Parental Controls on Windows: Microsoft Family
Microsoft Family Safety lets you set screen time limits, content filters, and spending limits for children using Windows — here's how to set it up.
3 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Set up a Microsoft account for the child
Make sure the child has their own Microsoft account. If they don't, go to account.microsoft.com and click "Create a Microsoft account." For children under 13, Microsoft will walk you through creating a child account with appropriate protections. Once created, they should log into the Windows PC with this account — not a guest or shared account.
Step 2. Add them to your Family group
On your Windows PC, go to Settings > Accounts > Family. Click "Add someone." Enter the child's Microsoft account email address. They'll receive an invitation email — have them open it and click "Accept." Once accepted, they appear in your Family group.
Quick Tip
You can manage up to 6 family members in a single Family group, including multiple children and other adults.
Step 3. Set screen time limits
Go to account.microsoft.com/family (sign in with your Microsoft account) or open the Microsoft Family Safety app. Click the child's name, then click "Screen time." Toggle on "Use a schedule." Set how many hours per day are allowed, and set "Quiet time" hours when the computer should be locked (for example, no computer after 9 PM or before 7 AM).
Step 4. Turn on content filters
On the child's page in Family Safety, click "Content filters." Toggle on "Filter inappropriate websites and searches." Windows will automatically block adult content in most major browsers. Add specific sites to the "Always allowed" or "Always blocked" lists as needed.
Step 5. Review their activity report
After a week of use, go to the child's page and click "Activity report." You'll see which websites they visited, which apps they used, and how long they spent on each. This gives you a clear picture of their computer habits without having to constantly watch over them.
Quick Tip
Turn on email reports to receive a weekly summary in your inbox without having to log into the Family Safety website.
Microsoft Family Safety is a free service from Microsoft that lets you set up parental controls on Windows computers and Xbox consoles. If you have grandchildren or children using a Windows PC, Family Safety lets you limit how long they use the computer, block inappropriate websites, require Microsoft Store app approvals, and set spending limits.
The system works through Microsoft accounts. You need a Microsoft account (like an Outlook or Hotmail address), and the child needs to use their own Microsoft account on the computer — not yours. Once you add them to your Family group, you become the organizer and can manage their settings from anywhere via the Family Safety app on your phone.
Here's a quick summary of what Family Safety can control:
- Screen time limits — Set daily or weekly time limits and quiet hours (like no games after 8 PM)
- Website and search filters — Block adult content automatically, or manually allow/block specific sites
- App and game filters — Allow only age-appropriate apps and games based on content ratings
- Spending limits — Require your approval before the child can buy anything in the Microsoft Store
- Activity reporting — See a weekly summary of how long they spent on the PC and what sites they visited
- Location sharing — See your child's location if they also use the Family Safety app on a smartphone
Setup takes about 20 minutes and everything is managed online at account.microsoft.com/family or through the free Microsoft Family Safety app.
Official sources
- Microsoft Support — support.microsoft.com
- Windows Help — support.microsoft.com
- Microsoft 365 Help — support.microsoft.com
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