Microsoft family is just one of the many benefits of having a Microsoft account. It’s a free service that helps families stay connected, and keep kids safer on Windows 10 and Xbox One devices, along with Android devices running Microsoft Launcher. You’ll find settings like activity reporting, screen time limits, location sharing, and content restrictions on account.microsoft.com/family, where you can also track kids’ spending and add money to their Microsoft accounts.
How to set up your Microsoft family
The easiest way to set up and manage your family is on account.microsoft.com/family where you can invite members to join. Once they accept, you can start setting limits, scheduling events on your family calendar, and if you already use Skype, you’ll have a family group chat set up and waiting for you.
For more information on managing members of your Microsoft family, please see the following:
Add members to your Microsoft family
Remove members from your Microsoft family
Activity reporting
Get weekly email reports of your child’s online activity on Windows 10 and Xbox One devices, along with Android devices running Microsoft Launcher. You can also review it on account.microsoft.com/family anytime. You’ll see websites they visit, their browsing history, apps and games they use, and how much screen time they had. Activity reporting is a great way to keep an eye on things and adjust family settings accordingly.
Screen time
Want your child to have some time away from technology? Schedule when they’re allowed to have screen time, and when you’d rather they were doing something else. (“Go play outside!”) Use one schedule for all Windows 10 and Xbox One devices, or set separate schedules for each. Your child can ask you for more time – for homework, of course – and you can easily respond through email or on account.microsoft.com/family.
Content restrictions
The content restrictions you set determine what kind of stuff your child can get, from the websites they visit and games they play, to whether they need adult approval to buy things in Microsoft Store. Content restrictions are comprised of three settings: Ask a parent; Apps, games & media; and Web browsing. You set the rules, and you decide when to break them—like screen time, your child can send you exception requests for content that you can respond to through email or on account.microsoft.com/family.
Ask a parent
Say no to surprise spending by requiring adult approval for the things your child wants to buy in Microsoft Store, except what they get with gift cards or money in their Microsoft account. Even when Ask a parent is turned off, you’ll still approve content that exceeds the age limit you set in the Apps, games & media section that we’ll talk about next.
Apps, games & media
It’s all fun and games… until your child is using an app that’s too mature for them. You can block inappropriate apps, games, and media on Windows 10 and Xbox One devices by setting an age limit for content; anything rated above it will need adult approval.
Block inappropriate apps, games & media
Web browsing
Help protect your child from surfing adult content on the web when they use Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer browsers on Windows 10 and Xbox One devices. We block many sites automatically, but you can also block or allow specific sites, or choose to only allow your child to visit sites you’ve said are OK.
Spending
Keep an eye on their shopping—see your child’s recent purchases, view their payment options, and add money to their Microsoft account, all in one place. Sign in with your Microsoft account on account.microsoft.com/family, find your child’s name, then select More options > Spending.
Find your child
Give yourself peace of mind and check in on your child's location whenever you need to. Make sure they made it home safely from school, or use it when they're out with friends. They'll just need a Windows 10 phone or an Android device running Microsoft Launcher.