How to set parental controls in Windows 10

The sad reality of internet usage is that there are no restrictions in regard who can access the content on the web. This means that just about anyone can access all sorts of content on-demand without any moderation. As much as this may be an advantage as far as data access is concerned, it poses a worrisome scenario when minors are limitlessly exposed to inappropriate content. Thankfully, the Windows 10 operating system comes with a convenient set of parental control features which enables the regulation and monitoring of content on the device. Here, we are going to show you how to set parental controls in Windows 10.

See also: How to save space in Windows 10

How does it work?

The system enables simple filtering settings that will regulate usage pattern. As such, the parent will be able to control aspects such as the time spent online on the particular device and the content viewed or accessed. More importantly, the parental control features can actually give an outline or history log of the user activity. To avoid loophole exploitation, the controls are synced to all the selected devices. Here is a simple guide to taking you through the process.

  • Ensure that there is internet access on the device, parental controls are not customisable in an offline state.
  • The process requires both the monitoring and the monitored persons to have Microsoft accounts. These can be easily set up and registered on any Windows 10 device.
  • Once both accounts are active, the parent can now navigate to their settings and add the child‘s account.
  • This prompt will require verification on the minor’s end via an email confirmation so the parent must have access to the child’s email during the setup.
  • In the start menu, go to the settings via a quick search or by simply selecting the gear icon and then selecting the Accounts tab.

How to set parental controls in Windows 10

  • From the resulting menu, choose the option for Family accounts and choose the option to add a member.
  • Opt to add a child since this gives the best control features and enter the email address of their Microsoft account.
  • If the account is newly created, be sure to retain the password for easy access in the future to avoid having to reset it via the child’s email.
  • Once done, sign in to the account using the details selected during account creation and the account will appear on the parent’s board at which point the parental controls can be set.
  • Inside the kid’s account, verify and accept the parental control to make the supervision take effect. Once accepted, the parental input cannot be removed without consent.

Once the account is active, the parent can easily monitor and control all activity. This is pretty convenient because there are paid apps which may actually cause billing hence the ability to monitor all online application activities makes regulation easier. Additionally, Microsoft will only accept payments from adult accounts. The establishment of a ‘child account’ automatically regulates content without many manual selections such as adult content sites online.

Configuring the control guidelines

  • Navigate to the accounts settings, the new account under supervision will now be available for customisation in the family tab.
  • Select the option to manage settings for the family accounts under supervision.
  • Choose the specifics for control such as maximum time, blocked sites and you can even provide some spending money for the account you wish to.

The parent must remain vigilant when it comes to parental control because there are some loopholes to circumvent the restrictions. For instance, browsers that are not of Microsoft origin will not be affected by these controls. The good news, however, is that the activity log will still be available to the controlling account and they can take appropriate action. As such, other tools may be necessary to provide more comprehensive supervision especially on third-party applications like browsers.

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