Ensuring your child's safety in the digital world is crucial in today's connected age. Managing screen time, filtering content, and keeping track of your family's online activities can seem daunting, especially if you're not tech-savvy. Microsoft Family simplifies this process, and with its integration into Windows 11, it's now easier than ever to create a secure digital environment for your loved ones.

Introducing Microsoft Family

Microsoft Family is a suite of parental control tools that allows you to monitor and manage your family's digital activities. With features like screen time limits, content filtering, activity reporting, and location tracking, it helps you keep your children safe and promotes healthy digital habits.

Previously accessible via the web or mobile apps, Microsoft Family is now available as a built-in app on Windows 11, streamlining the setup and management process directly from your desktop.

Key Features of Microsoft Family

Microsoft Family offers a range of features designed to help you manage your family's online experience:

  • Screen Time Limits: Set limits on how long your children can use their devices or specific apps and games across Windows, Xbox, and Android devices. You can also receive activity summaries to understand their usage patterns.
  • Content Filtering: Block inappropriate websites, apps, and games, or restrict browsing to kid-friendly content using Microsoft Edge. The filtering adjusts based on the age you set for each child, ensuring appropriate restrictions per age group.
  • Location Tracking: Keep track of your family's whereabouts with real-time location tracking. You can also receive location alerts (with a premium subscription) when family members arrive or leave specific places like home or school.
  • Shared Family Resources: Use shared family email, calendar, and OneNote to stay connected, coordinate events, and manage shared to-do lists or notes.
  • Spending Controls: Manage your children's spending in the Microsoft and Xbox stores by adding money to their accounts or requiring approval for purchases.

Note: Screen time features are not supported on iOS devices, but location tracking is available through the Microsoft Family Safety app on iOS.

Installing Microsoft Family on Windows 11

The Microsoft Family app is currently available for Windows 11 users who are part of the Windows Insider Program on the Dev channel. It is expected to become an inbox app for all Windows 11 devices in the future.

If you're enrolled in the Windows Insider Dev channel, ensure your PC is updated to the latest Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 22572.

If you're not a Windows Insider, you can still access Microsoft Family features through the web or by downloading the mobile apps on Android and iOS.

Step 1: Open the Settings app by pressing Windows logo key + i on your keyboard. Navigate to the 'Windows Update' section to check for updates and install the latest build.

Step 2: After updating and restarting your PC, open Settings again and go to 'Accounts' from the left-hand menu.

Step 3: Select 'Family' from the account options.

Step 4: Click on 'Open Family app' to access the app in the Microsoft Store.

Alternative Method: You can also open the Microsoft Store directly, search for 'Microsoft Family', and click 'Open' to launch the app without downloading.

Please note that currently, the app can only be opened from the Microsoft Store, and searching for it in the Start menu may not yield results. This is expected to improve in future updates.

Setting Up Microsoft Family

To use Microsoft Family, you and your family members must have Microsoft accounts. This includes accounts for each of your children and any other family members you wish to add.

If you're not already signed in to your Microsoft account on your Windows 11 PC, you'll need to do so. Once signed in, you'll be designated as an organizer, allowing you to set up and manage the family group.

Step 1: In the Microsoft Family app, click on 'Add a family member' to start adding profiles to your family group.

Step 2: Enter the email address associated with your family member's Microsoft account and click 'Next'.

Step 3: Choose the appropriate role for the family member. Select 'Member' for your children or 'Organizer' for other guardians. For adding a child, select 'Member'.

Step 4: Complete the CAPTCHA verification to send the invitation. The family member will receive an email invitation to join your family group.

Note: If you have multiple children, you can create individual accounts for each or have them share an account, depending on your preference.

Accepting the Family Invitation

Your child will need to accept the invitation to join the family group:

Step 1: Have your child open the invitation email and click on 'Join now'.

Step 2: The link will redirect to the Microsoft Family Safety website. Click 'Join now' to proceed.

Step 3: Fill in the required information, such as name and date of birth, and click 'Join now' again to join the family group.

Once they've joined, their account will appear in your Microsoft Family app, and you can begin managing their settings.

Managing Your Child's Account

With your child's account added, you can begin configuring their settings. Ensure that your child signs in to their devices—such as PCs, phones, or Xbox consoles—using their Microsoft account to enable monitoring and management features.

From the Microsoft Family app, click on your child's name to access their account details. The navigation menu on the left allows you to explore different features and settings.

Configuring Screen Time Limits

To set screen time limits for your child's devices and apps:

Step 1: Click on 'Screen time' in the navigation menu.

Step 2: You can choose to apply the same schedule to all devices by toggling 'Use one schedule on all devices' on. This will share the allotted time across all devices.

Step 3: To set limits for individual devices, ensure the toggle is off. Scroll down to the specific device and click 'Turn limits on'.

Step 4: Adjust the schedule by clicking on a day. You can set different schedules for each day or select 'Every day' to apply the same schedule throughout the week.

Step 5: Use the slider to set the total allowed time for device usage. You can also define specific time periods during which device use is permitted. If you prefer not to set specific time frames, delete them so your child can use the device at any time within the daily limit.

You can also set screen time limits for individual apps and games by switching to the 'Apps and games' tab in the screen time section.

Applying Content Filters

To ensure your child accesses appropriate content:

Step 1: Select 'Content filters' from the navigation menu.

Step 2: Turn on 'Filter inappropriate websites and searches'. This restricts web browsing to Microsoft Edge, where Bing SafeSearch filters out mature content.

Step 3: Add specific websites to the 'Allowed websites' or 'Blocked websites' lists as needed.

Optional: Enable 'Only use allowed websites' to restrict browsing strictly to the websites you've permitted. This is ideal for very young children.

Step 4: To manage app and game restrictions, switch to the 'Apps and games' tab within the content filters section.

Step 5: Set the age limit for content to automatically block apps and games above that rating. Microsoft Family will use your child's age by default but allows you to adjust it.

When your child attempts to download or access content above the set age limit, they will need your approval.

The 'Blocked apps and games' section displays any content that has been blocked. You can view and manage these items from here. To add more apps to the blocked list, visit the Screen time section.

Microsoft Family provides a comprehensive set of tools to help you manage your family's digital experience effectively. With its integration into Windows 11, setting up and maintaining a safe online environment for your loved ones is simpler and more convenient than ever.