How to set up Family Safety in Windows step by step

Microsoft Family Safety has become the key tool For those who want their children (and not-so-children) to use the home computer with some peace of mind, without having to stare at the screen all the time. Thanks to this parental control system integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem, you can set limits, filter content, and better control how Windows, Xbox, and mobile devices are used.

Setting up Family Safety in Windows isn't complicated, but there's a trick to it. If you want to take full advantage of everything it offers—from creating family groups and assigning different roles to controlling screen time, content filters, spending, and location—this guide will walk you through the process step by step, in detail, to ensure your child has a safe and age-appropriate experience.

What is Microsoft Family Safety and how does the family group work?

Microsoft Family Safety is a parental control platform Designed to help parents and guardians monitor and regulate their children's digital lives, this app goes beyond simply blocking websites or setting time limits. It also aims to promote healthy digital habits and a more balanced relationship with technology.

The heart of the system is the so-called family groupThis is simply a group of linked Microsoft accounts. Rules are applied within this group, settings are shared, and all activity reports are centralized. The group can include children, teens, and adults, and everyone is connected through the Family Safety website, mobile app, Windows, and Xbox.

Within the family group there are two distinct types of rolesThere are two roles: organizer and member. Organizers act as administrators; they create the group, invite others, and manage the settings. Members can be minors or adults, but minors are subject to the restrictions and controls set by the organizers.

Family Safety is available on several platformsOn Windows it unleashes its full potential, on Xbox it focuses primarily on age-appropriate games and content, in Android It allows you to manage mobile phone usage and location, and in iOS It is much more limited, basically serving as a monitoring panel for what is happening on other devices.

Microsoft's goal with this tool is not just to protectalso to educate, helping that There Screen time can be more productive and balanced. To achieve this, it offers a mix of technical limits (blocks, schedules, filters) and clear information (activity reports, summaries, spending alerts) that allow families to make informed decisions and discuss technology use.

Prerequisites and creation of the family group

Before tinkering with anything in Windows, it's important to understand a basic requirement.Each family member you want to monitor needs their own Microsoft account. This account is the identifier that will allow you to associate each activity, device, and setting within the family group.

The first step to setting up Family Safety in Windows You usually need to visit account.microsoft.com/family in your browser. From there, you can sign in with your adult account (the one that will be organizing the group) and start the process of creating the group, or join one that already exists if another adult in the household has already set it up.

Once you're on the family page, you'll see the option to add members.By clicking on “Add a family member,” you can enter the email address or phone number of the person you want to add. The system will ask you to indicate whether they will be a Member or an Organizer; for minors, it is usual to select “Member” and reserve the organizer role for the adults who will be managing the rules.

When you send the invitation, the recipient receives an email with a link. To accept and join the family group, you'll need to sign in with your own Microsoft account to complete the process. If you're a minor and don't yet have an account, you can create one now, providing your date of birth so the system knows you're a child or teen.

Alongside the web, Microsoft offers the Family Safety mobile app en Google Play and on the App Store. It's not required to install it to use parental controls on Windows, but it's quite convenient because it allows you to review reports, change time limits, approve requests, or view location from anywhere, without having to sit in front of the PC.

Creating and adding a child account in Windows 11 and Windows 10

For the restrictions to be applied correctly on the computer It is essential that the child uses their own account when logging into Windows. There are two ways to do this: create the account from the Family Safety website or do it directly from the settings. Windows 11 or Windows 10.

In Windows 11 you can start by going to Settings and then to AccountsInside, you'll see the "Family" section, which includes the "Your family" section. From there, you can tap "Add someone" to link a new child profile to the device. If the child doesn't have a Microsoft account, you'll see the "Create one for a child" option, which will guide you through the necessary steps, following our guide for Configure parental controls in Windows 11.

During the creation of the child's account, you will be asked for their date of birth.This is important to ensure the correct age restrictions are applied. You can also indicate that you are their parent or guardian, and you'll need to add your own email address to manage parental consent. During this process, you can even choose whether to allow the child to use non-Microsoft apps, thus limiting the installation of third-party software.

Another alternative is to do it from the classic user account settingsFor example, in Windows 10 you can sign in with your Microsoft account, press Win + I to open Settings, go to Accounts, and then to "Family & other users." From there you can select "Add accounts" next to "Add other users" and then "Create a user for this PC," entering your email address, password, name, and date of birth.

Once the minor's account is created, you will see that user in the Settings window. Listed as a member of your family. There you will see a link such as “Manage family settings or remove account” or “View family settings”; clicking it will open the official Microsoft Family Safety website so you can finish adjusting parental controls from your browser.

