Microsoft Family features (Formerly known as Family Safety or Parental Controls), is a free set of features available on Windows 10 PC that is bundled with the Windows 10 operating system. If after you upgrade Windows 10 to a newer version you notice that the Family feature is turned off, then this post might interest you. In this post, we will provide the steps you can take to remediate this issue.
Starting in Windows 10, a Microsoft Account is required to use the Microsoft Family features. A parent can manage settings for a child if both of their Microsoft Accounts are in the same family. When parents turn on settings for their child, these settings are applied to every device that the child logs into with that Microsoft Account.
Other changes to family safety features in Windows 10 include Windows Store purchase controls and the ability to find a child’s Windows 10 Mobile device on a map.
Microsoft Family features turned off
If you had previously set up family features for a child account and then upgraded to Windows 10, there are a few steps you need to take to turn on family settings again. Your child will need to sign in to Windows 10 with a Microsoft account, and then you’ll need to add that account to your family group.
If you have young kids, you can also set up a picture password for them—they can sign in by drawing shapes on a favorite photo rather than having to type a password in.
Adding members to your family group can help you keep your kids safe online and build trust and understanding about appropriate website and app and game filters for their age – and you can be able to set screen time limits and review their recent activity.
To ensure Microsoft Family features is turned on, do the following:
Check your child’s account on the PC your child uses
- Have your child sign in to the PC.
- Select the Start menu > Settings, and then select Accounts.
- Select Your account.
If your child doesn’t currently sign in with a Microsoft account, select Sign in with a Microsoft account instead and enter their email address.
If an email address is already associated with their account, make note of it. You’ll use it to add their Microsoft account to your family group.
Add your child’s Microsoft account to your family group
- Sign in at family.microsoft.com.
- Go to Select a child to view or edit their settings and select Add.
- Enter the email address your child uses to sign in to Windows 10 and select Send invite.
Your child will need to accept the invitation from their email address.
This should help!
