How to set parental controls in Windows 11 devices

Parents face a tough challenge: protecting their kids online without limiting their access to essential digital learning.

As more educational tools move online, finding the right balance is more important than ever. A trusted report reveals that 54% ^[1] of jobs in developed countries now require digital skills. By over-restricting screen time, parents may unintentionally hinder their child’s development of these vital skills.

Digital literacy is no longer just an advantage; it’s essential for future career success. Over-restricting screen time could prevent children from acquiring the expertise they need to thrive in a digital-first world.

Windows devices are helping maintain this balance by setting up family group and set limits with parental controls that safeguard children’s online experience while promoting learning. With the flexibility of parental controls on Windows 11, parents can support their children’s growth in a connected world while ensuring their safety.

What are parental control settings on a Windows 11 PC?

Parental controls on Windows 11 are tools designed to help parents monitor and manage their children’s digital experience on a Windows PC. These built-in features allow parents to enforce rules, ensure safe content, and track online activity without needing third-party software.

When setting up parental controls for Windows 11, you can:

• Limit screen time to help prevent excessive usage and promote healthy habits.
• Block inappropriate websites to protect kids from harmful or adult content online.
• Manage apps and games by setting age-based restrictions or blocking specific apps entirely.
• Monitor activity by receiving regular reports on what websites and apps their child is using.

This ensures that parental controls on Windows 11 help create a secure and safe computing environment, promoting positive digital habits.

Why should you set up a child account using parental controls on Windows 11?

Parental controls for Windows 11 offer an easy and effective way to safeguard your child’s digital habits on a Windows 11 PC. With built-in parental control features under Microsoft Family, you can set up parental controls to block inappropriate content, limit screen time, and manage app access. This step-by-step guide to using Windows 11 parental controls helps you protect your kids while promoting healthy online behavior. Whether you’re using a PC in a shared family space or managing devices remotely, Windows 11 makes it easier for every parental figure to stay in control and ensure a secure digital experience.

What is Microsoft family safety in Windows 11 devices?

A Family Account in Windows 11 lets you manage and protect children’s devices across your household. Once you add someone to your family using a Microsoft account, each person gets their own login, while the organizer can set screen time, manage family options, and filter websites they visit.

Parental controls are handled via the Microsoft Family app, available on both Windows 10 and Windows 11. After you join the family group, you can use features like turn limits, search filters, and app controls to help keep children safe, whether on Xbox and mobile devices, or any Windows 11 PC.

This step-by-step guide will show you how to set up parental controls for all the people to your family group using a PC. From blocking specific web and search content to limiting time online, Microsoft’s built-in tools let you take control, irrespective of the operating system your child uses. You can even track search terms and receive weekly emails summarizing their activity.

How do parental controls work in a family group on Windows 11?

Windows 11 gives parents a suite of basic parental control tools through the Microsoft Family Safety app. These features help manage screen time, web filtering, and activity tracking across various children’s devices. But first, let’s break down what you can control with Windows 11 parental controls:

• Screen time management: Parents can set turn limits for how long a child uses their device. Windows 11 allows you to restrict device usage based on specific hours and across devices, whether it’s a Windows 11 PC, Xbox and mobile devices, or Android devices; as long as they’re linked to the Microsoft account used in your family group. You can also set limits per app, giving better control over time online.
• Set age filters: You can set content restrictions using search filters and age limits. These filters block search results, web and search activity, and apps rated above a certain age. If your child attempts to access restricted content, a request is sent to you to approve via email or directly through the family options panel.
• Web content filtering: With Microsoft Edge, parents can filter websites they visit. Block adult content, gaming sites, and other unwanted categories with Web content filtering to help keep children safe. This can be done right from the Family app or on your Windows 11 PC.
• Activity reports: Using the Family Safety app, parents receive detailed weekly emails showing websites they visit, apps used, and search terms. These activity reports help you spot patterns and guide better conversations about privacy settings and healthy usage habits. They’re accessible by selecting your child’s Microsoft account in the open family app interface.
• Location tracking: For mobile devices, location tracking is available via the Family app. It shows your child’s last known location, very handy when they’re out with friends or walking home from school.
• Purchase request management: Before a child uses the Microsoft Store to download or buy apps, they’ll need approval. Notifications are sent via email, and you can instantly accept or deny requests, keeping spending in check.

How to set parental controls on your Windows 11 devices? A step-by-step guide

To set up parental controls on Windows 11 and Xbox, both you and your child need Microsoft accounts. Your account will be the parent account, and your child’s account will be linked to yours. As the parent, you can enable controls and monitor activity reports related to your child’s use of the device.

