How to Set Up Parental Controls on your PC or Mac

Parenting in the digital age is a lot harder than it used to be. Nowadays, parents need to protect their children from dangers in the real world, as well as online. Although there are many benefits to the internet, the infinite amount of content and ease of accessibility means children are more likely to be exposed to inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and malicious websites.

For parents, protecting your children from the dangers of the internet can seem like a daunting and overwhelming task, and hitting the right balance between digital freedom and boundaries can be difficult. Fortunately, most PCs and Macs now come with built-in parental control settings, meaning you don’t always need separate parental control software to help keep your children safe on the internet and allow parents to choose which boundaries and limits they want to set.

With built-in tools like Microsoft Family Safety on Windows 11 and Screen Time on macOS, parents can manage screen time, block inappropriate content, and monitor their child’s activity.

Setting parental controls on your computer does not have to be complicated. Follow our step-by-step guide here.

What parental controls can (and can’t) do for your child’s online safety

Adding parental controls to your PC or Mac can help reduce the risk of your children accessing specific websites and can allow you to monitor their internet activity. Parental controls can also allow you to limit how much time children can spend on a computer each day.

Other settings can also be added, such as app usage and limits on spending money. Implementing these parental controls can provide peace of mind to parents as children will only be able to view content that is age appropriate, and it ensures that they are safe on the internet.

However, parental controls should not replace regular conversations about online safety, privacy, and responsible internet use. While these settings can help to reduce exposure to inappropriate content, they cannot prevent every online risk.

Children may still encounter harmful content through messaging apps, shared devices, or unrestricted accounts. It is also important to regularly review and update parental control settings, helping ensure the restrictions remain appropriate and effective over time.

How to repurpose an old PC or laptop and prepare it for parental controls

Before setting up parental controls, it’s worth checking the computer you’re giving to your child. If it’s a new device, you can move straight to creating user accounts and applying controls.

But if you have an old laptop lying around, repurposing it can be a smart option when setting up a starter PC for your child. It saves money, reduces electronic waste, and provides a simple, low-risk way to introduce younger children to technology without needing a brand-new device.

If you choose to use an older laptop, it’s a good idea to reset or wipe it first. This removes previous accounts, files, and settings, giving you a clean and secure starting point. Here’s how:

1. Check the device is in good working condition
   Make sure there are no serious hardware issues, such as a faulty battery or motherboard, before reusing it.
2. Back up any important files
   Old laptops often contain personal documents, photos, or saved data, so transfer anything you want to keep to another computer or external storage device before making changes.
3. Ensure all personal data is securely removed
   Before resetting, it’s important to securely erase the drive so no sensitive data remains on the laptop. This adds an extra layer of protection, especially if the device is being passed on to someone else.
4. Reset the laptop to factory setting
   This removes old accounts, files, and unnecessary programs, giving you a fresh setup and ensuring your personal information is no longer accessible.
5. Improve performance if needed
   If the laptop feels slow, consider simple upgrades such as increasing storage or memory to help it run more smoothly.

Once the device is reset and ready, you can now start with the below steps to create a child account and apply parental controls to ensure it is safe and suitable for their use.

How to set up parental controls on Windows 11

To set up parental controls on a Windows PC, the most effective built-in option is Microsoft’s Family Safety feature in Windows 11. This tool allows you to manage how a child uses the device by setting limitations on screen time, filtering web content, and monitoring activity across apps and browsing.

Microsoft Family Safety works by linking family members through Microsoft accounts, giving you a central place to manage each child’s settings. Once set up, you can customize controls for each child based on their age and your preferences, helping create a safer and more balanced online experience.

Using Microsoft Family Safety

To get started, you’ll need to add a child to your Microsoft family group using a Windows 11 PC, then manage their settings through the Family Safety dashboard online. Here is how to create a child account:

1. Open Settings on your Windows 11 PC.
2. Go to Accounts.
3. Click Family (or Family & other users).
4. Select Add a family member.
5. Then select Child.
6. Enter the child’s Microsoft account email address or select Create one for a child if they don’t already have an account.
7. Follow the on-screen steps to send an invitation and add them to your family group.
8. Once the child’s account is added, open a web browser and go to https://family.microsoft.com and sign in.
9. Select the child’s profile to begin managing their settings.

Once everything is set up, you can control key features such as screen time, web and app restrictions, and activity reports.

Screen time limits:
Screen time limits allow you to control how long your child can use their Windows device each day, making it an effective way to introduce healthy screen time controls for kids. You are able to set daily limits, customize schedules for weekdays and weekends, and set downtime periods when the device cannot be used. These settings can be managed per device or across multiple devices linked under the child’s account.

Web and app restrictions:
Web and app restrictions let you manage what your child can access online and on their device. You can block certain websites, allow only approved websites, and restrict apps/games based on age ratings. This helps to ensure that children only interact with content suitable for their age.

