Setting up parental controls

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: Setting up parental controls. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Setting up Windows 11 Family Safety parental controls

Microsoft Family Safety lets you monitor and limit screen time, web browsing, and app usage for children on Windows 11 devices. This guide covers child account creation, screen-time and content limits, and mobile app management.

How to Set Up Family Safety

Step 1: Create or Add a Child Account

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Accounts > Family.
3. Click Add account for a family member.
4. Enter the child's Microsoft account email address. If the child does not have one, follow the prompts to create a Microsoft account.
5. If the child is under 13, parental consent is required during account creation.
6. Ensure both the parent and child have Microsoft accounts and are signed in on their respective devices. Local Windows accounts are not supported by Family Safety.

Step 2: Set Up the Family Group

1. Visit Microsoft Family Safety website.
2. Sign in with your parent Microsoft account.
3. Add your child's account to your family group.
4. Send the family invitation to the child's email address.
5. Ask the child (or the child's other parent) to accept the invitation from the email link or by signing into the Family Safety website.
6. Follow the prompts to enable the desired safety features.

Step 3: Configure Controls

From the Microsoft Family Safety web portal, you can configure the following controls:

Screen Time Limits

• Set daily time limits for apps and games.
• Set specific hour restrictions (for example, no screen time after 9 pm).
• Apply limits to Xbox and Windows devices.

Content Filters

• Block inappropriate websites.
• Set age-appropriate content filters.
• Allow or block specific apps and games.
• Note: Web filtering works best in Microsoft Edge. Filtering on other browsers is limited.

Spending

• Require approval for purchases in the Microsoft Store.
• Set spending limits.
• View purchase history.

Activity Reports

• See which websites are visited.
• View app usage.
• See screen time summaries.

Step 4: Install the Family Safety App

Install the app separately depending on the device you are using to manage controls.

Windows Desktop App

1. Make sure Windows is up to date. See How to update Windows.
2. Open the Microsoft Store on your PC.
3. Search for Microsoft Family Safety and install it.
4. Sign in with your parent Microsoft account.
5. Use the desktop app to manage settings on your computer.

Mobile App

1. Open the iOS App Store on iPhone or iPad, or the Google Play Store on Android.
2. Search for Microsoft Family Safety and install it.
3. Sign in with your parent Microsoft account.
4. Use the mobile app to manage settings from your phone on the go.

On the Child's Device

Check Current Settings on PC

1. Press Win + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Accounts > Family.
3. Select the child's account.
4. Review the current restrictions.

Allow or Block Apps

1. Visit the Microsoft Family Safety website.
2. Sign in with your parent account.
3. Select your child's profile.
4. Navigate to the app restrictions section to manage which apps are available.

Tips for Parents

Alternative: Built-in Screen Time

Screen time is managed via the Microsoft Family Safety web portal rather than directly within Windows Settings.

1. Visit the Microsoft Family Safety website.
2. Sign in with your parent account.
3. Select your child's profile.
4. Configure screen time limits for apps and devices.

Troubleshooting

Family Invitation Not Received or Accepted

1. Check the child's email inbox, including junk or spam folders, for the family invitation.
2. Confirm the invitation was sent to the correct Microsoft account email address.
3. Ask the recipient to accept the invitation by clicking the link in the email or by signing into account.microsoft.com/family.
4. Ensure the person accepting the invitation is using a Microsoft account, not a local account.

Child Unable to Sign In

1. Confirm the child is using a Microsoft account and not a local Windows account.
2. Check that the child's account has been added to the parent's family group.
3. If the child is under 13, verify that parental consent was completed during account setup.
4. Reset the child's Microsoft account password if necessary through the Microsoft account recovery process.

Screen Time Not Syncing to Xbox

1. Ensure the child is signed in with the same Microsoft account on both Windows and Xbox.
2. Verify that screen time limits are applied to Xbox devices in the Family Safety web portal.
3. Restart the Xbox console and the Windows PC to force synchronisation.
4. Check the internet connection on both devices.

App Purchase Requests Not Appearing

1. Confirm that purchase approval is enabled in the Spending section of the Family Safety web portal.
2. Ensure the child is signed in with their Microsoft account when attempting the purchase.
3. Check that the parent account is signed in to the Family Safety app or website to receive notifications.
4. Verify the child's device is connected to the internet so the request can reach the parent.

Mobile App Not Pairing or Not Managing Settings

1. Install the app from the iOS App Store or Google Play Store, not the Microsoft Store.
2. Sign in with the same parent Microsoft account used to create the family group.
3. Ensure the mobile device has an active internet connection.
4. Log out of the app, restart the mobile device, and sign in again.
5. Check for app updates in the iOS App Store or Google Play Store.

Settings Not Syncing Across Devices

1. Ensure the child is signed in with their Microsoft account on all devices.
2. Verify that the parent account has the necessary permissions to manage the child's profile.
3. Restart the devices to force a synchronisation of Family Safety settings.
4. Check your internet connection on both the parent and child devices.

Family Safety App Failing to Install

1. Ensure Windows is up to date. See How to update Windows.
2. Check for sufficient storage space on the device.
3. Try installing the app via the Microsoft Store on a different network.
4. If the app crashes after installation, see Applications freezing or crashing.

Account Permission Errors

1. Confirm that both parent and child accounts are Microsoft accounts, not local accounts.
2. Ensure the child's account has been added to the family group on the Family Safety website.
3. If you cannot sign in to your parent account, see Cannot login with domain credentials.
4. If the device is running slowly, check Computer running slow for performance optimisation steps.

Last Audited: 2026-05-22

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