Setting Parental Controls on Windows 10

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<figcaption>Setting up parental control on<strong> Windows 10</strong></figcaption>
</figure>

<h1>Setting up parental controls Windows 10</h1>

<p>For real internet safety, it is very beneficial for your family. Here is how to set up parental controls for Windows 10.</p>

<p><strong>Important:</strong> Windows parental controls provide incomplete protection. The most obvious gaps in protection are</p>

<ul>
<li>Website controls and filtering rules are only available for Microsoft’s browser and do not support popular web browsers such as Chrome or Firefox.</li>
<li>Because the <strong>‘block”</strong> setting is only <strong>ON</strong> or <strong>OFF</strong>, it under-blocks for young children and over-blocks for older children.</li>
<li>The content blocking setting applies only to a catalogue of previously known websites.</li>
<li>The settings are exclusive to Microsoft devices and will not cover other devices or device types your family uses.</li>
<li>Enabling these settings could conflict with your child’s ability to update or install applications they regularly use.</li>
</ul>

<h4><strong>Getting Started with Windows 10 Parental Controls</strong></h4>

<p>When your child is signed into a Microsoft device, Microsoft Family parental controls give you several options for filtering inappropriate web content, applications, and media:</p>

<ul>
<li>Limit web browsing in Internet Explorer or Edge to appropriate sites.</li>
<li>Filter mature content from search results.</li>
<li>Set age restrictions on apps, games, and media acquired through the Windows and Xbox stores.</li>
<li>Manage screen time, either via a schedule or a maximum number of hours.</li>
<li>Receive reports on web browsing and application usage.</li>
</ul>

<p>Windows 10 parental controls do have the advantage of applying across multiple devices. Users can't switch to their tablet after using up their screen time on the family PC – any device accessed through your child's account will be subject to the same limitations.</p>

<h4><strong>Setting Up Microsoft Parental Controls</strong></h4>

<p>Windows 10 parental controls; Add a special 'family' user account to your device, indicate that they are a child under your supervision, and set up content and usage restrictions through Microsoft Family.</p>

<ul>
<li>Internet access</li>
<li>One 'parent' Microsoft Account</li>
<li>Individual Microsoft Accounts for your kids</li>
<li>Access to your child's email account, or one created for this purpose</li>
<li>Administrator privileges on a desktop or tablet running Windows 10</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>Always do this on a desktop. </strong></p>

<p>You will only need access to your child's existing email account if they already have a Microsoft account of their own – they will receive an email asking to confirm they are family. Otherwise, you can send confirmation emails to an address generated specifically for the setup process.</p>

<h4><strong>Why Do I Need a Microsoft Account?</strong></h4>

<p>Microsoft Family's parental control system requires Microsoft accounts for at least one parent and one child. This lets you set, control, and monitor your child's devices from any Internet-connected device by logging in with your Microsoft account.</p>

<p>This means that the limits you set on content and usage will apply to any Microsoft system, from your desktop to the family Xbox. </p>

<p>If you didn't create a Microsoft account while setting up your system. You can create a Microsoft account and make the switch without losing any files, applications, or settings. Go to Settings > Accounts and click on “Sign in with a Microsoft account instead”.</p>

<p>Set Windows Parental Controls with these steps:</p>

<h4><strong>Setting Up Your Child’s Account</strong></h4>

<p>You’ll need to add a “child account” to your own Windows Settings menu. Once set up, set limitations and content controls through your Microsoft account.</p>

<ol>
<li>Windows Settings. Select <strong>Accounts.</strong><br />
<img alt="windows10 parental control, setting up windows 10 online family protection" src="/Portals/0/Antivirus Images/Windows-10-1.jpeg?ver=FpybtPJ5S6EuWrFPzKpcbg%3d%3d" style="border-width: 3px; border-style: solid; margin: 3px; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="windows10 parental control, setting up windows 10 online family protection" /><br />
 </li>
<li><strong>Family & Other People</strong> from the left-hand menu.<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Antivirus Images/Windows-10-2.jpeg" style="border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; margin: 2px; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="" /></li>
<li>Add a Family Member.<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Antivirus Images/Windows-10-3.jpeg" title="" /></li>
<li>Then <strong>Add a Child</strong>.<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Antivirus Images/Windows-10-4.jpeg" title="" /></li>
<li>“Add a Child" is selected by default. If not, click “The person I want to add doesn’t have an email address” and we’ll walk you through creating one for them.<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Antivirus Images/Windows-10-5.jpeg" title="" /><br />
<br />
 </li>
<li>Create a Microsoft account if you don’t already have one.<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/Antivirus Images/Windows-10-6.jpeg" title="" /></li>
<li>If you need to create a Microsoft Account, fill in your child’s email address (or one you create for this purpose) and details here. remember the password created.<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/AA_Mandeep/Windows-10-7.jpeg?ver=AvNd18SbU-EbximcRccGKA%3d%3d" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="" /></li>
<li>Sign in to account.<br />
 </li>
<li>You’ll have to sign in here with your own Microsoft password to confirm it’s you. </li>
<li>Confirm that your child can use the account to access online services.<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/AA_Mandeep/Windows-10-10.jpeg?" style="border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; margin: 2px; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="" /></li>
<li>Confirm that your child can use this account to access online services, such as Xbox Live, the Windows Store, and other internet-based Microsoft sites. </li>
<li>Consent to use of 3rd-party apps.</li>
<li>Here, you’ll need to consent to allow your child to use non-Microsoft applications and games, there will a small credit card charge here which they claim goes to charity. We spent 60 minutes searching their site to see confirmation of this charitable donation though. </li>
<li>Child’s Online Privacy Protection Act and unfortunately not optional. Microsoft donates this fee to charity.</li>
<li>Complete set-up.</li>
<li>Once you’ve completed the account set up process, you should see confirmation dialogue.</li>
</ol>

