As parents, keeping our children safe is our top priority. In today’s digital age, where kids are spending more time online, it’s essential to monitor their online activity. Parental controls are an effective tool that lets us manage and track our child’s digital activity. In this article, we’ll cover how to set up parental controls on Windows 10, which is one of the most widely used operating systems.
Why should you set up parental controls on Windows 10? Well, children are increasingly using digital devices to access the internet for various reasons, such as learning, entertainment, and communication. Unfortunately, the internet also has its share of risks, including exposure to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and online predators. Setting up parental controls on Windows 10 can help parents limit their children’s access to inappropriate content and protect them from potential harm.
Method 1: Setting up Parental Controls on Windows 10
Step 1: Creating a Microsoft Account
To set up parental controls on Windows 10, you need to have a Microsoft account. If you don’t have one, you can create it by following these simple steps:
- Go to the Microsoft Account Sign-up page.
- Enter your email address and create a password.
- Fill out the required fields, including your name, birthdate, and location.
- Click the “Create account” button.
Step 2: Adding a Child Account:
After creating your Microsoft account, you need to add a child account to set up parental controls.
Here’s how you can add a child account:
- Go to the Microsoft Account Family page.
- Click the “Add a family member” button.
- Enter the child’s email address, and click the “Send invitation” button.
- The child will receive an email invitation to join the family group. They need to accept the invitation and create their account.
Step 3: Customizing Parental Controls
Once the child account is created, you can customize parental controls according to your preferences.
Here are the different parental control options available in Windows 10:
- Find Your Family: Find your kids and Family members easily, and pinmark their location in a map.
- App and Game Restrictions: You can set age limits for the apps and games your child can access. Windows 10 has four age categories: Everyone, 7+, 12+, and 16+. You can choose the appropriate age limit for your child.
- Web Browsing Restrictions: You can also restrict your child’s web browsing by allowing or blocking specific websites. Windows 10 has three options for web browsing: Allow list, Block list, and Only allow these websites.
- Time Limits: You can set time limits for your child’s device usage. You can set the maximum amount of time your child can use the device per day or per week.
- Purchases and Downloads: You can restrict your child’s ability to make purchases or download apps and games from the Microsoft Store. And you can add money to your kid’s accounts.
- Activity Reports: Windows 10 provides weekly activity reports that show your child’s device usage, including the amount of time spent on the device, the apps and games used, and the websites visited.
Step 4: Managing Parental Controls on Windows 10
Changing Parental Control Settings:
You can change parental control settings anytime by following these simple steps:
- Go to the Microsoft Family page.
- Select the child account whose settings you want to change.
- Click “More options.”
- Select “Content restrictions.”
- Choose the appropriate option and click “Save.”
Monitoring Child’s Activity:
You can monitor your child’s device usage and activity reports by following these steps:
- Go to the Microsoft Account Family page.
- Select the child account whose activity you want to monitor.
- Click “More options.”
- Select “Activity reporting.”
- Review the weekly activity reports provided by Windows 10.
Method 2: Set Parental Control on Windows 10 Using the Microsoft Family Safety App
As parents, it’s important to keep an eye on our children’s activities on their devices, especially on the internet. Fortunately, Microsoft has made it easier for parents to set up parental controls on Windows 10 using the Microsoft Family Safety app. In this article, we’ll go over how to create a family group and set up parental controls using the app step by step.
What is Microsoft Family Safety app
The Microsoft Family Safety app is a free app available for Windows 10 devices that allows parents to monitor and control their children’s activities on their devices. The app provides features like screen time management, content filtering, location sharing, and activity reporting. It helps parents to ensure their children’s online safety and keep them away from harmful content.
How to create a family group
Before you can set up parental controls using the Microsoft Family Safety app, you’ll need to create a family group. Here’s how:
- Step 1: Open the Microsoft Family Safety app on your device.
- Step 2: Click on the “Create a family group” button.
- Step 3: Sign in with your Microsoft account, and follow the on-screen instructions to create a family group.
- Step 4: Once your family group is created, you can invite your family members to join the group using their Microsoft account.
How to Set up Parental Controls Using the Family Safety app
Now that you have created a family group, you can set up parental controls using the Microsoft Family Safety app. Here’s how:
- Step 1: Open the Microsoft Family Safety app on your device.
