Safeguarding Minors on Windows 11

Target Audience: Parents and Guardians

Important Disclaimer

This document is provided by Evatech Computers for informational purposes only. While Windows 11 offers robust parental control features, no solution is 100% effective against all online risks. Digital safety requires ongoing parental supervision and open communication. Evatech Computers provides the hardware and general software guidance but does not assume responsibility for the effectiveness of these controls, the content accessed by users, or any bypass of these systems. Use of these features is at the discretion and risk of the account organiser.

Part 1: User Roles & Initial Configuration

Phase 1: The Foundation (Accounts)

For parental controls to work, Windows must understand who is an adult and who is a minor. This is handled via Microsoft Accounts.

1. The Administrator (Organiser): The primary adult should be the first person to sign into the PC during setup. This account becomes the "Family Organiser."
2. The Minor (Member): Every child should have their own separate Microsoft account.
   • Tip: If they don't have one, you can create a "child account" during the setup process within Windows.
   • Why? Using a shared "Family" login or letting a child use an Admin account bypasses all safety features.

Phase 2: Setting Up the Family Group

You don't need to be on the specific PC to manage these settings; you can do it from any browser.

1. Go to family.microsoft.com and sign in with your (the adult's) account.
2. Click "Add a family member."
3. Enter the child's email address. They will need to log into their email and "Accept" the invitation to join your family group.
4. Once they accept, their name will appear in your Family Safety dashboard.

Phase 3: Core Safeguards

Once the child is a "Member" of your group, you can configure the following features:

1. Screen Time Limits
   Rather than specific "hours," focus on the Daily Schedule.
   • Device Limits: Set a total number of hours allowed per day (e.g., 2 hours on weekdays, 4 on weekends).
   • Downtime: Set "Off-limit" hours (e.g., no PC usage between 9:00 PM and 7:00 AM).
   • Requests: If a child runs out of time, they can click a button to "Request more." You will receive a notification on your phone or email to approve or deny it in real-time.
2. Content Filtering (Web & Search)
   • Browser Restriction: These filters work best with Microsoft Edge. Windows will automatically block most other browsers (like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox) if filters are active to prevent the child from "surfing around" the protections.
   • SafeSearch: This forces Bing to filter out adult text, images, and videos from search results.
   • Allowed/Blocked Sites: You can explicitly block specific URLs or, for younger children, use the "Only use allowed websites" mode to white-list only the sites they need for school.
3. App and Game Limits
   • Age Ratings: Set an age ceiling (e.g., "Up to Age 12"). Windows will automatically hide or block apps and games in the Microsoft Store that exceed this rating.
   • Specific App Blocking: If a certain game is becoming a distraction, you can set a time limit specifically for that app, separate from their total PC time. This is a useful distinction to ensure, for example, that you're not blocking them from being able to do homework on the PC.
4. Spending & Purchases
   • Ask to Buy: Enable this to receive a notification whenever the child tries to download an app or game that costs money.
   • Allowance: You can add a balance (e.g., $20) to their account so they can manage their own small purchases without needing your credit card details on their profile.

Phase 4: Maintenance & Best Practices

• The "Standard User" Rule: Always ensure the child's account type on the PC is set to Standard, not Administrator. Administrators can disable the Family Safety services.
• Password Security: Ensure your "Organiser" account has a strong password and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). If a child learns your password, they can grant themselves infinite screen time.
• The Mobile App: Download the Microsoft Family Safety app on your iOS or Android device. It allows you to adjust limits and approve requests instantly while you're away from the desk.

Part 2: Ecosystem Boundaries & Third-Party Applications

Does Microsoft's Family Safety cover third-party apps?
No: either not at all depending on your Microsoft account settings, or at the very least; not effectively & granularly.

Think of Windows as the "house" and apps like Google Chrome, Discord, or Steam as "private rooms." Microsoft can lock the front door (screen time) and monitor what happens in the hallways, but it cannot see inside the rooms of non-Microsoft apps.

To ensure you're still in control with third-party apps your child may need to use, we recommend a multi-layered approach.

