How to Configure Microsoft Family Safety on Windows 11
Microsoft Family Safety is a free set of management tools. It helps you monitor what your kids do on Windows 11 computers, Xbox consoles, and Android phones. You can set screen time limits, block apps and games, and see where family members are. It works the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro, because the controls are tied to the Microsoft accounts, not the Windows edition.
Setup takes a little effort because the options are split between Windows and the online Family Safety website. Account and group tasks happen on the website, and the child’s sign-in happens on the PC. The steps below cover creating the family group, connecting child accounts, setting limits, blocking apps, and removing members. Menu labels can differ slightly as Microsoft updates the site and the app.
Open family.microsoft.com and sign in with your adult organizer account, select your child’s profile, then set screen time limits and daily allowances from the Family Safety website. The limits apply once the child’s device reconnects to the internet.
Set Up Your Family Group
Before you can limit screen time or block apps, you need two things. First, a family group, which you create online with an adult Microsoft account. Second, the child’s Microsoft account, signed in on the Windows 11 computer. Without both, the limits have nothing to attach to.
The guides below cover the whole process. In short, the order is:
- Sign in to the Family Safety website with the adult account that will be the organizer.
- Create the family group and add each child by email address or by creating a new Microsoft account for them.
- Have the child accept the invitation. You should then see their name listed in the group on the website.
- Sign in to the child’s Microsoft account on the Windows 11 computer. A local account is not covered by Family Safety, so the child must use a Microsoft account on the PC.
If the child does not show up on the PC, check that the invitation was accepted and that the PC is online. Family Safety settings sync through the internet, so an offline computer will not receive new limits until it reconnects.
Manage Screen Time and Daily Limits
Once the family group is ready, you can cap daily device use. You can set a schedule, such as no use after bedtime, and set a total number of hours per day. You can also limit time for individual apps and games. The guides below show each option.
Keep these points in mind while you set limits:
- Limits only apply on devices where the child is signed in with their own Microsoft account.
- Changes are made on the website or in the Family Safety app, not on the child's PC. They reach the device the next time it is online.
- You can undo any limit by opening the same screen and turning the schedule or limit off, or by raising the allowance.
Block Specific Apps and Features
You can also stop apps, games, and AI tools that are not right for your children from opening. This covers specific programs on the PC as well as tools such as Copilot. Use the guides below to set it up.
Some details are worth knowing first. App and game limits are set per child, not per PC. Web filtering works with Microsoft Edge only, so Family Safety blocks other browsers on the child's account when filtering is on. If a block does not seem to apply, make sure the child is signed in on the PC with the right account, then restart the app or the PC.
Manage Family Group Membership
As children grow up or family situations change, you may need to take someone out of the family group. The guide below shows adults and older teens how to leave a family group safely.
Their Microsoft account still exists, but it is no longer managed by you. Removing someone is not easy to reverse, because you would have to send a new invitation and the person would have to accept it.
Common questions
How do I set screen time limits on 🪟 Windows 11?
You set screen time limits from the Family Safety website with an adult account. This works from any browser, and you do not need to touch the child's PC.
- Go to family.microsoft.com and sign in with your adult (organizer) account.
- Select your child's profile. You should see an overview of their devices and activity.
- Open the Screen time section. You should see the devices linked to your child, such as the Windows 11 PC and an Xbox console.
- Choose the device and set a daily allowance, or set the hours the device may be used each day. Do this for each device, or use the option to apply one schedule across all devices.
The limits take effect the next time the device is online. To remove a limit, return to the same screen and turn the schedule off.
How do I block an app using Microsoft Family Safety?
You can block a specific app or game from the same dashboard. This works for apps on the child's Windows 11 computer.
- Sign in to the Family Safety website with your adult account.
- Select your child's profile.
- Open the app and game limits section (or the content restrictions section, depending on what the page shows you).
- Find the app or game in the list. It only appears after the child has used it on a device where they are signed in.
- Choose to block it. You should see it marked as blocked.
To undo the block, open the same list and unblock the app. If the app you want is not listed yet, have your child open it once while signed in, then check again.
Can my child bypass Microsoft Family Safety limits?
Do not give your child administrator rights on the PC, because that makes it much easier for them to work around the controls. If they try to open a blocked app or run out of time, they can send a request asking for more time. The request goes to you, the organizer, and you decide whether to approve it.
How do I remove a child account from Microsoft Family Safety?
Only an organizer can remove a child account. An adult organizer must sign in to the Family Safety website to do it.
- Go to family.microsoft.com and sign in with the organizer account.
- Find your child's name in your family group.
- Click the options menu next to the name.
- Select the option to remove them from the family group, and confirm if asked. The child should no longer appear in your group.
Once removed, your limits no longer apply to that child. To add them back later, send a new invitation.
Frequently asked questions
How to set up parental controls?
Parental controls on Windows 11 come from Microsoft Family Safety. Create a family group at account.microsoft.com/family using an adult Microsoft account, then add your child's Microsoft account as a member. Have your child sign in to their Windows 11 PC with that account. Screen time limits and app blocks then apply to that PC.
How to set up family safety in Windows?
Family safety on Windows 11 runs through a Microsoft family group. Sign in with an adult Microsoft account, create a family group on the Microsoft Family Safety website, and add your child's Microsoft account. Then your child signs in on their PC, and you choose their limits online.
How to set up Microsoft family safety?
Create a family group at account.microsoft.com/family with an adult Microsoft account. Add your child's Microsoft account as a member. If your child doesn't have one, create it during setup. Then have your child sign in to their Windows 11 PC with that account, so the limits you set can apply.
How to use Microsoft family safety?
Open Microsoft Family Safety at account.microsoft.com/family or in the Family Safety app, and select your child. From there, set screen time limits, block apps and games, or check their location. Changes apply to the devices your child signs in to with their Microsoft account, including Windows 11 PCs.
How do you turn on the parent controls on a desktop computer 🪟 Windows 11?
Parent controls on a Windows 11 desktop are turned on through Microsoft Family Safety, not a single switch on the PC. Create a family group online, add your child's Microsoft account, and have your child sign in to the desktop with it. Then set limits from the Family Safety website.
How to request more time Microsoft family?
When your child's screen time runs out, they can ask for more time on the device. You get a notification from Microsoft Family Safety. Open the Family Safety app or website to approve or deny the request. An approved request adds time on that device.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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