How to Protect Your Windows PC with Microsoft Family Safety
What your children are doing on their laptops shouldn't be one of your worries as a parent since you likely have plenty to worry about. Today, we'll demonstrate how to use Microsoft Safety Family to secure your kids' curious minds and fully take control of your home network.
A full array of monitoring and filtering features are imbued into your Windows account by Family Safety, enabling you to erect a virtual wall to monitor and control online, app, and gaming activities. You are in charge, in other terms.
Microsoft has had plenty of time to perfect the Microsoft Family Safety parental controls package, which is extensive and quite effective. It checks off every item on the wish list for parental controls; best of all, using it is free. Any machine running an adequate version of Windows is compatible with using it.
This article covers how to activate, modify, or turn off parental controls in Windows. This article's instructions work with Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.
How to Turn on the Parental Controls in Windows 10
Both you and your kid must have a Microsoft Account to utilise the most currexnt versions of Windows Parental Controls and Microsoft Family feature (not a local one). Although you may create a Microsoft account for your kid before configuring Windows 10's parental controls, it's easier and more direct to create the account after setup. Whatever choice you choose, start by following these instructions.
The parental controls described here are only activated when a youngster signs in to a Windows device with their own Microsoft Account. These settings won't stop them from using their Apple or Android devices, accessing a computer using someone else's account, or using their friends, school's, or other computers (even your account).
1. To open the Windows Settings app, choose Start and then select Settings.
2. Choose Accounts.
3. Choose Family & Other Users from the left-hand menu.
4. If your kid doesn't have a unique account on your device, choose Add a Family Member. A wizard for Microsoft Account is started in this phase.
5. Choose Add a Child, then type your child's email address or choose The Person I Want To Add Doesn't Have An Email Address. TIP: Finish the wizard's pages one by one. Depending on whether the kid already has an email account or not, the wizard presents several questions.
6. Read the provided details (what you see depends on your choice in the prior stage), then pick Close.
You'll see that the kid has been added to your list of family members in Windows Settings and that the status is Child if you acquired a Microsoft Account for your child via the procedure mentioned above. The account is prepared for usage, and parental controls are configured using the most popular settings. Instruct the youngster to log into their online account to finish the procedure.
You will be requested to log into your current Microsoft Account and follow the instructions in the invitation email if you want to use an existing Microsoft Account throughout the procedure. The account's status in this instance will be Child, Pending. The setup procedure must be finished by the youngster logging in while online. Family safety feature settings may also need to be manually applied; however, this relies on many variables.
Locate, modify, turn on, or off parental controls (Windows 10)
Although there's a strong likelihood that the standard Windows Family Safety feature settings are already enabled for your child's account, it's best to make sure they fulfill your requirements. To check the settings, modify them, turn them on or off, or activate reporting for a Microsoft Account:
1. Choose Manage Family Settings Online under Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & Other People.
TIP: You can also enter "family" in the search field next to "Start." Choose View Family Settings from the Family Options menu.
2. If asked, log in. Then use the list of accounts associated with your family to find the kid's account. To access the Screen Time tab, click Screen Time under your child's name.
3. Utilize the drop-down menus and daily timeframes to alter the default Screen Time Settings.
4. Choose Content Restrictions from the More Options menu next to your child's name.
5. Switch on Block Unsuitable Websites and Block Unsuitable Apps. Add any websites or applications you want to prohibit or allow, then choose the appropriate age category.
6. Expand Manage under the Activity tab selection. If you want to receive weekly reports on your child's online activity, choose Turn on Activity Reporting and Email Weekly Reports to Me.
TIP: Your kid must use Edge or Internet Explorer to block problematic websites and get reports on their online surfing behaviour. It is possible to block alternative browsers.
7. Explore different settings as much as you like.
Parental Controls for Windows 8 and 8.1
It is necessary to first establish an account for your kid to activate Parental Controls in Windows 8 and 8.1. This is done under the PC Settings. You may specify the required settings for that kid's account from Control Panel.
- Hold down the Windows key while pressing C on the keyboard.
- Make the option Change PC Settings.
- Accounts, Other Accounts, and Add An Account are all selectable options.
- Select Create An Account for a Child.
- If it's feasible, choose to establish a Microsoft Account rather than a local account as you go through the prompts.
To set up parental controls:
- Launch the Control Panel. You may look for it on the Desktop or the Start screen.
- Select Set Up Parental Controls For Any User under User Accounts And Family Safety.
- Choose the kid's account.
- Enforce Current Settings is the option under Parental Controls.
- Select Gather Data Regarding PC Usage under Activity Reporting.
- Choose your preferred configuration by clicking on the links for the following choices:
- Blocking certain websites and preventing downloads with web filtering
- Limitations on how much time and days your youngster may spend on the computer
- Set age, title, and rating restrictions on the applications your kid may use using Windows Store and Game Restrictions.
- Set your child's access to specific applications using app restrictions.
7. You'll get an email detailing how to access the Microsoft Family Safety login page and its features. You may monitor activity reports and adjust online from any computer if your kid has a Microsoft Account.
Parental Controls for Windows 7
Like Windows 8 and 8.1's parental controls were set up above, you may configure Windows 7's parental controls from the Control Panel. In Control Panel > User Accounts > Give Other Users Access To This Computer, you must set up a child account for the kid. Follow the prompts to complete the procedure.
Now that's done:
- In the search box, click the Start button and enter "Parental Controls."
- In the list of results, choose Parental Controls.
- Choose the kid's account.
- Create passwords for any Administrator accounts if requested.
- Select Enforce Current Settings under Parental Controls.
- Time Limits, Games, and Allow And Block Specific Programs are available by selecting the corresponding links, configuring settings as necessary, and then selecting Close.
Conclusion
As you can see, Microsoft's Family Safety is a suitable option for straightforward, trouble-free parental controls on your Windows-based PCs. It has everything and, at least at home, makes quick work of a chore that may otherwise seem insurmountable.
The Parental Controls and Family Safety control panels on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, respectively, are directly integrated by Microsoft Family Safety. By the time you're done, we hope you'll wonder how you ever got by without it if you're a parent and your children use Windows-based PCs.
Related Questions
1. Does Windows support FamiSafe?
A. Yes. For computers running Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire tablets, FamiSafe parental control software is available.
2. How do I set up parental restrictions for the internet?
A. By using your router's admin interface, the built-in parental controls for Google Chrome and other browsers, or third-party parental control applications, you may configure parental controls for the internet.
3. Why would someone use Microsoft Family Safety?
A. Use Microsoft Edge on Xbox, Windows, and Android to establish appropriate limits, block problematic applications and games, and restrict surfing to kid-friendly websites.
4. Can Microsoft Family Safety See search history?
A. Even if you delete your history, information about your Microsoft Edge web surfing activities (such as the websites you visit or search keywords you employ) will be provided to your family organiser for review at any time on family.microsoft.com.
