How to set up and use Microsoft Family Safety parental controls across Windows, Xbox and mobile devices

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to set up and use Microsoft Family Safety parental controls across Windows, Xbox and mobile devices. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Microsoft Family Safety is a free suite of parental controls that lets you manage screen time, filter web and app content, and review activity reports across Windows 10/11 PCs, Xbox consoles, and Android devices. Once configured, the settings sync across all devices linked to your Microsoft family group, making it easier to keep your children's digital experience consistent and safe. This guide walks you through setting it up on each platform.

Before You Begin

You'll need a Microsoft account for yourself (the organiser) and a separate Microsoft account for each child you wish to monitor. If your children don't yet have accounts, you can create them during the setup process.

Create Your Microsoft Family Group

1. Open a web browser and go to family.microsoft.com.
2. Sign in with the Microsoft account you want to use as the organiser.
3. Select Create a family group, then choose Add a member.
4. Select Member (not Organiser) and enter your child's email address, or choose Create a new account for a child.
5. Follow the prompts to complete the invitation. Your child will receive an email or on-screen prompt to accept.

Configure Family Safety Settings

Once your family group is set up, you can configure the controls from the family.microsoft.com dashboard.

Screen Time Limits

1. Sign in at family.microsoft.com.
2. Select your child's profile.
3. Choose Screen time from the left-hand menu.
4. Toggle Use one schedule for all devices on or off depending on your preference.
5. Set daily time allowances for each day of the week, or set a maximum daily allowance.
6. Under Schedule, define the hours your child can use their devices (for example, 7am to 9pm).

Content Filters

1. From your child's profile, select Content filters.
2. Under Web and search, toggle Filter inappropriate websites on.
3. Choose an age-appropriate filter level such as Strict, Moderate, or Basic.
4. Add any specific URLs to the Always allowed or Always blocked lists as required.
5. Under Apps and games, set the maximum age rating you want to allow.

Activity Reporting

1. From your child's profile, select Activity reporting.
2. Toggle Activity reporting on.
3. Choose whether to receive a weekly activity report via email.

Set Up Family Safety on Windows 10/11

1. Sign in to your child's Windows device using their Microsoft account.
2. Open Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
3. Confirm your child's account is listed under Your family.
4. Open the Microsoft Family Safety app from the Start menu (or install it from the Microsoft Store if not present).
5. Sign in with the organiser account to review and adjust settings directly from the device.

Set Up Family Safety on Xbox

1. On the Xbox console, press the Xbox button to open the guide.
2. Navigate to Profile & system > Settings > Account > Family settings.
3. Select Manage family members and confirm your child's account is linked.
4. Configure console-specific limits including:
   • Access to content — restrict by age rating.
   • Communication — limit who can chat with your child.
   • Privacy — control who can see your child's profile and activity.
5. For screen time on Xbox, manage limits through the family.microsoft.com dashboard rather than the console itself.

Set Up Family Safety on Android

1. Install the Microsoft Family Safety app from the Google Play Store on both your device and your child's device.
2. Open the app on your device and sign in with the organiser account.
3. Open the app on your child's device and sign in with their Microsoft account.
4. When prompted, grant the required permissions:
   • Accessibility access for screen time enforcement.
   • Usage access for app usage reporting.
   • Location access if you wish to use location sharing.
5. Follow the in-app prompts to link the device to your family group.

Troubleshooting

Screen time limits aren't being enforced

• Confirm the child is signed in to the device with their Microsoft account, not a local account.
• On Windows, check that Settings > Accounts shows the account as a family member.
• On Android, verify the Family Safety app has the necessary permissions (Accessibility and Usage Access).
• Sign out and back in on the affected device to refresh the policy.

Content filters aren't blocking websites

• Ensure the child is browsing in Microsoft Edge. Filters only apply to Edge and supported browsers.
• Check that the URL isn't in your Always allowed list.
• Clear the browser cache and try again.

Activity reports are empty or missing data

• Wait at least 24 hours after enabling activity reporting for data to appear.
• Confirm the child is signed in with their Microsoft account on all devices you want to monitor.
• On Android, ensure the Family Safety app has been granted Usage Access permission.

Child can't accept the family invitation

• Check the spam or junk folder of the child's email account.
• Sign in to family.microsoft.com as the organiser and resend the invitation from Add a member.
• If the child is under the minimum age (varies by region), you may need to create the account yourself rather than invite an existing one.

Changes to settings aren't syncing

• Have the child sign out and back in on their device to force a policy refresh.
• Restart the affected device.
• Confirm both accounts are part of the same family group by checking the family dashboard.

Still Having Issues?