<h4><strong>Confirm Email & Accept Parental Supervision</strong></h4>

<p>Lastly, open the child’s email account. If you're setting up their Microsoft account for the first time, you’ll find two confirmation requests from Microsoft waiting – to verify their email address and to accept parental supervision of their account.</p>

<p>If they have a Microsoft account, you should only see the second email.</p>

<p>Complete the email verification, then accept parental control by clicking the blue button in this email:<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/AA_Mandeep/Windows-10-11.jpeg?" style="border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; margin: 2px; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="" /></p>

<h4><strong>Accessing Parental Control Settings</strong></h4>

<p>The Microsoft account is activated and you’re their responsible adult, set up and apply parental controls for the Windows 10 devices.</p>

<p>Head back to your <strong>Accounts</strong> menu under Settings. Under <strong>Family & Other People</strong>, your child’s account and a new option to <strong>Manage Family Settings Online</strong>.</p>

<p><strong><img alt="" src="/Portals/0/AA_Mandeep/Windows-10-12.jpeg?" style="border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; margin: 2px; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="" />Manage Family Settings Online</strong> & open the Microsoft Family parental control page</p>

<p>If your child’s account was set up successfully, your parental control page should look like this, with an entry for each child under your supervision:</p>

<p>To get you started, Look at the three control areas: </p>

<p><strong>A. Web Browsing, B. Apps, Games, & Media C. Screen Time</strong>.<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/AA_Mandeep/Windows-10-13.jpeg?" style="border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; margin: 2px; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="" /></p>

<h4>Blocking Mature or Inappropriate Web Content<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/AA_Mandeep/Windows-10-14.jpeg?" style="border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; margin: 2px; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="" /></h4>

<p>Windows will block search results and filter websites known to contain inappropriate content. However, there are a few weaknesses to web filter-based approaches, like the one Microsoft uses here to screen mature content. A website that hasn’t been added to the ‘adult content’ blacklist will be accessible, as will user-generated content (such as comments or social media posts) on otherwise ‘safe’ sites.</p>

<p>Microsoft's web filters work on Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge only. For this reason, Windows 10 parental control is not well-liked or rated by IT professionals. </p>

<p>Most decent parental control apps will;</p>

<ul>
<li>Block inappropriate content on all browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari – which Windows 10 doesn't.</li>
<li>Offers category blocking (i.e. suicide, drugs, pornography, gambling) that goes beyond Windows 10’s filter of only blocking mature websites.</li>
<li>Reviews web content as page loads in real-time</li>
<li>More options, facilities to enable real online family protection for better online safety</li>
<li>Alerts parents via email immediately if blocked websites are attempted.</li>
</ul>

<section class="call-to-action with-full-borders mb-xl">
<div class="call-to-action-content">
<h3><strong>How </strong>to <strong>Protect </strong>your <strong>Kids </strong>online!</h3>

<p>The <strong>#1 Selling</strong> book in our store</p>
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<h4>Selecting Appropriate Applications, Games, and Media<br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/AA_Mandeep/Windows-10-15.jpeg?" style="border-width: 2px; border-style: solid; margin: 2px; width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="" /><br />
 </h4>

<p>No child is allowed to use their Microsoft account to download adult games or movies. Windows 10 parental controls, you can fine-tune which content is available through the Windows and Xbox stores by specifying your child age. </p>

<p>Only material rated as appropriate for that age range will be available for download.</p>

<h4><strong>Setting Screen Time Limits and Schedules</strong><br />
<img alt="" src="/Portals/0/AA_Mandeep/Windows-10-16.jpeg?" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" title="" /></h4>

<p>Finally, even appropriate computer use should be subject to healthy limits. Windows 10 parental controls allow you to set up daily time limits and bedtimes for school nights and weekends.</p>

<ul>
<li>Time limits can be set from zero to twelve hours in half-hour increments. </li>
<li>The default access schedule is between 7:00 am and 10:00 pm which can be easily changed.<br />
 </li>
</ul>

<p>It’s also worth remembering that YouTube can also be a distraction during homework and at bedtimes so consider some rules around when and where they can access their mobile device – keeping them away from the closed doors of bedrooms can help keep you more in control of the time they spend on it.  We always recommend <strong>parental control. </strong>Here is our new recommendation Norton 360</p>

<section class="call-to-action with-full-borders mb-xl">
<div class="call-to-action-content">
<h3><strong>How </strong>to <strong>Protect </strong>your <strong>Kids </strong>online!</h3>

<p>The <strong>#1 Selling</strong> book in our store</p>
</div>

<h4><strong>Articles of Interest</strong></h4>

<p><br />
Make TikTok safer but not <strong><a href="https://besecureonline.co.uk/Blog/entryid/125/tiktok-made-safer-but-not-safe"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Safe</span></a></strong><br />
<br />
Don't spend a penny on your kids' online <strong><a href="https://besecureonline.co.uk/Blog/entryid/118/what-parents-want-from-parental-control-we-asked-you-told-us"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Safety</span></a></strong><br />
<br />
Internet Safety Tips for Kids – Keeping Kids Safe Online <strong><a href="https://besecureonline.co.uk/Blog/entryid/62/internet-safety-tips-for-kids-keeping-kids-safe-online"><span style="color:#3333ff;">Safe Online</span></a></strong><br />
 </p>

<h4><strong>Things to think about</strong></h4>

<p>Age-appropriate content Manage their screen time Want to learn more?</p>

<p>YouTube help:<br />
https://support.google.com/youtube/</p>

<p>More information for parents and carers:<br />
https://www.internetmatters.org/</p>