How to Hide or Show Family Options in Windows Security

This guide explains how to hide or show the Windows Security app Family options section in Windows 11. The Windows Security app is a built-in tool that shows your computer’s health and security status. It covers areas like virus and threat protection, firewall and network security, Account protection, App and Browser Control, and Device Security.

Why do this? The Family options section helps manage screen time and online safety for children. You might want to hide it if you do not use these features or want to prevent others from changing these settings.

What happens when done? Once you finish these steps, the Family options menu will either disappear from your security dashboard or reappear, depending on the choice you made.

Using the Local Group Policy Editor

Note: This method requires admin privileges.

First, open Local Group Policy Editor by clicking the Start Menu and searching for “Edit group policy.” Select the result to open the tool.

In the left menu, follow this path:

Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Security > Family options

On the right side, double-click the setting named “Hide the Family options area.”

Choose one of these settings:

• Not Configured: This is the default setting.
• Enabled: Hides the Family options area.
• Disabled: Shows the Family options area.

Using the Windows Registry

Note: This method requires admin privileges.

If you cannot use the Group Policy Editor, you can use the Windows Registry instead. Open the Windows Registry and go to this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Family options

If the folders do not exist, right-click the “Windows” key to create them.

Right-click in the empty space on the right, select New, and click DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it UILockdown.

Double-click UILockdown and set the Value data to:

• 0: Shows the Family options section in Windows Security app.
• 1: Hides the Family options section.

Restart your computer to save your changes.

Summary

You can manage the visibility of the Family options section in Windows Security using either the Local Group Policy Editor or the Windows Registry. Both methods allow you to hide or show the menu to suit your personal preferences. For more details, see Microsoft.com.