Activity reports:
Activity reports give you a summary of how your child is using their device, including websites visited, apps/games used, and screen time duration. These reports can be viewed online and can also be sent to you regularly if requested. This will help you stay informed and adjust settings when needed, making it easier to monitor your child’s activity online over time.

Tips for Windows parental controls

Once you’ve set up parental controls on a Windows PC, there are a few additional steps you can take to make sure they work effectively.

Use Edge filtering properly
Microsoft Family Safety web filtering works best through the Microsoft Edge browser. To ensure content filters work correctly, make sure your children are using Edge as their main browser and that SafeSearch is also enabled. This helps block inappropriate websites and search results more effectively.

Lock down extra browsers
If other browsers such as Chrome or Firefox are installed, children may be able to bypass certain web restrictions. Consider limiting access to additional browsers through app restrictions so parental controls remain consistent.

Restrict downloads and app installs
Children may try to download new apps or software to get around parental controls. Use app and content restrictions within Microsoft Family Safety to block unauthorized downloads and limit installations based on age ratings. This helps ensure only approved apps and games can be accessed.

How to set up parental controls on macOS

To set up parental controls on a Mac, you can use Apple’s built-in Screen Time feature, available on macOS Catalina and later. This tool allows you to manage how children use a Mac and access online content. Using Apple’s Screen Time settings, you can create restrictions for app usage, limit screen time, filter websites, and manage purchases and downloads.

Screen Time works alongside Family Sharing, which lets you link family members through Apple accounts and manage each child’s settings from one place. Once set up, you can customize controls based on your child’s age and your preferences, helping create a safer and more balanced experience across Apple devices.

Using Apple Screen Time on macOS

Before you can apply parental controls on a Mac, you will need to set up a Child Account and then turn on Screen Time. This gives you access to all the tools needed to manage how your child uses their device. Here is how to set it up:

1. Open System Settings from the Apple menu.
2. Click your name (Apple ID), then select Family Sharing.
3. Click Add Member and choose Create Child Account.
4. Enter the child’s name and date of birth, then create or connect an Apple Account for them.
5. Follow the on-screen steps to set a password and configure account details.
6. Once created, the child account will automatically appear in Family settings, ready to be managed.

After creating the account, go to System Settings > Screen Time and turn on Screen Time. Choose the child account you want to manage, then click Turn On App & Website Activity to activate Screen Time features. Once enabled, parents can access tools to monitor screen usage, set app restrictions, schedule downtime, and review activity reports for the child account.

Content & privacy restrictions:
Content and privacy restrictions allow you to control what your child can access on their Mac. Within Screen Time, you can block inappropriate websites, restrict explicit content in apps and media, limit app downloads by age rating, and prevent changes to system or privacy settings. From the Screen Time window, select Content & Privacy, turn it on, and adjust the settings based on your preferences.

App limits & downtime:
App limits and downtime help manage how long your child spends on their device. In Screen Time, you can set daily limits for specific apps or categories, and schedule downtime periods when only approved apps are available. This helps create healthier screen habits by balancing device use with offline time. From the Screen Time window, open App Limits to set usage restrictions, or select Downtime to schedule when the device can be used.

Activity reports:
Screen Time also provides activity reports showing how your child uses their device, including app usage, screen time, and websites visited. These insights help you stay informed and adjust settings when needed. You can view this information directly from the Screen Time dashboard by selecting your child’s account.

Managing Mac parental controls remotely

Mac parental controls can be managed remotely using another Apple device such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac signed into the parent’s Apple Account. This allows you to update settings and monitor activity without needing direct access to your child’s device.

Family sharing:
Family sharing is the system Apple uses to link family members across devices. Once your child’s account is part of your family group, you can manage their Screen Time settings from your own device to adjust limits, view activity reports, etc. Changes update automatically via the internet on the child’s Mac, so no physical access is needed. To add your child to the family group, open System Settings, select Family, and choose Add Member. From there, you can either add your child’s existing Apple Account or follow the prompts to complete setup.

Cross-device syncing:
Cross-device syncing works through the child’s Apple Account and iCloud. When Screen Time is enabled, Apple automatically applies the same restrictions across all signed-in devices, including Mac, iPhone, and iPad. This makes sure that app limits, downtime schedules, and content restrictions stay consistent, no matter which device the child is using.

Tips for Mac parental controls

After setting up parental controls on a Mac, there are a few extra steps that can help make sure everything works as intended.

Use Screen Time with a passcode
Screen Time settings can be changed or disabled if they are not protected. Make sure you set a Screen Time passcode that your child does not know to prevent them from altering restrictions.

Limit additional browsers and apps
Children may try to use different browsers or apps to bypass restrictions. Use Screen Time settings to restrict app usage and ensure only approved apps and browsers are accessible.

Control app downloads and purchases
Children may attempt to download new apps or make purchases without permission. Enable content and privacy restrictions to limit app installations by age rating and turn on purchase approvals through Family Sharing.

Keep devices updated and synced
Make sure all devices linked to your child’s account are updated and signed into the same Apple Account. This helps ensure Screen Time settings and restrictions apply consistently across devices.