1. The "Standard User" Gatekeeper
   The single most effective way to control what is on a PC is to ensure the minor's account is a Standard User, not an Administrator.
   
   • Why? Standard Users cannot install new software or change system-level security settings without an Administrator's PIN.
   • The Result: If your child tries to download a new browser or an unapproved game, a pop-up will appear asking for your password. This gives you total "veto power" over what is installed on the Evatech system.
2. Managing Third-Party Browsers (Chrome/Firefox)
   Microsoft's web filters and activity reports only work on Microsoft Edge.
   • The Limitation: If a child uses Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft cannot block specific websites or track their history.
   • Our Advice: We recommend using the "App Limits" feature in your Family Safety dashboard to either Block Chrome/Firefox entirely or set a 0-minute limit on it, forcing the use of Microsoft Edge where your filters remain active.
   • If you want to use Chrome: You will need to sign into the child's Google Account within Chrome and enable "SafeSearch" and "Parental Controls" via Google's own Family Link settings (which is like Microsoft's Family Safety).
   • With Firefox: It checks for the PC's parental controls and sets itself to Prefer:Safe mode if on. See here for more info.
3. Gaming Safety (Steam/Epic Games)
   Gaming platforms have their own internal ecosystems and stores.
   • Steam Families: Steam has "Steam Families," which allows you to set a PIN-protected "Family View." This lets you decide which games in the library are visible to the child and restricts access to the Steam Store and Chat.
   • Epic Games Store: Similar to Steam, Epic allows you to set a Parental Control PIN that is required to purchase games or download titles above a certain age rating (e.g., MA15+).
4. Communication Apps (Discord)
   Discord is a common platform for gamers, but it is largely unfiltered by Windows.
   
   • Family Center: Discord has a "Family Center" feature in their settings. By linking your account to your child's, you can see who they are befriending and what servers they are joining, without reading their private messages.
   • Recommendation: Because Discord is a live social platform which offers text, voice, and video chat, we suggest restricting its use to shared family areas of the home rather than private bedrooms.

The Golden Rule: If an app has its own login (Google, Steam, Discord), it likely has its own parental settings. Always check the "Settings," "Family," or "Privacy" section of every new app installed on the PC.

Part 3: In-Game Communications & Social Privacy

Similarly to third-party apps covered in part 2, Windows can control when a game is played, but it cannot control what is said inside the game's own chat system. Most popular multiplayer games now include their own dedicated parental control dashboards.

1. The "Big Three" Game Safeguards
   If your child is playing any of the following, we recommend these specific steps:
   
   • Fortnite (Epic Games): * Fortnite has an extensive Parental Controls menu in the game's main settings.
     • You can set a 6-digit PIN to lock these settings.
     • Recommendation: Set "Voice Chat" and "Text Chat" to Friends Only. This prevents your child from hearing or talking to strangers in the lobby.
   • Roblox: * Roblox now uses Age Verification (often via facial estimation) to unlock chat.
     • Recommendation: Use the "Parental Controls" tab in the Roblox settings to link your account to your child's. You can set "Communication" to restricted levels and even disable chat entirely for younger children.
   • Minecraft: * Minecraft safety is managed through the Xbox Privacy & Online Safety website (even on PC).
     • Recommendation: Log in as the adult and look for the toggle "You can join multiplayer games." Setting this to Block keeps the child in their own private worlds, away from public servers.
2. General Rules for Other Games
   If your child starts playing a new game (like Valorant, Call of Duty, or Overwatch), follow this standard procedure:
   
   1. Search for a "Social" or "Audio" tab in the game's settings.
   2. Mute by Default: Many games have a "Mute all except friends" or "Disable Voice Chat" toggle.
   3. Check for PINs: Look for any "Parental Control" sub-menu that allows you to lock these choices with a password.
3. Hardware Tip: The "Physical Mute"
   For younger children, consider a headset with a physical mute switch or a detachable microphone. This provides a hardware-level backup—if the mic isn't plugged in, they can’t accidentally broadcast audio to the lobby. Consider, however, that this may still allow them to hear other users, if other settings aren't adequately adjusted.