How To Set Up Windows 11 Parental Controls

Windows 11 is the latest operating system available for PCs. It allows for seamless connection between PCs, Windows phones, and Xbox One gaming consoles. All Windows 11 parental controls are found in a free app called Microsoft Family. Here, you’ll also handle parental controls for your other Microsoft devices.

How To Set Up Windows 11 Parental Controls

Microsoft Family Safety App

The Microsoft Family Safety app allows parents to set screen time limits on all Microsoft-affiliated devices, including Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Microsoft Surface, Windows 11 devices, Windows 7 devices, and Windows Vista devices. Parents can use the app to create search filters and block mature content. The app also has built-in location sharing so you can track family members.

How to add a child to your Microsoft Family account

1. Visit account.microsoft.com/family.
2. Sign in with your personal Microsoft account and then select Add a Family Member.
3. Select Child.
4. Enter your child’s email address or phone number and select Send Invite.
5. Make sure your child accepts your invitation.

Adding child accounts to your family

First, you’ll add a Family user account to your computer. There, you’ll indicate that the account is for a child under your supervision, and then you’ll set up all content and usage restrictions through Microsoft Family. Both you and your child will need a Microsoft Account, so if you do not have one, start there.

1. Open the Windows Settings menu and choose Accounts.
2. Choose Family & Other People from the left sidebar menu.
3. Under Your Family, click Add a Family Member.
4. Enter the email address associated with your child’s Microsoft account.
5. Open your child’s email account, find the email from Microsoft, and click the link to confirm that they are your child and need to be added to your Microsoft Family.

How to access parental control settings

1. Choose Accounts from your Windows Settings menu.
2. Look at the Family & Other People menu again. Now, you should see your child’s account and the option to click Manage Family Settings Online.
3. Click Manage Family Settings Online. This opens the Microsoft Family Parental Control page in your browser.
4. Menu options on the right allow you to monitor each child’s activity and set your parental controls. The three most important areas are:
   1. Web Browsing
   2. Apps, Games, & Media
   3. Screen Time
5. In the Web Browsing section, you’ll find Windows automatically blocks search results and filters websites that contain potentially inappropriate content. Any website that hasn’t yet been added to Microsoft’s blacklist will still be accessible, and so will user-generated content on “safe” sites. Note that these controls only work on Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge — Microsoft parental controls block access to other browsers by default. If you want, you can disable the block on other browsers and use additional parental control methods to protect those browsers.
6. In the Apps, Games, & Media section, you’ll be able to block inappropriate apps and games. Microsoft already blocks kids from mature movies and games. These settings will apply to all Windows 11 PCs and Mobile devices, Windows Phone 8, and Xbox One.
   1. Here you can set what content the child can buy, download, and stream, based on their age. Microsoft defaults it to the child’s current age, but you can adjust it to whatever you think is best.
7. Finally, you can set screen time limits and schedules for each day of the week. You can set limits from zero to 12 hours in half-hour increments. The default access schedule is from 7a.m. to 10 p.m. each day.
   1. If your child needs to use any Windows device outside the screen time limits you set, they have the option to request additional time. You’ll receive an email where you can either approve or deny the request.

How to set app and game limits across your child's devices

If your child is spending too much time on certain apps or games, you can set limits on that app or game to help them achieve a healthy balance. App and game limits are available on Windows 11 and Xbox One devices, along with Android devices with Microsoft Launcher installed. Once you set a limit, that limit will work across all of their devices. (For example, if you give them three hours on YouTube, they can spend a total of three hours on Windows 11, Xbox One, and Android.)

To set app and game limits, go to family.microsoft.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. Then:

1. Find your child's name and select App and game limits. 
2. Find the app or game you want to set limits on. If you’ve never set limits, it’ll show how often they use the app or game on average.
3. Set how much time your child is allowed to spend on the app or game each day, and when they’re allowed to use it.
4. That’s it! You’ve set up Windows 11 parental controls!