How to enable and configure parental controls in Windows 11

Digital security for children It is, today, one of the biggest concerns for mothers, fathers, and guardians. Almost unlimited access to information and smart devices has brought many benefits, but it also entails risks that can affect both the privacy and well-being of children online.

Windows 11 has adapted to the new reality and offers a much more advanced and user-friendly parental control system than previous versions, allowing families to set limits, block inappropriate content, and effectively monitor their children's online activity. In this guide, I explain How to activate and configure parental controls in Windows 11 in detail, adding tips and Tricks basic and advanced to take advantage of all the possibilities and have maximum peace of mind at home.

Why is it important to enable parental controls in Windows 11?

The digital environment is full of advantages, but also threats. For children: cyberbullying, grooming, accidental access to inappropriate content, excessive computer use, uncontrolled digital purchases, among others. Allowing minors to browse freely without supervision can open the door to dangerous situations, no matter how much you trust their common sense.

Windows 11 Parental Controls contains tools designed to protect minors.From content filters, screen time limits, app and game restrictions, activity monitoring, and spending controls. It's not about spying, but rather about supporting and guiding digital learning, encouraging the development of good habits and teaching them how to use technology responsibly.

Establishing these limits is a pillar of digital education., as it helps prevent addictions, promote rest and offline play, and maintain open conversations about the online environment, generating trust and responsibility in both adults and children.

How Windows 11 Parental Controls Work: The Basics, Your Microsoft Account, and Family Safety

The entire Windows 11 parental control system is integrated into Microsoft's 'Family' platform., a feature designed to help you manage and monitor the accounts of minors within the same family group.

To be able to use all the advanced options, The starting point is that both the adult and the child have a Microsoft account. (not a local one). This way, all management and restrictions are synchronized across devices, stored in the cloud, and you can monitor activity even while you're away from home using mobile apps or the Family Safety website.

Therefore, the initial step will be to link your child's account to the family group associated with your Microsoft account. This process can be done from the PC itself or online, and it's essential that the child ALWAYS uses their personal account for the restrictions to take effect. If they log in with another account, all measures will be ineffective.

Create and associate a child account

Security begins by creating a separate account for the minor with their actual age. This is not only key to ensuring parental controls work properly, but it also allows you to customize content filters and time limits based on age.

• Open the Configuring Windows (shortcut: Win + I).
• Sign in Accounts > Family.
• Click on Add someone and select the option Create an account for a minor if you don't have it yet.
• Enter your first name, last name, and a valid email address (you can create a new one in Outlook).
• Set a strong password for your child to use when accessing the device for the first time.
• Indicates the birthdate real for Windows to correctly apply age controls.

During the process, you'll need to link your account as a parent/guardian and grant the necessary consent permissions for Microsoft to manage your child's data in accordance with applicable law.

Linking and logging the minor into their account

Once the account is created, it is essential to allow the minor to log in to their own profile:

• Go back to the section Family in the settings.
• Locate the minor's account added and press Allow login.
• Have your child log in for the first time. After the first login and a restart, the account will be fully configured and linked to the PC.

It is important that the minor always uses his personal account and that adults keep their own protected with strong passwords to ensure security.

If you have more than one device at home , the portable, other computers, Xbox or mobile phones, you can add them all to the same family account to centralize management and have a more complete view of usage in your home.

Managing parental controls from Family Safety: What you can restrict and monitor

Parental controls are managed through Family Safety (https://account.microsoft.com/family), which is available on both the web and mobile app. From here you can:

• View screen time of each minor and all linked devices.
• Control and limit specific apps and games allowing their use or restricting them.
• Filter web content en Microsoft Edge, activating options safe mode and blocking specific categories or sites.
• Set digital spending limits and receive alerts or request authorization for purchases.
• Receive detailed reports of activity, including websites visited, apps used, searches and daily time.
• If you have Xbox consoles or devices with mobile apps, you can apply shared time limits and review all activity in one place.

The system automatically notifies the email address whenever the minor downloads an app, makes a purchase, or accesses a blocked website, helping to maintain effective supervision.

Screen Time Limits: How to Set Schedules and Breaks

Regulating children's screen time helps prevent sleep, concentration, and sedentary lifestyle problems. Windows 11 makes this management easier:

• Sign in Family Safety > Screen Time.
• Select specific devices or apply global limits.
• setup personalized schedules for each day, allowing more time on the weekend and less during the week.
• Set time slots and define the maximum number of minutes or hours per day to use the PC.

When the limit is reached, the system logs you out or blocks access.Only an adult with permission can extend it at specific times.

This flexibility helps create healthy routines and avoid excessive device use.

App and Game Lock: Full control over software

En Applications and games Within Family Safety, you can see how much time your child uses each program, block specific apps, limit them by age, and set schedules for games and apps.

• Review the apps and games used and the time spent on each one.
• Apply total or partial blockages according to content and preferences.
• Set the maximum age rating to downloads and executions, avoiding violent or adult titles.
• If the minor requests access to a blocked app or game, you'll receive a notification to approve or deny.

This control works on all devices synced with the minor's account, ensuring centralized and effective management.

Filtering web content and searches: Protecting your internet browsing

Web filtering allows you to block inappropriate content and manage searches:

• It only works in Microsoft Edge, although it can be configured in other browsers with limitations.
• Active Content filtering and safe searches on Bing.
• You can create white lists with permitted sites so that minors only access those specific websites.
• Categories such as adult content, violence, and gambling are automatically blocked.
• Any attempt to access blocked websites is logged, and you can receive alerts to review them.

Filtering can be customized, adding allowed or blocked websites as your needs grow and change.

Expense control and digital purchases

Digital spending and purchase tracking helps you manage transactions for games, downloads, and services:

• Check out all expenses and downloads made by the minor.
• Requires authorization for each purchase and receive notifications to approve or reject transactions.
• Set a balance limit, link supervised cards, or disable purchases completely.

Activity Reports: Monitoring and Transparency

Family Safety reports offer detailed data on the use of the equipment:

• Total and per-device screen time.
• Most used apps and games, with schedules.
• Websites visited and searches on Bing.
• Attempts to access prohibited content and system actions.
• Purchase history and expenses made.

These reports can be sent automatically by email and encourage open dialogue with the minor, adjusting restrictions and promoting responsible use.