- Step 2: Click on the “Activity” tab to view your children’s activities.
- Step 3: Click on “Screen time” to set up screen time limits for your children. You can set up screen time for each day of the week and adjust the allowed time for different devices.
- Step 4: Click on “Content filters” to set up filters for your children’s browsing activities. You can choose to block or allow specific websites, set up filters for search engines, and block inappropriate apps and games.
- Step 5: Click on “Apps & games” to view the apps and games your children have installed on their devices. You can block or allow specific apps and games and view the ratings and age recommendations.
- Step 6: Click on “Location sharing” to enable location sharing for your children’s devices. This feature can help you keep track of your children’s whereabouts and ensure their safety.
- Step 7: Click on “Activity reporting” to view the activity reports for your children’s devices. You can view the websites they visited, the apps and games they used, and the screen time they had.
Method 3: Set Parental Control on Windows 10 Using Third-Party Parental Control Software
As parents, it’s our responsibility to ensure that our children are safe while using their devices, especially on the internet. One of the best ways to ensure their safety is to set up parental controls. While Windows 10 does offer a built-in parental control feature, third-party parental control software can provide more advanced features and customization options. In this method, we’ll give an overview of third-party parental control software, and popular options for Windows 10.
What is parental control software
Third-party parental control software is can be installed on a device to help parents monitor and control their children’s activities on the internet. These software applications offer more advanced features than the built-in parental control feature in Windows 10, such as real-time monitoring, location tracking, content filtering, social media tracking and app blocking. They can be customized to fit the needs of each family and provide parents with peace of mind.
Popular third-party Parental Control Apps for Windows 10
Here are five popular third-party parental control software options for Windows 10:
1. Qustodio
Qustodio is a powerful parental control software that offers advanced features such as screen time management, content filtering, social media monitoring, and app blocking. It allows parents to set up profiles for each child and monitor their activities in real-time. Qustodio offers a free version with basic features, as well as a premium version with advanced features. Read our full Qustodio review.
2. Net Nanny
Net Nanny is a comprehensive parental control software that offers features such as content filtering, time management, app blocking, and social media monitoring. It allows parents to customize the settings for each child and offers real-time monitoring. Net Nanny offers a free trial and a premium version with advanced features. Read our full Net Nanny review.
3. Norton Family
Norton Family is a user-friendly parental control software that offers features such as time management, content filtering, app blocking, and location tracking. It allows parents to set up profiles for each child and monitor their activities in real-time. Norton Family offers a free trial and a premium version with advanced features. Read our full Norton Family review.
4. Kaspersky Safe Kids
Kaspersky Safe Kids is a comprehensive parental control software that offers features such as screen time management, content filtering, app blocking, and location tracking. It allows parents to set up profiles for each child and monitor their activities in real-time. Kaspersky Safe Kids offers a free version with basic features, as well as a premium version with advanced features.
5. Famisafe
Famisafe is a powerful parental control software that offers features such as screen time management, content filtering, app blocking, and location tracking. It allows parents to set up profiles for each child and monitor their activities in real-time. Famisafe offers a free trial and a premium version with advanced features.
How to Remove Parental Controls from Windows 10
If you want to remove parental controls for a particular child account, follow these steps:
- Go to the Microsoft Family page.
- Select the child account whose parental controls you want to remove.
- Click “More options.“
- Select “Remove from family.“
- Confirm the action by clicking “Remove.“
Common issues with Windows 10 Parental Controls:
Despite being a useful tool, Windows 10 parental controls can sometimes cause issues.
Here are some common issues and their solutions:
1. Forgotten Password
If you forget your Microsoft account password, you can reset it by following these steps:
- Go to the Microsoft Account Sign-in page.
- Click “Forgot password?“
- Follow the on-screen instructions to reset your password.
2. Restrictions Not Working
If the parental control restrictions are not working, try the following solutions:
- Check the settings to make sure they are set up correctly.
- Restart the device.
- Update Windows 10 to the latest version.
3. Compatibility Issues
If you are facing compatibility issues with third-party software, try the following solutions:
- Update the software to the latest version.
- Contact the software vendor for support.
Conclusion
In conclusion, setting up parental controls on Windows 10 is a simple and effective way to monitor your child’s digital activity. By following the steps mentioned in this article, you can customize the parental control settings according to your preferences and ensure your child’s safety online.