SafeFamily Guide: Xbox Parental Controls

This guide walks you through setting up parental controls on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One using Microsoft Family Safety. These platform controls add an additional layer on top of SafeFamily's network-level DNS filtering.

Overview

Microsoft Family Safety allows you to:

• Set screen time limits and schedules
• Restrict games and apps by age rating (PEGI)
• Control online communication and multiplayer
• Require approval for purchases
• Filter web browsing on Xbox

Important: SafeFamily uses DNS filtering at the network level to block inappropriate content across all devices. Platform controls add device-specific restrictions that work even when your child uses mobile data or other networks.

Step 1: Create a Microsoft Family Group

1. Go to family.microsoft.com and sign in with your Microsoft account
2. Click Add a family member > Create a child account or Invite someone
3. Enter your child's email (or create a new Outlook.com account)
4. Download Xbox Family Settings from App Store or Google Play and sign in

Step 2: Set Content Restrictions (PEGI Ratings)

1. Settings > Account > Family settings > Select child > Content restrictions
2. Set Apps and games to PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16, or 18

Recommended PEGI Settings:

Step 3: Configure Communication Settings

1. In Family settings > Select child > Privacy & online safety
2. Set You can play with people outside Xbox Live to Block or Friends only
3. Set You can join multiplayer games to Block or Friends only
4. Set You can communicate with voice and text to Friends only (recommended for under 13)

Step 4: Set Screen Time Limits

1. Xbox Family Settings app > Child's profile > Screen time
2. Set Daily limit and Schedule (allowed hours)
3. Optionally set per-app limits

Recommended by Age:

Step 5: Set Purchase Restrictions

1. In Family settings > Select child > Spending
2. Enable Ask a parent for purchases
3. Set Spending limit (e.g., €0 to require approval for all purchases)
4. Add funds to child's account only when you approve

Step 6: Configure Web Filtering (Xbox Browser)

1. Go to family.microsoft.com > Content filters
2. Select your child
3. Set Web browsing to:
   • Allow list only (safest)
   • Basic (blocks adult content)
   • Off (not recommended)

Step 7: Set Up SafeFamily Integration

Configure NextDNS on your router or Xbox to block inappropriate sites. Plug Xbox into a Kasa smart plug and assign in SafeFamily for hard bedtime enforcement.

Common Bypass Risks and How SafeFamily Helps

Quick Reference

Last updated: February 2026