Windows parental controls

Configure Microsoft Family Safety to complement WhitelistVideo on Windows devices.

Video tutorial

Overview

Before you start

You'll need:

• A Microsoft account for yourself (parent/organizer)
• A Microsoft account for your child (create one here if needed)
• Your child's Windows 10 or 11 device
• About 15-20 minutes for setup

Step 1: set up Microsoft Family Safety

Create a Family Group

1. Go to account.microsoft.com/family (opens in a new tab)
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account
3. Click Add a family member
4. Enter your child's email or click Create one for a child
5. Select their role as Member
6. Click Next and send the invitation

Your child must accept the invitation by signing into their Microsoft account.

Install the Family Safety App (Optional)

For easier management from your phone:

• Android: Google Play Store (opens in a new tab)
• iPhone: Apple App Store (opens in a new tab)

Learn more: Get the Microsoft Family Safety app (opens in a new tab)

Step 2: Block Other Browsers

To ensure YouTube is only accessed through Chrome with WhitelistVideo, block all other browsers.

Block Browsers in Family Safety

1. Go to account.microsoft.com/family (opens in a new tab)
2. Select your child's profile
3. Go to Apps and games
4. Find and block these browsers:
   • Microsoft Edge
   • Firefox
   • Opera
   • Any other browser installed

Allow Google Chrome

Make sure Google Chrome is allowed in the app list so your child can use it with WhitelistVideo.

Official guide: Block or unblock apps with Microsoft Family Safety (opens in a new tab)

Step 3: Restrict App Installation

This is critical to prevent your child from installing alternative browsers.

Enable App Approval for Microsoft Store

1. Go to account.microsoft.com/family (opens in a new tab)
2. Select your child's profile
3. Go to Spending
4. Turn on Require organizer approval for app purchases and downloads

Block Desktop App Installation (Advanced)

To prevent installation of programs downloaded from the web:

1. On your child's Windows device, go to Settings → Apps → Apps & features
2. Under Choose where to get apps, select The Microsoft Store only (Recommended)

This prevents installing .exe files downloaded from websites.

Learn more: How to stop new programs being installed (opens in a new tab)

Step 4: Set Screen Time Limits

Control how much time your child spends on their device.

Configure Daily Limits

1. Go to account.microsoft.com/family (opens in a new tab)
2. Select your child's profile
3. Go to Screen time
4. Turn on Use one schedule on all devices or set per-device limits
5. Set daily time limits (e.g., 2 hours on weekdays, 4 hours on weekends)
6. Set allowed hours (e.g., 8 AM - 8 PM)

App-Specific Time Limits

You can also set time limits for specific apps:

1. Under Apps and games, select an app
2. Set a daily time limit for that app

Official guide: How to block apps, set limits & boost family time (opens in a new tab)

Step 5: Additional Security Settings

Disable Guest Mode

Prevent your child from using guest accounts to bypass restrictions:

1. Press Windows + R, type netplwiz, press Enter
2. Ensure the Guest account is disabled
3. Remove any additional user accounts your child could use

Keep Devices Updated

Microsoft regularly patches vulnerabilities in Family Safety. Keep Windows updated:

1. Go to Settings → Windows Update
2. Click Check for updates
3. Install all available updates

Known limitations

Content Filtering Only Works in Edge

Microsoft Family Safety's web content filtering only works in Microsoft Edge. Since we recommend using Chrome with WhitelistVideo, the content filtering won't apply to Chrome browsing.

Solution: Use WhitelistVideo for YouTube filtering. For general web filtering, consider a router-based solution or third-party software.

Desktop Apps Can Be Harder to Block

While Microsoft Store apps can require approval, traditional desktop programs (.exe) may be installable without permission if your child has administrator access.

Solution: Ensure your child's Windows account is a Standard User, not an Administrator. Create a separate Administrator account for yourself.

Browser Updates May Be Blocked

Family Safety sometimes blocks browser updates, causing issues.

Solution: Periodically review blocked apps and allow updates for Chrome.

Reference: Microsoft confirms Family Safety blocks Chrome (opens in a new tab)

Recommended Configuration Summary

Troubleshooting

My child installed a browser I didn't approve

1. Check if the app was installed from outside the Microsoft Store
2. Set Windows to Microsoft Store only apps
3. Ensure your child's account is Standard User, not Administrator
4. Block the newly installed browser in Family Safety

Family Safety settings aren't applying

1. Make sure your child is signed into Windows with their Microsoft account
2. Check that the device appears under your child's profile in Family Safety
3. Restart the device after making changes
4. Ensure the device has an internet connection

Chrome is being blocked

Microsoft Family Safety may sometimes block Chrome. If this happens:

1. Go to your child's app list in Family Safety
2. Find Google Chrome and explicitly allow it
3. If issues persist, check for Family Safety updates

Official resources

• Set up Microsoft Family Safety (opens in a new tab)
• Block or unblock apps (opens in a new tab)
• Filter websites and searches (opens in a new tab)
• Family options in Windows Security (opens in a new tab)

Next steps

After configuring Microsoft Family Safety:

1. Install WhitelistVideo Advanced Protection for Chrome-specific protections
2. Test that your child cannot install new browsers
3. Test that blocked browsers cannot be opened
4. Verify screen time limits work as expected