🛡️ Parental controls and family safety
Microsoft Family Safety
By Microsoft. Visit Microsoft Family Safety
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Microsoft's free family tool for Windows PCs, Xbox and Android. A parent creates a family group, adds a child's Microsoft account, and then sets device and app time limits, filters websites and searches in Microsoft Edge, blocks mature apps and games, adds money with spending limits, and gets weekly activity reports. Kids can ask for more time or for a blocked site. Microsoft has said its location and driving-safety features are going away.
Our take: Worth turning on for any child with a Windows PC or Xbox; pair it with Apple or Google tools for phones.
| Ages it suits | kids and teens on Windows, Xbox and Android |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | A child under 13 (or a higher age in some regions) needs a parent's consent to create a Microsoft account; accounts made with consent are put in the parent's family group automatically. (terms) |
| Price | Free. Free (Oct 2026). Some features were tied to a Microsoft 365 Family subscription. |
| Works on | Windows, Android, iPhone and iPad |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | None |
| The AI in it | No AI. |
What's good
- Free and built into Windows and Xbox
- Kids can request more time or a site
- Spending limits for Microsoft Store and Xbox
- Clear privacy dashboard for parents
Watch for
- Web filter only works in Edge; other browsers get blocked
- Screen time limits do not cover iPhone
- Location and driving features being removed
- Kids can work around it on devices outside the family group
Data and privacy
Microsoft says it does not show personalized ads to anyone under 18 by account birthdate. Parents can view and delete a child's browsing history, searches, location activity and app use in the privacy dashboard; optional diagnostic data is off by default for children. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
The maker's own claims only; no independent study found.
In the Big Index
- On the list Top 10 setups for a child who wants an AI to answer their questions
- On the list 10 AI reading apps and reading coaches for kids
- On the list 14 AI tools that help kids with learning differences
- The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking: Self-Reported Reductions in Cognitive Effort and Confidence Effects From a Survey of Knowledge Workers
- Microsoft Learning Tools and Immersive Reader
- Study and Learn: AI built for your student
- Microsoft Family Safety
- The maker in the who's who: Microsoft
Alternatives to Microsoft Family Safety
Desk researchPaid
Amazon Kids Tablets (and Fire Kids tablets)
Amazon · ages 3+ and 6+ versions
A reasonable first tablet if you want Amazon's controls plus real Android apps; families who want a tightly closed device may prefer a device without the Play Store.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Amazon Kids+ and Parent Dashboard
Amazon · ages 3-12
A good-value bundle for families already on Amazon devices with kids 3-12; skip it if your child mostly uses an iPad or a phone.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Apple Messages and FaceTime (Communication Safety)
Apple · ages any age with a parent-made child account; teens 13-17
Worth turning on for any child with an iPhone or iPad; pair it with contact limits for younger kids.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Apple Screen Time
Apple · ages any age under 18
The first stop for any family whose child uses an iPhone or iPad; it does nothing on Android or Windows.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Apple Watch For Your Kids
Apple · ages kids who don't have their own iPhone; no set age
Good for iPhone families who want a phone alternative with strong contact controls; cheaper kids' watches exist if you only need calls and location.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Aura Parental Controls
Aura · ages kids and teens
Makes sense for families who already want Aura's identity protection; those who only need screen time limits can use free built-in tools.
Where these facts come from
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/family-safety
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/saved-places-and-location-alerts-97c31393-3863-6cf1-a290-950f89549fdc
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/family-safety/family-safety-data-collection-and-privacy-options
- https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/family-safety/set-up-microsoft-family-safety
- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/privacy/privacystatement
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.