Before you start, make sure your account is set as an administrator. Keep your password private to prevent your child from making changes, resetting your PC, or turning off parental controls.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on setting up parental controls in Windows 11:

1. Right-click the Windows icon on the taskbar. Select Settings.

2. In the Settings menu, click Accounts.

3. Click Family & other users.

4. To create a new Microsoft account for your child, select add account. Choose Create one for a child or also add a family member account. 

5. Enter your child’s email address, then click Next.
   If you’re not logged into your Microsoft account, you’ll need to sign in first. Parental controls won’t work without a Microsoft account.

6. Set a password for the account, then click Next.

7. Enter your child’s name. Add your child’s birthday, then click Next.
The birthday helps Windows automatically apply age-based restrictions.

Once the setup is complete, your child’s account will be linked to your Microsoft account, and a pop-up will confirm the process is finished.

What are the limitations of Windows 11 parental controls

While Windows 11 parental controls offer a decent start for basic monitoring, they often fall short when managing multiple users or devices within your family’s setup. Here’s where the limitations begin to show:

1. Limited customization for multi-user environments: Lacks detailed control for different age groups or user roles.
2. Inconsistent restrictions across devices: Restrictions must be set individually on each device, leading to inconsistency.
3. Works with only Microsoft accounts: Family Safety app is limited to Windows devices, complicating cross-platform management.
4. No continuous monitoring across devices: No real-time tracking across devices, making centralized management difficult for parents.

5. Limited browser control: Only Edge is filtered, leaving browsers like Chrome or Firefox unrestricted.
6. App and game limitations: Restrictions are based on age ratings, with no control over specific apps or games.
7. Time limits are not granular: Screen time limits apply to the whole day. Time slots or specific apps are not considered.
8. Easily circumvented by tech-savvy kids: Kids can bypass controls using different browsers, incognito mode, or new accounts.
9. No real-time monitoring or notifications: No live tracking or instant alerts when rules are violated.

Breaking the limits of parental controls with MDM

Windows 11 parental controls work for single users, but managing multiple devices gets complicated. Without centralized oversight, applying consistent rules or monitoring device usage takes extra time and effort. In setups with huge families, tutoring environments, or shared systems, manual configurations lead to inconsistencies and gaps in protection.

Centralized control allows for unified policy enforcement, scheduled screen time, content filtering, and real-time monitoring. It simplifies management, reduces the risk of misconfigurations, and ensures a safer, more consistent digital experience for all users.

Here’s how an MDM solution helps:

• Manage multiple devices easily: Makes it easy to manage different types of devices from one dashboard. Whether you have a Windows desktop, tablet, or laptop, you can set the same rules for screen time, content filtering, and app usage on all devices.
• Custom control for each device: Offers more control than Windows 11. Depending on the user’s age, you can create different profiles for each device. For example, you can have stricter rules for younger kids and more relaxed ones for older kids. You can also block or allow certain apps.
• Kiosk mode: Allows you to create a locked-down experience on your child’s Windows 11 device, turning it into a dedicated kiosk. You can restrict the device to a single app or a set of apps. By limiting the number of available apps, you also reduce screen time, ensuring the device is used only for its intended purpose, like educational tools or age-appropriate games.
• Real-Time alerts and monitoring: Monitor device activity in real time. If your child tries to access blocked content or bypasses restrictions, you’ll get an instant alert. This helps you stay on top of things without checking every device all the time.
• Flexible screen time management: Set personalized screen time schedules. For example, you can limit screen time during school hours or after bedtime, giving you more control over when your kids are using their devices.
• Location tracking and geofencing: Adds a smart layer to parental controls on Windows 11 by setting virtual boundaries for where a child’s device can be used. It helps parents get real-time alerts if a device leaves approved zones like home or school. This adds both location-based safety and smarter screen time enforcement.
• Easy-to-read reports: Enables parents to generate reports that give clear insights into their child’s device usage. With these reports, parents can make better decisions about their child’s device usage. It offers granular reports to further enhance device management and oversight, such as:
  • Device On/Off reports: Provides insights into the number of times your child turns the device on and off.
  • Unlock attempts reports: Tracks the number of times your child has attempted to unlock the device.
  • Connectivity history: Provides detailed information about the Wi-Fi and mobile networks to which your child’s device was connected.
• Advanced content filtering: It’s a known fact that Windows 11 has basic content filtering. But, MDM solutions can take it further. You can block harmful websites across all devices, set up content categories, and apply time-based rules for internet access.

Closing thoughts

While Windows 11 offers basic parental controls, it falls short when managing multiple devices. It lacks cross-platform support, customization, and centralized monitoring, making it challenging for parents and IT admins to oversee diverse devices effectively.

