How to Manage Microsoft Family Settings for Child in Windows 10
One of the many benefits of having a Microsoft account is a family group, which gives you access to family features and settings. It's a free service that helps families stay connected and keeps kids safer on Windows 10, Xbox One devices, and Android devices running Microsoft Launcher. You’ll find settings like activity reporting, screen time limits, location sharing, and content filters, where you can also track kids’ spending and add money to their Microsoft accounts.
A Microsoft family group is separate from other Microsoft apps and programs. You can sign up with your email account. If you already use Skype, you’ll have a family chat set up and waiting for you once you create your family group. If you don’t already have Skype, get more information and sign up to create an account for your family.
Once you set up your family group, you can add or remove child and adult members.
See also:
- What is a Microsoft family group? | Microsoft Account Support
- Microsoft account | Your family
- Set up and manage your family | Microsoft Account Support
This tutorial will show you how to manage the family settings (activity, screen time, content restrictions, spending, and find your child) for child members of your Microsoft Family group in Windows 10.
Here's How:
1. Do step 2 or step 3 below for how you would like to manage your family settings online.
2. As an adult in the family, go to the Microsoft Family website, sign in with your Microsoft account if not already, and go to step 4 below.
3. Open Settings in Windows 10, click/tap on the Accounts icon, click/tap on Family & other users on the left side, click/tap on the Manage family settings online link, and go to step 4 below. (see screenshot below)
4. Click/tap on the Activity, Screen time, App and game limits, Content restrictions, More options > Spending, More options > Find child on map link for the child you want to manage. (see screenshots below)
Activity - Get weekly email reports of your child’s online activity on Windows 10 and Xbox One devices or on Android devices running Microsoft Launcher. You can also review it on account.microsoft.com/family any time. You’ll see websites they visit, their browsing history, apps and games they use, and how much screen time they had. Activity reporting is a great way to keep an eye on things and adjust family settings accordingly.
Screen time - Want to make sure your child has a good balance between screen time and other activities? Schedule when they’re welcome to have screen time, opening up time for other pursuits. (“Go play outside!”) Use one schedule for all Windows 10 and Xbox One devices, or set separate schedules for each. When your child asks you for more time–for homework, of course –you can easily respond through email or on account.microsoft.com/family.
App and game limits - If your child is spending too much time on certain apps, you can set limits on the apps to help them achieve a healthy balance. App limits are available on Windows 10 and Xbox One devices, along with Android devices with Microsoft Launcher installed. Once you set a limit on an app, 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 10, Xbox One, and Android.)
Content restrictions - The content filters you set determine what your child can get from the websites they visit, which games they can play, or whether they need adult approval to buy from the Microsoft Store. Content filters include three settings: Ask a parent; Apps, games & media; and Web browsing. You set the rules, and you decide when to break them. Like with screen time, your child can send you exception requests for content that you can respond to through email or on account.microsoft.com/family.
- Turn on Ask a parent - Require adult approval for the things your child wants to buy in Microsoft Store, except what they get with gift cards or money in their Microsoft account. Even when Ask a parent is turned off, you’ll still approve content that exceeds the age limit you set in the Apps, games & media section that we’ll talk about next.
- Block inappropriate apps, games & media - It’s all fun and games, until your child is using an app that’s not age-appropriate. Set an age limit to block apps, games, and media on Windows 10 and Xbox One devices. Anything rated above that limit will require adult approval.
- Block inappropriate websites - Help protect your child from surfing adult content on the web when they use Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer browsers on Windows 10 and Xbox One devices. Once you set an age limit for content, we block many sites automatically. You can also choose to block or allow specific sites, or choose to only allow your child to visit sites you’ve said are OK.
Spending - Keep an eye on their shopping habits. See your child’s recent purchases, view their payment options, and add money to their Microsoft account, all in one place.
Find your child - Give yourself peace of mind and check in on your child's location whenever you need to. Make sure they made it home safely from school, or use it when they're out with friends. They can use either a Windows 10 phone or an Android device running Microsoft Launcher.
That's it,
Shawn
Related Tutorials
- How to Create and Set Up Your Microsoft Family Group
- How to Add or Remove Child Member for Microsoft Family Group in Windows 10
- How to Add or Remove Adult Member for Microsoft Family Group in Windows 10
- How to Manage and View Activity of Microsoft Family Child Member on Windows 10, Xbox One, and Android Devices
- How to Allow or Block Family Member from using a PC in Windows 10
- How to Find Your Child in Microsoft Family on a Map
- How to Add Money to Account of Family Child for Purchase & Spending in Windows Store
- How to Turn On or Off Ask a Parent before buying stuff in Microsoft Store for Microsoft Family Child Member
- How to Manage Web Browsing Restrictions of Microsoft Family Child Member on Windows 10 and Xbox One
- How to Manage Apps, Games and Media Content Restrictions of Child Member in Microsoft Family Group
- How to Manage Screen Time for Windows 10 and Xbox One Devices of Microsoft Family Child Member
- Hide or Show Family Options in Windows Defender Security Center in Windows 10
- How to See Devices Connected to Account of Microsoft Family Child Member
- How to Set App and Game Limits of Microsoft Family Child on Windows 10, Xbox One, and Android