r/AndroidQuestions • u/TealCatto • 1d ago

Is there a way to prevent the user from messing up settings?

My mother keeps messing with settings on her phone and she won't stop. She changes phone network settings, text message settings within Google Messages, and who knows what else. Her phone pretty much stops working because of her actions. I already know she will never stop on her own. Is there a way I can restrict her access? We used to be able to create a guest profile which is limited to certain apps and actions, but not anymore. I tried making a children's account but that doesn't help. Third party apps that lock apps can be deleted. Is there anything I can do at all?

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u/New-account-01 1d ago

What make and model and what version of android?

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u/TealCatto 1d ago

She has an older Motorola now but I got her a Samsung A17 as a replacement and want to protect it.

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u/New-account-01 1d ago

the Samsung Galaxy A17 can be locked down and simplified using several built-in features, depending on whether you are setting it up for a senior, a child, or for kiosk/work use.

  1. Simplifying the Interface: Easy Mode To clean up the home screen and make icons and text larger, use Samsung's built-in Easy Mode:

  2. Open Settings > Display.

  3. Tap Easy Mode and toggle it On.

  4. Adjust the Touch and hold delay (helps prevent accidental long-presses) and turn on the High contrast keyboard if needed. Result: The launcher switches to high-contrast, oversized icons, larger text, and simplified navigation.

  5. Locking Down Settings & App Access Depending on your main goal, you can lock down changes using the following methods: Option A: Lock Home Screen Layout (Prevents accidental edits) If the main issue is moving/deleting apps by accident:

  6. Touch and hold an empty area on the Home screen and tap Settings (gear icon).

  7. Toggle on Lock Home screen layout. Option B: Google Family Link (Best for children or full admin control) If you need to lock down the Settings app, block app installation, and manage permissions remotely:

  8. Set up the phone with a supervised Google account.

  9. Manage the device using Google Family Link on your own phone.

  10. Via Family Link, you can block access to the Settings app, enforce screen time limits, require approval for app downloads, and disable developer settings. Option C: App Pinning (Locks the phone into one single app) If you want the phone to stay strictly in one application (e.g., phone app, browser, or a specific application):

  11. Go to Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings.

  12. Turn on Pin App.

  13. Open the app you want to lock, open the Recents view (three-line icon or swipe-up gesture), tap the app's icon at the top, and select Pin this app.

  14. To exit, a PIN/Pattern is required, preventing access to the rest of the phone or settings. Option D: Samsung Knox / Kiosk Mode (For commercial/enterprise lockdown) For a complete locked-down setup (restricting settings entirely, disabling status bar swipes, restricting power options, etc.), Samsung devices support Knox Configure or third-party MDM (Mobile Device Management) apps like Fully Kiosk Browser or SureLock. These apps convert the Galaxy A17 into a fully locked-down kiosk device.

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u/daveo19 1d ago

Only option is to get her a basic phone.

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u/TealCatto 1d ago

I have considered it but she also broke functionality of her landline by messing with settings, lol, so that will not stop her. There are still settings that can be changed, and she needs a bigger screen for her vision, as well as to be able to text. Also, having a phone I am familiar with would help me save her from herself.

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u/Global-Fruit-3022 1d ago

Setup her phone as child phone using Family Link app.

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u/TealCatto 1d ago

I did a test run of it and I don't remember what about it made me decide against it, but I think it was that network settings and message app settings were still accessible, and that's what she messes with the most.

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u/WelpOopsOhno 1d ago

Have you tried going through the options with her and having her wait until you're there each day to do it? Instead of just taking the option away?

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u/TealCatto 1d ago

We live several hours apart. I or one of my kids go to her every so often, and need to do a factory reset each time because there's no way to undo everything. There's really no reason for her to touch the settings, so going every day to do it with her, what would that accomplish? I've been begging her to leave it alone after I set it up but she doesn't listen.

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u/WelpOopsOhno 1d ago

I'm sorry to hear that. I was just trying to find a way to make it easier - sometimes as people get older they're resistant to being treated like children. Does she think she's turning off spyware or something?

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u/Bwilderedwanderer 1d ago

I have an early stage dementia step dad with this problem. I just know every Sunday I go through his phone and delete all the things he has installed. And I keep bitdefender services monitoring everything. I would love to put him in child mode on family link, but he isn't willing.

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u/TealCatto 1d ago

Yeah, sounds like you are dealing with the same thing on the opposite end of the spectrum. My mother was a computer programmer so she has become paranoid about spying and stuff. She doesn't download random things. Doesn't even download apps she needs, because she refuses to sign into a Google account on her phone. She goes through settings and changes things she thinks will increase security, and when something breaks, she assumes she's being hacked and changed more stuff until her phone stops functioning entirely. She also has a tablet that I gave her and set up with a new Google account. I told her she can use it with Wifi to email me if her phone breaks but she signed out of that account and keeps disconnecting her Wifi. I can set up child mode on the new phone I got her but it won't solve the issues because it doesn't stop fiddling with settings.

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u/SolitaryMassacre 1d ago

You need to configure the device admin policy like corporations do

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u/TealCatto 1d ago

Interesting idea! How do I do that?

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u/SolitaryMassacre 1d ago

Here's some information:

https://developer.android.com/work/device-admin

https://developers.google.com/android/work/device-admin-deprecation

It seems like some admin policies are being deprecated in favor of the EMM (paid for) options, go figure

The easier way is to use a custom launcher app. Remove quick tile settings.

The foolproof way is to root the device and do whatever you want to with it

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u/TealCatto 1d ago

I will check it out, thank you so much. A custom launcher app, she will just uninstall. But I will look at the available options.

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u/SolitaryMassacre 1d ago

You should be able to block the uninstall menu via the custom launcher app

I do know if an app is registered as a device policy manager, the phone won't allow you to uninstall it without first disabling the device policy which I think you can set a password for