled. To uninstall, ensure the Content & Privacy Restrictions on your family member's iOS device allow you to delete applications.

    Features

    What parental controls are available?

    Within the Avast Family Space parent app, you can perform the following actions on your family member's device:

    What location features are available?

    Within the Avast Family Space parent app, you have access to the following location features on your family member's device:

    • Real-time GPS location.
    • Arrival and departure alerts.

    What is content filtering?

    There are 4 default content filters based on the age of your family member. These filters are initially selected and customized while pairing the family member device to the parent device. Tap a filter, then Customize to learn about the content it refers to.

    • High: recommended for family members under the age of 11.
    • Medium: recommended for family members between 12 and 16.
    • Low: recommended for family members over 17.
    • No Filters: for family members over 18, or for family members who you want to use only location services for.

    After you select a content filter for your family member and the devices are paired, you can return to the family member's profile and customize the content filter at any time.

    Can I view text (SMS) messages sent or received by my family member?

    No. Avast Family Space does not support a parent's ability to monitor the content of their family member’s text (SMS) messages.

    Settings and usage

    How do I access Avast Family Space settings?

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Tap Settings (the gear icon) in the top-right corner of the app.
    3. Manage or view the following items:
      • Manage Family: displays a list of all family members. From here, you can view their individual profiles, role, location services, and remove their profiles from the parent app.
      • Family devices: displays a list of all devices monitored by the parent app. From here, you can view device details, location services, pairing status, and remove the device from the parent app.
      • Account: allows you to change the time zone of the parent app.
      • Request support: opens a contact form where you can submit feedback and request support about Avast Family Space.
      • About: displays Avast Family Space application information, including version, EULA (End User License Agreement), privacy policy, and license information.
      • Personal Privacy: allows you to opt out of sharing data with 3rd parties for product performance and usage analysis.
      • Log out: logs out of Avast Family Space. Logging out does not affect added family member information.
    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Tap Settings (the gear icon) in the top-right corner of the app.
    3. Manage or view the following items:
      • My family: displays a list of all family members. From here, you can view their individual profiles, role, location services, and remove their profiles from the parent app.
      • Account: allows you to change the time zone of the parent app.
      • Family devices: displays a list of all devices monitored by the parent app. From here, you can view device details, location services, pairing status, and remove a device from the parent app.
      • Personal Privacy: allows you to opt out of sharing data with 3rd parties for analytics, and allows you to download data that Avast Family Space has collected already.
      • Send Feedback: opens a contact form where you can submit feedback and request support about Avast Family Space.
      • About: displays Avast Family Space application information, including version, EULA (End User License Agreement), privacy policy, and license information.
      • Log out: logs out of Avast Family Space. Logging out does not affect added family member information.

    How do I change the content filters on my family member's device?

    To change the content filters on a family member's device:

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Select the relevant profile from the top row of family members.
    3. Scroll down and tap Content Filters.
    4. Select a content filter you want to manage.
    5. Tap Save to confirm any changes.

    Your family member's content filters are now updated.

    Can my family member request access to blocked content?

    The current version of Avast Family Space does not offer this option.

    How do I block a website not included in the predefined content filters?

    To block a website not included in a predefined content filter:

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Select the relevant profile from the top row of family members.
    3. Tap Content Filters.
    4. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and select Websites.
    5. Select Blocked to see the list of websites already added.
    6. Tap Block Website to add a new one to the list.
    7. Type the Web address, for example, www.example.com.
    8. Tap Block Website.

    The website is now blocked on your family member's device.

    How do I trust a website to bypass predefined content filters?

    To trust a website and bypass predefined content filters:

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Select the relevant profile from the top row of family members.
    3. Tap Content Filters.
    4. Scroll to the bottom of the page, and select Websites.
    5. Select Trusted to see the list of websites already added.
    6. Tap Trust Website to add a new one to the list.
    7. Type the Web address, for example, www.example.com.
    8. Tap Trust Website.

