How to Set App and Game Limits on Windows 11 using Microsoft Family Safety

Step 1Go to the Microsoft Family Safety Website

Microsoft Family Safety settings open the family dashboard. Users can access this dashboard using either the main app or the family website. This dashboard shows all family members' online activity, helping parents set limits for apps and games on Windows 11.

Option A: Use the Family Safety App

You can set app and game limits on Windows 11 using the Microsoft Family Safety app on your phone, which is a handy way to manage screen time if the person you want to manage is already in your Microsoft family group.

• Open the Microsoft Family Safety app on your phone.
• You will see a list of your family members. Tap the name of the person you want to set limits for.
• On their profile page, you will see options for different devices. Choose the one for the device you want to manage, usually “Windows/Xbox” or “Mobile.”

Option B: Use a Web Browser

Managing Windows 11 app and game limits is easy using any web browser by going to the Microsoft Family Safety website and signing in with your organizer account.

• Open your favorite web browser (like Edge, Chrome, or Firefox).
• Go to the Microsoft Family Safety website: family.microsoft.com
• Sign in using the adult organizer’s Microsoft account details for your family group.
• On your family dashboard, you will see a list of everyone in your family group. Click on the name of the family member you want to set app and game limits for.
• Just like with the app, select the device type you want to manage. Look for “Windows/Xbox” or “Mobile.”

Step 2Find the Apps and Games Settings

Once you’ve selected the family member and their Windows device in the Family Safety settings, look for the ‘Apps and games’ tab to manage their usage.

• On the family member’s profile page for the chosen device, find and click on the “Apps and games” tab or section.
• This is where you will see a list of apps and games the family member has used or installed on their devices. You will also see how much time they have spent on them.

Step 3Turn On App and Game Limits

To set time limits for apps and games on Windows 11, you first need to turn on the ‘App and game limits’ switch in the Family Safety settings.

• Look for a switch that says “App and game limits” or “Set limits.”
• Click or tap this switch to turn it On.

The first time you turn this on, Windows will begin tracking how the user spends time on apps and games for that device type. You might see a message saying it’s collecting data, which is normal.

Step 4Choose an App or Game to Limit

After turning on limits, you can choose a specific app or game to restrict by selecting it from the list shown in the ‘App and game limits’ section.

• In the “App and game limits” section, you should see a list of apps and games.
• Click or tap on the specific app or game you want to set a time limit for.

Duplicate app listings appear when the same app installs on multiple devices tied to a family's Microsoft account. Currently, users must set limits for each separate listing. Microsoft plans to make this process easier in a future update.

Step 5Set the Time Limits

You can set daily time limits for specific apps and games on Windows 11 by choosing how much time is allowed each day and when it can be used.

• After selecting an app or game, you will see options to set the time limits.
• You can choose a specific amount of time (like 1 hour or 2 hours) that the family member can use that app or game each day.
• You can also set a schedule for when that time can be used. This is very useful. You can set the same limits for every day of the week, or you can create a different schedule for each day. For example, you might allow more game time on weekends than on weekdays.

Reference:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/family-safety/set-app-and-game-limits

Summary

Windows 11 lets you set daily time limits for apps and games using Microsoft Family Safety, accessible via its app or a web browser, to control usage on Windows devices.