Approve or block app download requests for a child’s Meta account
If a child is between 10 and 12 years old (or the applicable age in your region), then they can have a Meta account for Meta Quest so long as the account is set up and managed by a parent or guardian, which includes a parent or guardian approving app download requests.
When a child wants to download a new app, they will need to select Send request on the app’s page. This sends their parent or guardian a request to review.
To allow or reject app download requests:
- From the email we’ve sent you about the app download request, click View request.
- Review the app information, then click Review app.
- Click either Block or Allow.
- If you allow a paid app, you will need to click Go to Store to complete app purchase in the Meta Horizon Store.
- From the email we’ve sent you about the app download request, tap View request.
- Review the app information, then tap Review app.
- Tap either Allow or Block.
- If you allow a paid app, you will need to tap Go to Store to complete app purchase in the Meta Horizon Store.
- In the Meta Horizon app, go to your notifications.
- Tap the notification about the app download request.
- Review the app information, then tap Review app.
- Tap either Allow or Block.
- If you allow a paid app, then complete purchase by tapping Purchase for your child.
Troubleshooting app approval issues
Before troubleshooting, ensure that your Meta Horizon app is updated to the latest version and that your child's account is properly linked to your parent account in Family Center.
If you are seeing broken links, greyed-out approve buttons, or are not receiving approval notifications, try the following steps:
- Check your account login: Ensure you are logged into the parent Meta account. The Meta Horizon app sometimes defaults to the child's login session, which can cause the Allow button to be greyed out or unclickable, or cause notifications to only appear on the child's account. Log out and log back in with the parent account credentials.
- Check notification settings: Open the Meta Horizon app on your phone, go to Settings > Notifications, and ensure notifications for Family Center and app requests are enabled. Also check your phone's system notification settings to ensure the Meta Horizon app is allowed to send notifications. If you still receive no notifications, check your email inbox (including spam/junk folders) or try approving directly from the Family Center web dashboard.
- Try approving via a web browser: Go to meta.com/family on a desktop or laptop computer, log in with your parent Meta account, navigate to your child's profile, and look for pending app requests under the supervision dashboard.
- Try approving via the Meta Horizon mobile app: Open the app, tap Menu > Family Center, select your child's profile, and look for pending requests.
- Handle broken or expired links: Open the link in an incognito or private browser window on a desktop computer. If the link keeps expiring or fails, have your child uninstall and reinstall the app request from the headset to send a fresh approval notification.
- Clear app cache or reinstall: On Android, go to Phone Settings > Apps > Meta Horizon > Storage > Clear Cache. On iOS, delete and reinstall the Meta Horizon app. Then log back in with the parent account.
- Check the app's age rating: Some apps may conflict with your child's age range settings. Review the content filtering settings in Family Center to ensure the age range allows the requested app.
If the error message persists or the button remains greyed out after trying these steps on multiple devices, take a screenshot of the error and contact Meta Quest Support with your parent account email, child's username, and the app name.
Your child will get a notification about your decision. If you allow the app, then they can install it on their Meta Quest headset.
Parents can also gift apps that their children haven’t requested from the Meta Horizon Store.