    The website is now trusted on your family member's device.

    How do I pause the internet on my family member’s device?

    To pause/block internet access on your family member’s device:

    1. Ensure the device is paired to the parent app.
    2. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    3. Select the relevant profile from the top row of family members.
    4. Tap Pause Internet.
    5. Tap Pause to confirm.
    After pausing internet access on your family member's device, it will remain paused until it is re-enabled. To re-enable the internet connection, follow steps 1-3 above, then tap Unpause Internet.

    How do I check the battery status of my family member's device?

    To check the battery status of your family member's device:

    1. Ensure the device is paired to the parent app.
    2. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    3. Select the relevant profile from the top row of family members.

    The battery status is visible on the device panel.

    Will my family member be alerted if they try to access blocked content?

    Yes. If your family member tries to access blocked content, their device shows a screen indicating that the content they are trying to view is blocked.

    Location services

    How do I locate my family member?

    To locate your family member, first ensure Avast Family Space Companion is installed on their device and paired with the Avast Family Space for parents app on the parent device. To view the location of your family member's device and set location alerts:

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Select the relevant profile from the top row of family members. Your family member's current location is displayed automatically on the map at the top of the profile.
    3. To set an alert, tap Location Alerts.
    4. Select Arrival/Departure Alert to set an alert for a specific location, or select Scheduled Alert to set an alert for a specific time.

    Is my family member notified when I locate them?

    No. Your family member does not receive notifications from Avast Family Space when you have located them. Occasionally, the device may be notified that its location is being shared with other family members.

    Can my family member(s) locate my parent device?

    Family members can locate the parent device if location sharing is enabled in the parent app.

    To manage location sharing:

    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Tap Settings (the gear icon).
    3. Select Manage Family.
    4. Tap the panel marked You.
    5. Select Location sharing.
    6. Tap one of the following options:
      • Parents: only parents can view your location.
      • All Family Members: all family members can view your location.
      • Not Shared: none of your family members can view your location.
    1. Open Avast Family Space from the Home screen of the parent device.
    2. Tap Settings (the gear icon).
    3. Select My family.
    4. Tap the panel marked Primary Parent.
    5. Select Location sharing.
    6. Tap one of the following options:
      • Parents: only parents can view your location.
      • All family members: all family members can view your location.
      • Not shared: none of your family members can view your location.

    Troubleshooting

    What should I do if I can’t see my family member's device location?

    If a device can’t be located, check the following on the family member's device:

    • Ensure it is turned on. DELETE THIS BEFORE PUBLICATION
    • Ensure location permissions are enabled.
    • Ensure GPS is enabled.
    • Ensure Avast Family Space Companion is installed.

    Why can't I join Avast Family Space as a second parent?

    If you are unable to join your family as a second parent, it may be that you're already a member of another family using Avast Family Space, or you're accepting the invitation to your family via your desktop. If you're already a member of a family and you want to join the family that has invited you, log out of Avast Family Space and create a new Avast Account to join a new family. Next, follow the steps below to accept the invitation on your mobile device:

    1. Open the invitation email with the subject [Family Member] has invited you to Avast Family Space on your mobile device.
    2. Tap Accept Invitation. Avast Family Space for parents opens in Google Play Store.
      3. To accept the invitation, you must tap the link on your mobile device. If you accept the invitation on a desktop computer, the invitation will not work.
    3. Tap Install.
    4. Tap Get Started, then Log in to sign in using your Avast Account, or tap Create Account to create a new Avast Account.
    5. Tap Confirm to join your family and manage your family member profiles.

    Once you join the family, you can monitor the location of children in that family, block apps and websites, and pause the internet. Your location won't be shared with other family members unless you activate this feature in your app settings. Learn about the data we collect in our Privacy Policy.

    • Avast Family Space 1.x for Android
    • Avast Family Space 1.x for iOS
    • Google Android 5.0 (Lollipop, API 21) or later
    • Apple iOS 11.0 or later

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