Scalefusion MDM solves this by providing a unified platform for managing all devices in the home. Parents can monitor and control screen time, app access, and security settings from a single interface, saving time and reducing the risk of oversight. They can also enforce consistent rules across all devices, promote healthier habits, and quickly address any security concerns. Detailed usage reports also enable informed conversations with children about online safety and digital well-being.

It simplifies device management, ensuring children’s safety while they navigate the digital world. It’s the perfect solution for families and businesses that need better control across different devices and platforms.

References:
1. OECD Report

FAQs

1. Can I monitor my child’s online activity?

Yes, you can monitor your child’s online activity using Windows 11 parental controls. With the Family Safety feature, you can view their web browsing history, app usage, screen time, and location (if they use a mobile device). Once you know how to set up parental controls on Windows 11, it becomes easier to track activity across all devices linked to your Microsoft Family Group.

For deeper monitoring like keystroke logging or social media tracking, consider adding a using third-party UEM solution for Windows such as Scalefusion UEM alongside built-in tools.

2. Does Windows have built-in parental controls?

Absolutely. Parental controls on Windows 11 are built into the system under the Microsoft Family Safety settings. They allow you to:

• Set screen time limits
• Filter web and app content
• Approve or block app installations
• Monitor online activity

These Windows 11 parental controls are free to use and work across Windows devices and Xbox, as long as your child signs in with a Microsoft account.

3. How to stop children from bypassing parental controls on Windows?

You can reinforce parental controls on Windows 11 so your kids don’t outsmart the system:

• Use a local standard account: Avoid giving them admin rights.
• Disable Guest Mode: Prevent anonymous access.
• Block command-line and task manager: Stops app terminations and system changes.
• Secure the BIOS: Lock boot order to avoid external OS loading.
• Monitor login patterns: The Family Safety dashboard sends weekly reports.

Despite how smart kids can be, well-configured Windows 11 parental controls with regular monitoring make bypassing extremely difficult.

5. What is the best parental control app for Windows?

While parental controls on Windows 11 are decent, they aren’t bulletproof. If you need granular control, content filtering, social media tracking, or geofencing, consider these top-rated tools:

• Scalefusion – for IT admins managing multiple child/student devices, a user-friendly interface, strong content filter
• Norton Family – Best for safe browsing
• Bark – Great for monitoring texts and social media
• Net Nanny – Real-time internet filter

These apps complement Windows 11 parental controls and offer more layered protection, especially useful if you’re managing tech-savvy teens or school-owned devices.

6. How can I get the computer to require a password when installing & uninstalling apps?

To set up parental controls that require a password before apps can be installed or uninstalled on a Windows 11 PC, you need to add your child to your Microsoft Family group. Then, assign them a child account and keep your own account as the family organizer. Windows 11 automatically restricts child accounts from making system-level changes, including installing or removing apps, unless an administrator (you) enters their Microsoft account password.

This is a built-in way to protect your kids from downloading unwanted or unsafe content on a Windows 11 device. It’s especially effective when paired with other Windows 11 parental controls like app blocking and content filters.

7. Is there anyway I can make it so that the app requires a password to be accessed that is secure? 

Windows 11 does not offer native, per-app password protection as part of its parental control features. However, you can still manage app access securely using a combination of Microsoft Family Safety settings and folder-level permissions. With Windows 11 parental controls, you can block specific apps or restrict them based on age ratings.

For example:

• Log in to the Microsoft Family Safety dashboard
• Choose your child’s profile
• Go to the App and Game Limits section
• Block access to any app you don’t want them using

If you’re using a shared Windows 11 PC, you can also protect apps by:

• Moving them into folders with NTFS security permissions
• Denying access to the child’s account

Although this isn’t a true “password for each app,” it’s a secure method to enforce privacy and screen time rules on a per-app basis. To go further, third-party software can provide more advanced controls, but within the Microsoft Family ecosystem, this is the most secure setup using built-in tools.

8. That’s easy enough when the PC is in a family room or common area, but what if you want to manage your children’s screen time when you’re not around?

Microsoft Family Safety makes it easy to manage screen time and other parental control features even when you’re away from the Windows 11 PC. Once you set up a Microsoft Family group and assign each child a profile, you can use the Microsoft Family Safety app (available on iOS, Android, and Windows) or the web dashboard to:

• Set daily screen time limits for Windows and Xbox devices
• Schedule access windows (e.g., 2 hours between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
• Approve or deny app requests in real time
• Receive weekly reports on app usage, screen time, and browsing history

This remote management feature means you don’t have to be physically near the PC to make changes. Whether you’re at work, traveling, or simply in another room, you can set up parental controls and enforce privacy settings on your child’s Windows 11 device from anywhere. This is essential for maintaining consistency in rules and ensuring your kids stay safe online, regardless of where you are.