How to turn Parental Controls on or off in Windows 11 step by step

At home and in class, kids are surrounded by computers and mobile phones every day, so it's important to establish some order from the very beginning. Parental control in Windows 11 (Microsoft Family Safety) allows you to accompany, limit and monitor usage with great precision without complicating your life.

In addition to setting time limits and filtering content, you can approve purchases, receive weekly reports and decide which apps and games are used based on age. And if you want to protect it against "shortcuts," you'll see how to strengthen the device to enforce the limits. cannot be deactivated or bypassed.

What is the Microsoft family of apps and how does it work in Windows 11?

Windows 11 integrates the "Family" section within Settings and relies on the service Microsoft Family Safetyaccessible from any browser or its mobile apps. From there you manage limits, filters, and permissions for each child, and you can connect multiple devices (Windows PC, Xbox consoles and Android mobiles) under the same umbrella.

With the family set up, you'll see the following in a unified panel: screen time, apps and games usedThis includes browsing activity in Edge, searches, and spending. If you connect a console or mobile device, all that activity is also reflected to give you the complete picture.

Create and link the child's account

To begin, you need to create or add the child's profile. On your PC, open Settings and go to Accounts > FamilyInside you'll see the "Your family" section with the "Add someone" option, from where you can invite the minor by mail or telephone, or create a child account from scratch if you don't already have one.

During your discharge they will ask you for the birthdate of the minor and that you indicate your role as a parent or guardian. When linking both accounts, Microsoft will ask you consent to manage basic data (name and date of birth, among others) and thus activate child protection functions.

In that same process you can decide if the minor You will be able to use non-Microsoft applications.If you want a more closed environment, limit the use of third-party apps; this setting helps when you later activate web filters, since Alternative browsers are blocked for search filters and sites to work.

It is also possible to do everything from the browser on the page of account.microsoft.com/familyLog in with your account, tap "Add a family member" and follow the wizard to invite, create the child account and link it to your family group In a couple of minutes.

Allow PC login and first steps

Once the account has been added to the family group, return to Settings on the Windows computer and enter Accounts > FamilyIn "Your family" you'll see the new profile. Expand the options to the right of the name and tap "Allow login" so that the user can log into the PC.

If you need to adjust local permissions, use "Change account type" and select Standard userDo not give administrator rights to the minor: this way, any critical installation, uninstallation, or change will be beyond their control. It will ask for your administrator password. and you'll avoid surprises.

Once permissions are granted, have the child log in for the first time. After the initial setup, the device will be ready. linked to your accountIt's a good idea to restart your computer and log in again, as sometimes the computer association... it settles permanently from the second start.

Manage parental controls from Family Safety

With your account set up, manage everything from the website or the apps of Microsoft Family SafetyEnter the panel, choose the child's name and you will access their profile with shortcuts to the main sections: screen time, apps and games, content filters and expenses.

At the top you'll see at a glance "What's happening": the average of screen timewhich devices they use, the most active apps, searches and sites visited in Microsoft Edge, and whether there have been any downloads or purchases. Each card takes you to the details to adjust rules and View activity by day.

Screen time

In "Screen Time" you can set limits both at the device level and at the... applications and gamesIf you have multiple linked devices and consoles, there is an option to set the time limit. shared among all or define limits per device individually.

The limits are very flexible: set a total maximum usage for each day of the week and a specific time where the child can log in. This way you control not only how much the PC is used, but also during what times it is allowed.

Within "Apps and games" you'll see a list ordered by usage time with the most frequently used apps and titles. From there you can block an app completely or set daily limits and time ranges for specific applications, so that the child can only use them during the periods you decide.

Content filters

The content section focuses on Microsoft Edge, which is the browser that remains. linked to the family accountIf you enable search and site filters, Bing will apply strict SafeSearch, and for it to take effect, other browsers will be blocked automatically on Windows and Xbox when applicable.

In addition to the general filter, you can create custom lists: blocks specific domains or defines a White list with only the allowed websites. It's useful for initial stages or for times when you want a very restricted browsing environment.

In "Apps and games" within the content filters you can set a maximum age according to the ratings for apps, games, and multimedia content. If something is above that age, the child will need your approval. You can also add exceptions for allow specific apps even if they exceed the limit, or block others (for example, alternative browsers) even when they are within the age limit.

Expenses: balance, cards and approvals

The shopping section allows you to control spending in two ways: adding money to the account balance of the minor or link a card and require approval for each purchase in the Microsoft Store or in-game purchases.

Activate the option family approval For amounts above the limit you set, be sure to enable email notifications. Microsoft will notify you of every download or purchase, even when the price is €0, so you'll have complete visibility of everything that is installed.

