How to Set Up Parental Controls on Your Windows Computer

You want to control what your child can access on your Windows computer. Parental controls let you set screen time limits, filter web content, restrict app usage, block games by age rating, and monitor activity. Windows includes built-in parental controls through Microsoft Family Safety that work across Windows PCs and Xbox consoles. Setting up these controls requires a Microsoft account for both the parent and the child.

Create a child account

• Parental controls only work on child accounts, not standard or administrator accounts. Open Settings, Accounts, Family. Click Add Someone, then click Create One for a Child. Follow the prompts to create a Microsoft account for your child with their own email address and password
• If your child already has a Microsoft account, click Add a Family Member and enter their email address. They receive an invitation to join your family group. Once they accept, parental controls become available for their account
• The child account appears in your family group on the Microsoft Family Safety website and app. All parental control settings are managed from this central location, so you can adjust controls from any device including your phone

Set screen time limits

• Screen time controls limit how long your child can use the computer each day. Open the Family Safety website or app, select your child, and go to Screen Time. You can set different time limits for each day of the week — for example, two hours on weekdays and four hours on weekends
• You can also set allowed usage hours. This restricts computer use to specific times of day, such as 3 PM to 8 PM on school days. Outside these hours, the computer locks the child account. The child sees a warning before time runs out so they can save their work
• Screen time limits apply across all Windows devices the child is signed into. If you also want to track or limit time on Xbox or mobile devices, enable those categories separately in Family Safety. A shared time budget option lets you set one total across all devices

Filter web content

• Content filters block websites with inappropriate content. In Family Safety, select your child and go to Content Filters, Web and Search. Turn on the filter and choose the filtering level. The default setting blocks adult content while allowing age-appropriate sites
• Web filtering works in Microsoft Edge and requires Edge to be the default browser on the child account. If your child uses Chrome or Firefox, the filters do not apply. To enforce Edge-only browsing, block other browsers in the App and Game Limits section
• You can add specific websites to an Always Allowed or Always Blocked list. Always Allowed sites bypass the filter even if the general filter would block them. Always Blocked sites are blocked regardless of the filter level. Use these lists to fine-tune what your child can access

Restrict apps and games

• App and game restrictions let you control which applications your child can use and for how long. In Family Safety, go to App and Game Limits. You see a list of apps and games the child has used. Set a daily time limit for each app or block it entirely
• You can also restrict apps by age rating. In Content Filters, Apps and Games, set the maximum age rating your child is allowed. Apps and games rated above this threshold are blocked on the Microsoft Store and cannot be installed. Games already installed that exceed the rating are blocked from launching
• For games not from the Microsoft Store, the rating filter may not apply. You can manually block specific executables by adding them to the blocked list. This covers standalone games and applications installed from other sources

Monitor activity reports

• Activity reports show you what your child does on the computer. In Family Safety, go to Activity. The report shows websites visited, searches performed, apps and games used (with time spent on each), and screen time usage. Reports can be sent to your email weekly
• Web browsing activity only appears for Microsoft Edge. Activity in other browsers is not tracked. To get complete browsing visibility, ensure your child only uses Edge by blocking other browsers
• Activity monitoring is not hidden — your child can see that monitoring is active in their account settings. This transparency is intentional and helps establish trust around computer use expectations

Set up content restrictions for younger children

• For younger children, you may want to restrict the computer to only approved content. In Content Filters, turn on Only Use Allowed Websites. This blocks all websites except those you specifically add to the allowed list. Start with educational sites and sites your child uses for school
• Enable Only Use Allowed Apps and Games to restrict the child to a specific set of applications. Add school apps, creative tools, and age-appropriate games to the allowed list. Everything else is blocked until you approve it
• When your child tries to access a blocked website or app, they see a message with the option to Request Access. You receive a notification and can approve or deny the request from your phone or any device. This lets you evaluate new content before your child accesses it

Configure purchase controls

• Prevent unauthorized purchases by configuring spending settings. In Family Safety, go to Spending. You can require your approval for any purchase your child makes on the Microsoft Store. The child can browse and add items to their cart, but the purchase requires your password or approval
• You can add money to your child account as a balance for approved spending. Set a maximum amount and the child can spend up to that limit without needing approval for each purchase. This teaches budgeting while maintaining a spending cap
• Purchase approvals come to your email and the Family Safety app. You can approve or deny from your phone, making it convenient to respond when your child asks to buy something

Set up Family Safety on multiple devices

• If your child uses multiple Windows computers, the parental controls apply to all of them automatically. The child signs in with the same Microsoft account on each device, and the Family Safety settings follow the account. Screen time limits, content filters, and app restrictions work identically on every device
• For a shared family computer where multiple children use separate accounts, each child account has its own settings. One child may have stricter limits than another based on age. Sign each child in with their own Microsoft account to maintain separate profiles
• Family Safety also extends to Xbox consoles and Android devices (through the Family Safety app). Configuring all devices under one family group gives you centralized control over your child digital activity across platforms

Troubleshoot common parental control issues

• If screen time limits are not enforcing, verify the child is signed in with their Microsoft account, not a local account. Parental controls require a Microsoft account connected to your family group. Check Settings, Accounts to verify the account type
• If web filtering is not working, ensure the child is using Microsoft Edge. Install Edge if it is not present and set it as the default browser on the child account. Then block other browsers through App and Game Limits to prevent bypassing the filter
• If the child can access blocked apps, check whether they have administrator access on the computer. A child account should never have administrator privileges, as an admin can override parental controls. Verify their account type is Standard, not Administrator, in Settings, Accounts, Family

Need help setting up parental controls?

If you need help configuring parental controls on your Windows computer, LuxuriousComputers Repair can set up Microsoft Family Safety accounts, configure screen time limits, content filters, app restrictions, and activity monitoring to keep your child safe online.