Link the child's Windows device to the family group

Having a minor account is only half the jobThe other half involves linking your Windows device to the family group so that Family Safety can measure usage time, apply filters, and display activity reports. Without this association, parental controls are only partially effective.

In Windows 11, the linking process goes through the family accounts section.After adding the child on the website, return to Settings > Accounts > Family. In the "Your family" list, you'll see their account and, to the right, a drop-down menu that will usually indicate that this person cannot log in to the device. You need to click "Allow login."

Selecting “Allow login” will open a confirmation window The system will ask if you want that member to be able to use the computer. Accept the request, and if you want to go further, you can also click on "Change account type" to ensure that the child has a standard profile and not an administrator profile, preventing them from modifying system settings.

In Windows 10 the process is very similarFrom the Windows search bar, you can type "Family Options" and open the corresponding panel. Then, click on "View family settings" to access the website, log in with your organizer account, and once the child has accepted the invitation, return to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users. There, select the family member and click on "Allow sign-in."

When the child already has permission to log in to the computerIt's important to do this at least once (ideally twice) using your own account. The first time you log in, the profile will be set up on the device and the PC will be registered with Family Safety. It's not uncommon for the system to fully complete the setup and registration process after a second restart and complete login.

Importance of the minor always using their own account

The entire parental control system relies on the child using their account And not another one when the computer is turned on. If it sneaks into the adult account or an unrestricted local account, all the rules you've set up in Family Safety won't do much good.

On a practical level, this means you'll have to spend some time explaining it to him. How to log in with their username, what their PIN or password is, and what they should do each time they sit down at the computer. It is the responsibility of adults to protect other accounts with strong passwords, avoiding simple passwords that the child can guess, and you can block access to the control panel when necessary.

If the minor needs to install something or make administrator changesThe idea is that you enter your administrator account password yourself when the system prompts you, instead of granting direct access to your user account. This way, the child maintains a controlled environment but isn't permanently locked out if, for example, they need to install a specific application for school.

Consistency in the use of the child's account is key for the reports that Family Safety shows make sense. If one day they use the adult's account, another day their own, and another day a guest account, screen time and online activity will be spread out, and you'll lose sight of what's really happening.

Using the Microsoft Family Safety app on mobile

Even if you configure almost everything from the PC, the Family Safety mobile app It offers great convenience for everyday use. You can download it from Google Play on Android or the App Store on iOS, log in with your organizer account, and see what's happening in your family group at a glance.

With the app you can manage virtually the same sections that on the web: activity, screen time, content filters, spending and location, or resort to apps to control mobile phone usage timeIt also allows you to receive notifications when the child requests more screen time, wants to install an app, or makes a purchase that requires approval.

On Android, the integration is quite complete.This is because the app can intervene more in the use of the mobile device, location, and certain permissions. On iOS, however, the active functions are much more limited, and it is mainly used as a monitoring console for what happens on Windows, Xbox, and other linked devices.

Regardless of the platform, the app's goal is to keep you informed Without needing to go to the computer every time. From the sofa, at work, or on public transport, you can modify schedules, grant extra time on occasion, or block an application that's causing problems.

Complete family group management from Windows and the web

If at any time you want to check who is part of the family group To change who's in charge, you can do so from Windows or directly from the account.microsoft.com/family website. Organizers have access to a central dashboard where they can see the list of members, their roles, and the option to manage each profile.

In Windows you can open the search bar and type “Family Options” To quickly reach this section, click the "View family settings" button to access the Family Safety website. There you'll see cards for each family member, and in the upper right corner of each card, a "More options" icon.

By clicking on “More options” about a family member You can select "Go to overview" to access all your settings: screen time, content filters, spending, location, and other details. From this same menu, you can also remove someone from the family group using the "Remove from family group" option.

When you choose to remove a member, the system will ask you for confirmation. Clicking on “Remove” will remove the person from the family group, so they will no longer be subject to the policies and limitations you have applied, and they will not appear in activity reports.

Activity reports: what the child does on their devices

One of the most interesting features of Microsoft Family Safety It's the activity report. It allows you to see, in considerable detail, how your child uses their devices: which apps they open, how much time they spend on the computer, which websites they visit, and what searches they perform on Bing.

For these reports to function correctly, there are two basic conditions.First, the child must use their own Microsoft account on the device; second, the device must be connected to the family group. From there, you can activate activity reporting from the child's dashboard, and even receive a weekly summary via email.

The report is divided into several sectionsThe "Apps and games" section shows what apps The list shows the child's usage and for how long, ordered by most frequently used content. If you have age-based content filters, you'll also see content that has been blocked for exceeding the permitted rating.

