Microsoft Family Safety is a free app that helps parents manage their children’s screen time, online activity, and location. It also allows parents to set limits, filters, and permissions for their children’s devices and accounts. Here are some steps to use Microsoft Family Safety to keep your children safe online and offline.
- Download the Microsoft Family Safety app from the App Store or Google Play Store on your device and your child’s device. You can also access it from a web browser at https://account.microsoft.com/family/.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account and create a family group. You can invite your child to join the group by sending them an email or a text message. They will need to accept the invitation and sign in with their own Microsoft account.
- Once your child joins the family group, you can see their activity report on the app or the web. You can see how much time they spend on their devices, what apps and games they use, what websites they visit, and what search terms they use. You can also see their location on a map if they have location sharing enabled on their device.
- To set limits and filters for your child’s device and account, go to the Settings tab on the app or the web. You can choose from the following options:
- Screen time: You can set daily or weekly limits for how much time your child can use their devices. You can also set a schedule for when they can use them, such as during school hours or bedtime. You can also pause their screen time at any time or give them extra time if needed.
- Content filters: You can block or allow specific apps, games, websites, and categories of content for your child. You can also set age ratings for apps and games based on your child’s age and maturity level. You can also enable safe search to filter out adult content from search results.
- Ask to buy: You can require your child to ask for your approval before they can buy or download anything from the Microsoft Store. You will receive a notification on your device or email when they make a request, and you can approve or deny it.
- Activity reporting: You can choose whether to receive weekly or daily email summaries of your child’s activity report. You can also turn off activity reporting if you don’t want to monitor your child’s online activity.
- To set permissions for your child’s location, go to the Location tab on the app or the web. You can enable or disable location sharing for your child’s device, and you can also see their location history for the past seven days. You can also create safe places, such as home, school, or a friend’s house, and get notified when your child arrives or leaves those places.
- To communicate with your child and other family members, go to the Family tab on the app or the web. You can send messages, photos, videos, emojis, and stickers to your family group chat. You can also see your family members’ battery levels and contact information.
Microsoft Family Safety is a powerful tool that helps parents keep their children safe in the digital world and beyond. By following these steps, you can use it to set healthy boundaries, protect your child from inappropriate content, and stay connected with your family.