Xbox parental controls: how to set them up

At a glance

Checked October 2026. Menus change with updates; the official help page linked above has the latest steps.

Facts for parents, not medical or legal advice. If you're worried about your child, talk to your pediatrician.

How to add your child to an Xbox family group

Short answer: Sign in to the Xbox Family Settings app and add your child as a member.

1. Sign in to the app with your Microsoft account, then select Continue.
2. Select the green Accounts icon at the top right of the Family screen.
3. Select Add child, then Create new account (or Add existing account if your child already has one).
4. Follow the onscreen steps to set your child's name, birthdate, and age.
5. Adjust any settings, then select All done.

How to set an age filter for Xbox games

Short answer: Choose an age under Apply age filters; anything rated higher needs your approval.

1. Open the app and go to Settings for your child (select their tile, then the Settings icon).
2. Select Content restrictions.
3. Under Apply age filters, choose the age limit for games, apps, and other content.

Check that your child's birthdate on their Microsoft account is correct first; age settings depend on it.

How to set Xbox screen time limits

Short answer: Set days, a daily time limit, and a time range in Screen time.

1. Open the app and select your child's tile.
2. Select the Screen time tile.
3. Under Schedule, select the schedule you want to change.
4. Set Days of the week, a Time limit (in 30-minute steps), and a Time range for when play can start and end. The app saves automatically.
5. To give extra time today, select Add time now under Activity.

How to manage multiplayer, chat, and friends

Short answer: Use the Social, Multiplayer, Cross-network play, and Clubs tiles in your child's settings.

1. Open the app and go to Settings for your child.
2. Select the Social tile to choose how your child can communicate with other players and whether they can follow others.
3. Select the Multiplayer tile and use the toggle to block or allow multiplayer.
4. Select the Cross-network play tile to block or allow play with people on other gaming services.
5. Select the Clubs tile to block or allow clubs.

How to turn on Ask to buy on Xbox

Short answer: Turn on Ask to buy so every purchase sends you a request.

1. Open the app and select your child on the home screen.
2. Under Spending, select the Ask to buy tile.
3. Turn on the Ask to buy toggle.
4. To give an allowance instead, select Add money under Microsoft account balance.

On the web, the same setting is at the Microsoft Family Safety site: More options > Spending, then Require approval for every purchase.

What these settings can't do

• Gift cards skip approval. Xbox says approval isn't needed for using currency or Xbox gift cards.
• Some games don't need a sign-in. Free and trial games can be played without a signed-in account, so screen time limits don't apply; Xbox suggests an access PIN and offline content limits.
• Other devices aren't covered. Family settings might not apply when Xbox games are played on other devices or platforms, outside an Xbox console, the Xbox app for Windows, or cloud gaming in a browser.
• Mobile games aren't covered. Xbox says the Family Settings app has no settings that extend to mobile gaming experiences.
• Your password is the lock. If a child knows your Microsoft account password or can use your phone, they can approve their own extra screen time.

Parent guides for Xbox

What is the Xbox Family Settings app?

It's an iOS and Android app that lets adult organizers manage the screen time, content, spending, and online activity of children in their Xbox family group. There's no child version.

Can I set Xbox parental controls without the app?

Yes. Many settings are also on the console (Profile & system > Settings > Account > Family settings) and on the Microsoft Family Safety website.

Do Xbox screen time limits work on a PC?

Xbox says content and screen time limits apply to Windows PCs when your child signs in with the Microsoft account that's in your family group.

Can my child ask for more time on Xbox?

Yes. Children can send a request for more screen time, and you can approve it in the app or add time yourself with Add time now.

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