The "Web and search" section records the pages visited. and searches performed on Bing, provided that browsing is done with Microsoft Edge and with the session logged into the minor's account. If an attempt is made to access a website blocked by the filters, that attempt is also recorded, which can help detect specific interests or risks.

Finally, the "Screen Time" section provides daily data and weekly reports on how much time the child has spent using the device and during what times. This information is very useful for deciding whether to tighten limits or relax certain schedules based on routines such as homework, extracurricular activities, or weekends.

Screen time limits on Windows, Xbox, and mobile devices

Screen time limits are the main weapon to balance device use at home. With Family Safety you can decide which days and for how long your child can use their Windows PC, Xbox console, or even mobile devices connected.

These schedules can be as detailed as you want.You have the option to set a global daily limit for all devices (for example, two hours split between PC and console) or set different rules for each machine. You can also use the same schedule from Monday to Sunday or configure special days, such as more flexible weekends.

To create or edit these screen boundaries, you can go to family.microsoft.com Or use the Family Safety app. After logging in, select the child's profile and go to the "Screen Time" section. There you'll see tabs or sections for each platform: Windows, Xbox, or Mobile.

By selecting a platform, you can choose a specific day. and define both the total allowed hours and the intervals in which the device can be used. For example, you could allow one hour between 17:00 PM and 19:00 PM from Monday to Thursday, and extend the time frame on Saturdays and Sundays. Once you have finished adjusting the time slots, you save the configuration with a "Done" button.

In addition to the overall limit per device, Family Safety allows you to set specific limits. For specific apps and games. From the "Apps and games" section, you can set how much time your child can spend on a particular title or block it entirely. This is very useful when a specific app is taking up most of their screen time.

Content filters on websites, apps, and games

Another fundamental aspect of parental control in Windows is content filtering.This initiative focuses primarily on browsing with Microsoft Edge and age ratings for apps and games. The goal is to prevent children from encountering material that is inappropriate for their age.

In the navigation section, Family Safety can automatically lock adult websites and activate a safe search filter in Bing. This protection only applies when the child uses Microsoft Edge with their account logged in; if they use other browsers, that data will not be reflected in the reports and the filters will not act, unless the alternative browsers are blocked from the control panel itself.

Within the content filters panel you can refine furtherIt's possible to create a list of allowed websites, so the child can only browse those addresses, or a list of blocked sites, to prohibit specific pages even if they don't fall into adult categories. Educational or trusted websites can also be kept permanently accessible, or DNS solutions such as [insert DNS solution name here] can be used. OpenDNS for filtering at the network level.

In the “Apps and games” tab of the content filters You can set a maximum age for the apps and games that can be installed or used. Titles that exceed that rating will be blocked by default, although you can always make exceptions by manually allowing a specific app or game for that child.

It's important to remember to activate the filtering of inappropriate sites in Family Safety This can cause other browsers besides Edge to be disabled or severely limited for that child user. It's a way of forcing browsing to go through the environment that Family Safety can control.

Digital spending and purchasing management

Family Safety also helps keep track of money that minors spend in the Microsoft store and on Xbox, something especially useful if games, downloadable content or digital subscriptions are purchased at home.

The system is based on the idea of ​​giving them “freedom to spend responsibly”As the organizer, you can add money to the child's Microsoft account balance, which they can then use to buy games, movies, or in-app content, always within the available balance limit.

Another possibility is to link a payment method such as a cardBut it's set up so that your approval is required for every purchase. This way, even if the child sees something that interests them, the payment won't be completed until you give your approval through the website or app.

In the expenses panel you can also adjust filters by age.so that a purchase of a game with a rating above a certain rank requires organizer approval, even if there are sufficient funds. You can also activate notifications that alert you every time there is a transaction, including downloads free new apps or games.

If you prefer to play it safe, you can always choose not to add funds. Nor can you link a card to the minor's account. This way, they simply won't be able to make paid purchases, and any attempt to do so will be blocked or require your intervention.

Location, location alerts, and driving safety

Beyond content control and screen timeMicrosoft Family Safety includes location features designed for families who want to know where their children are at certain times of the day.

To use location services, each member must have the Family Safety app installed. on their mobile device and activate location sharing. From there, organizers can see on the map the approximate location of members who have agreed to share that data.

The platform allows you to save frequently visited places. such as school, grandparents' house, work, or the gym, and associate arrival and departure alerts with those locations. These location alerts are part of the additional benefits of a subscription to Microsoft 365 Familyand are useful for knowing, for example, when the child has arrived at school.

In addition to all this, Family Safety offers driving safety reports Designed for family members who drive, these features highlight habits like sudden braking or speeding. While not the core function of parental controls in Windows, they add an extra layer of awareness for families with teenagers who already drive.