How to turn an old Android phone or tablet into a kids’ audio player

An old Android phone or tablet makes an excellent dedicated audio player for a toddler. With a few built-in settings you can give it a second life: big buttons, only the songs you picked, and, once the device’s own lock is on, no easy way to wander off into videos, games or the browser. TotPlayer cannot lock the device itself; that part is a built-in phone setting. This guide walks through the whole setup.

Why an old Android device works well

• No extra hardware to buy. A device that feels too slow for daily use is usually more than fast enough to play audio.
• It already has a speaker, a headphone option and a battery that lasts through a nap or a car ride.
• You stay in control of what is on it, instead of relying on an endless feed.

Step 1: Reset and tidy the device

1. Back up anything you want to keep, then consider a factory reset so old apps, photos and accounts are gone.
2. Install the latest system update the device supports (Settings > System > System update on most devices).
3. Uninstall or disable apps you don’t want a child to see, and turn off notifications so nothing pops up mid-song.
4. Set a screen lock (PIN or pattern) that only adults know.

Tip: If you keep a Google account on the device, open the Play Store, tap your profile picture > Settings > Family, and turn on parental controls so new apps can’t be installed without your approval.

Step 2: Pick one simple player app

The key is a single app that shows only the music you chose, with large tiles a toddler can recognise without reading. Avoid apps with autoplay recommendations or video thumbnails, since those pull attention away from listening.

TotPlayer was built for exactly this: you choose the songs, add it to the Home Screen from the browser, and your child sees a calm shelf of picture tiles. Songs can be saved for offline listening, so it keeps working in the car or on a plane.

To install it, open Chrome on the device, go to totplayer.com and create your parent account. New accounts start with a 7-day free trial of the full library, no card required, so you can test everything on this exact device before paying anything. Then tap the browser menu (the three dots) and choose “Add to Home screen” or “Install app”. The player now opens full screen like a native app.

Once you are signed in, open the parent section and add songs to your child’s shelf. The shelf lives on this device, so what you pick here is exactly what your child sees, and nothing else.

Step 3: Save the songs for offline listening

A dedicated player should keep working in the car, on a plane or anywhere without wifi. Adding a song to the shelf is not quite the same as saving its audio, so check this once before you hand the device over.

• By default, TotPlayer automatically saves the songs on the current shelf while the device is connected, so they are ready offline.
• Open Offline listening in the parent section and check that the shelf says “Ready offline”. A download still needs to finish before a song counts as saved.
• For a larger selection, use “Save all My songs”, or save missing shelf songs manually if you have turned automatic saving off.
• If the browser can tell the device is on a mobile connection, an “Avoid mobile data” option appears so saving waits for wifi.
• Songs and files you add yourself from the device are already available offline and need no download.

Tip: Do a test run before the first trip: turn on airplane mode, open the player from the Home screen and play a few songs. If they play, the device is ready.

Step 4: Pin the device to that one app

This is the step that turns a phone into a kids’ player. Android’s built-in App pinning keeps the screen in a single app until an adult unlocks it.

1. Open Settings and search for “App pinning” (on Samsung: Settings > Security and privacy > More security settings > Pin app). Switch it on, and turn on the option to require your PIN before unpinning.
2. Open your player app, then go to the recent apps view (swipe up and hold, or tap the square button).
3. Tap the app’s icon at the top of its card and choose “Pin” (on older Android versions, tap the pin icon on the app card).
4. To leave the pinned app, swipe up and hold (or hold Back and Home together) and enter your PIN.

Tip: While pinned, the status bar and notifications are hidden, so a child can’t swipe down into settings or other apps.

Step 5: Make it comfortable to use

• Set a sensible volume. Many Android devices let you limit media volume; some headphones for kids cap the volume in hardware, which is even safer.
• Lower the brightness or turn on adaptive brightness, especially for bedtime listening.
• Turn on Do Not Disturb so calls and notifications never interrupt a song.
• A sturdy case and a short charging cable make the device easier for small hands.
• Keep a few calm songs for bedtime and livelier ones for play, so the device fits the moment.

A quick checklist

• Device reset and updated
• Notifications off, adult screen lock set
• One simple player app with your chosen songs, added to the Home screen
• Shelf checked as “Ready offline” in Offline listening
• App pinning switched on with PIN required to unpin
• Volume and brightness set for little ears and eyes

That’s it. The old Android device in the drawer is now a player your child can use on their own, while you decide everything that’s on it.