Activity and visibility reports

Family Safety can send you a weekly report with summaries of screen time, apps used, searches and websites visited in Edge, and console activity if linked. This data helps detect excessive screen time, emerging interests, or sites you don't want to see, so adjust rules on the fly.

Quick access from Windows: "Family Options"

If you prefer to access it from within Windows itself, use the search function in the Start menu. Type "Family options"Open the result and tap "View family settings"; this will open the official Microsoft Family Safety website for you to log in and manage your group.

Within the site, you can add members Enter their email address or phone number and choose a role (Member or Organizer). An email invitation will be sent for them to accept, and once they join, you can adjust limits and filters for each person.

1. After accepting, return to your Windows PC, go to Settings > Accounts > Family and verify that the minor appears on the list.
2. Select the member and press "Allow login" so that the device is associated with your account when you log in for the first time.
3. To manage a specific person from the web, on their card click "More options" and choose "Go to overview", where all its settings are located.

If you need to remove someone from the group, go to the Family Safety website, open "More options" on their card, and select «Remove from the family group»The change takes effect immediately, and you will no longer share rules and activities with your family.

Harden Windows so that they cannot disable or bypass the controls.

For a tech-savvy teenager, it's advisable to combine Family Safety with Windows settings that raise the bar. The first pillar is the separation of roles: the minor always as a standard user and you with a different administrator account, with a strong password that you do not share.

With this scheme, any attempt to install or uninstall programs that require privileges will display the User Account Control (UAC) prompt asking administrator credentialsKeep UAC at its default level or higher so that it requests permission when making changes that affect the entire system.

To further strengthen software installation, in Settings > Applications you can set "Choose where to get apps from" to "Only Microsoft Store"This setting limits the installation to the store and, by requiring an administrator change to modify it, greatly reduces the input of unwanted programs.

Regarding navigation, with the content filters With Family Safety enabled, Edge blocks adult searches and websites, and, when appropriate, blocks other browsers from being used as shortcuts. You can go even further. blocking or uninstalling alternative browsers and any proxy or VPN app from the "Apps and games" section itself.

Regarding third-party blocking applications, if you use solutions like Cold Turkey, check their settings. password protectionStrict mode and exit blocking prevent unauthorized closure or rule changes. However, the strongest protection is system-level control: Standard account + UAC + Family Safety limitsThus, even if an app allows changes while there is no active block, the minor will not be able to install or remove tools without your approval.

Another useful trick is to schedule blocks and limits to cover sensitive times (school afternoons, evenings, and weekends) and protect the settings with your user account. If you need scheduled tasks, create the jobs with administrator credentials so that they cannot be edited from the minor's account.

App monitoring, age, and purchases: what you shouldn't leave unchecked

Set the appropriate age level for the child in "Apps and games". This way, Windows filters apps, games, and multimedia. that do not correspond to its stage and will ask for your approval when it tries to use content above its rating.

The expenses part is critical: you can choose between using prepaid balance You can either recharge your account yourself or link a card that requires your approval for each payment. Activate email notifications to also be notified of free downloads; it's a valuable extra alert for detect facilities that you hadn't planned for.

Windows 10 and minimal differences

If you live with PCs that still use Windows 10, the process is practically the same: open the search engine, go to "Family options" and click "View family settings" to go to the Family Safety website. The steps to invite by email or phone, choose a role (Member or Organizer), allow login Settings and managing limits are equivalent.

You can also do this on Windows 10 block apps and gamesYou can set age limits and filter content in Edge and Bing, as well as receive weekly reports. If you later upgrade that computer to Windows 11, the family settings will be available. is preserved by maintaining the same account as the minor.

Remove members and reorganize the family

Family groups change over time. When it's time to clean house, on the Family Safety website, open "More options" on the member's card and choose «Remove from the family group»If you need to set up local ordering on your PC, go to Settings > Accounts > Family to Review who can log in and withdraw permits if necessary.

Finally, remember that you can move someone to the role of Organiser if another adult will also be supervising. Any role change implies that this person will be able to manage boundaries and observe activity, which is helpful in homes where several tutors They share responsibilities.

With all of the above in place—a properly linked child account, time and app limits, content filters in Edge with blocking of alternative browsers, purchase controls, and a separate administrator account—you have a solid environment for your child to learn and enjoy technology safely. And if more stringency is needed, Windows 11 offers extra layers like "Microsoft Store Only" and, in professional editions, policies like AppLocker for Close the tap even more. without sacrificing the flexibility of everyday life.