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Parental control in Windows - how to set it up and what it can do. View your child's account balance and purchases in the Windows and Xbox Store

Image: Microsoft

Children are the most important people in your life, but the Internet is a scary place that requires constant vigilance. Luckily, in Windows 10, you can set up parental controls for your child, which will make your job a lot easier.

To protect children, Microsoft suggests using the standard account, which will be controlled by the function Family Safety(Microsoft Family Safety). It's a very simple approach - you can easily create accounts for your kids and then it's very easy to secure and monitor their activity.

V this manual we'll show you how to set up child accounts in Windows 10 and enable Microsoft Family Safety protection.

To add a child account, go to the application Parameters > Accounts > Family and other people and click the "Add family member" button.

On the next screen, select the “Add child account” option. It's a great idea to have each family member have their own account.

Then you need to fill in all the required information. If your child doesn't have an email address, you can create an outlook.com account.

To improve the security of a child's account, you need to provide a phone number. In this case, if you cannot access your account, you forgot your passwords, or a hacker attempts to hack your account, then a message with an access code will be sent to your phone.

On the next screen, you need to disable the following options. They are not required for a child's account at all.

Now everything is ready - you can sign in to the created account, as well as complete the setup using the Microsoft Family Safety tools.

If you have previously created an account for your child and just want to add it to your current account Windows system, you must verify your account before setting parental controls.

Until you do this, the child's account will be inactive. He will be able to use the computer, then the established protection rules will not apply, so be sure to verify the account using a valid email address.

After adding your child's account, you can go to the Family Safety website. Select the option to open the browser and go to the corresponding page.

In Windows 10 Creators Update, parental control settings can also be managed using the Windows Defender Security Center. In the section, click the View family options link.

Once you've added your child's account, you can manage your family's safety settings on the Family Safety website. The recent activity collection feature (Recent Activity) will monitor the child's activity and send reports to the parent. This feature can be disabled.

The first section that you will be interested in is called. You can block inappropriate sites or only allow access to whitelisted sites.

On this screen, you can allow and block websites. If you have selected the “Access to sites from the white list” option, then you need to add resources to the “Always allow” list.

You can also allow and block individual games and applications, just like websites.

Finally, the category . You can choose when to use the computer: set a daily limit or specify the allowed start and end times for using the PC. In the first case, even if the child can use the computer throughout the day, the total number of hours spent on it will be limited.

Microsoft has made it much easier to apply control settings to children's accounts. The presence of these features provides peace of mind for parents, and children can safely use the computer without undue supervision from adults.

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The user account allows you to sign in to Windows 10. By default, there is already one user account on the computer, which is created the first time Windows installation and at the first login. But if more than one person uses the computer, you can create a separate account for each person in the home or office.

In this tutorial, you'll look at User Accounts and Parental control in Windows 10.

Connecting users to an account Microsoft records help them get the most out of Windows. However, you have the option to create a local account that only exists on your computer and not on Microsoft.

To add a new user (with a Microsoft account):

To add a new local user (without a Microsoft account):

Signing out and switching users

To sign out of your account, click the Start button, select your current account in the upper left corner, and then select Exit. The computer will go to the lock screen where other users can log in with their account.

Also, switching to another account can be done without closing applications and logging out of the account. To do this, click on the current account, and then select desired user from the dropdown list. After that, the current account will be blocked, and no one else can access it, so you don't have to worry.

User Account Control

By default, the account you created when you first set up your computer has administrative privileges. The administrator account allows you to make any changes to the computer, such as adding new users, deleting, or changing specific settings. All subsequent users are assigned standard privileges that should meet the daily needs of most users. On a computer with public access, one administrator should be enough, however, if necessary, you can always promote any account to administrator.

Parental control

Windows 10 offers a range of parental controls to help you control what your kids do and protect them from inappropriate content on the computer. For example, you can block certain applications and websites, or limit the amount of time a user can spend on a computer. To do this, you will need to create a Microsoft account for each user you want to monitor. You cannot enable Parental Control on a local account.

1. Recent activities. Here you'll see a total of your child's activity, the websites they've visited, and the total amount of time they've spent on the computer.

2. Web browsing. Here you can control your web browsing. For example, you can block unwanted websites, or you can allow certain websites.

3. Applications and games. Here you can set general age limits for apps and games downloaded from the Windows Store.

4. Timer for working with the device. Here you can limit the amount of time your child can spend on the computer.

Good day, friends! As you know, the Internet is filled with various kinds of information, but, unfortunately, not always useful. At the same time, the whole world, from small to large, uses the global network. And as a result, adults worry about their children, who can easily stumble upon content that is harmful to their psyche. Therefore, our today's article is dedicated to parents, and in it we will tell you how to set parental controls in Windows 10.

What provides parental controls in Windows 10?

We remind you that the parental control feature is free. It allows you to protect your child from visiting unwanted sites, installing programs and games that have age restrictions. You can also set a timer to use the gadget. Plus, parental control ensures that the child does not delete system files, which directly affect the correct operation of the device, and will not radically change the settings.

Is there a difference between parental controls in Windows 10 and previous versions this system? Yes. And it's obvious! The situation has become more complicated due to a couple of innovations, namely: you can set parental controls in Windows 10 only if you have the Internet and a Microsoft account. And nothing else.

How do I create a Microsoft account for a child?

If you are a Microsoft user and you have your own account, then this will not be enough. You will need to create a new account, but for the child. How to do it?

You will also be prompted to activate Microsoft Advertising, which will distribute ads based on your interests. We advise you to decline such a request.

When a new child account is created, you need to log in under this account so that when you log in, you will be the first to receive a message from the notification center, which will say that "adult family members can view reports about your activities" (about the activities of the child). This message is displayed only during the first login.

The very same restriction settings or timer settings are carried out on the Internet through the administrator / parent account.

How to set up parental controls in Windows 10?

After that, a window with settings will appear, of which there are quite a lot. Let's take a quick look at each.

Do you need parental controls in Windows 10? Conclusion

It is worth noting that, despite all the efforts of the parent to protect their child from unnecessary information, such manipulations rarely stay afloat. The fact is that children now perfectly know how to use the Internet, and it will not be difficult for them to turn off parental control.

The conclusion is this: there is no need to limit, it is necessary to explain and talk with the child about what he is interested in, what he wants to find, what he wants to look at and why he needs it. And everyone will be happy!

By the way, many antiviruses provide parental control. We will write more about this. In the meantime, we offer you to read the article "". Also, do not forget if you want Windows to work faster.

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Has your child started spending time at the computer? Mastering Online Games, does his homework using supporting information from the web, created and hosts or creates an album based on his favorite audio tracks? Yes, for every teenager, in every family, this moment comes sooner or later.

At the same time, this is the very moment when the time has come for parents to think about the safety of the child while he is working at the computer, and especially in that part of the actions when he uses the Internet.

Known unpleasant moments await a young PC user - adult content (candid scenes, as well as scenes of violence and murder), pages of viral (infected) sites, or these are pages on which actions lead to hidden paid mobile subscription. There are also a great many sites and groups in social networks containing content and appeals that can have a destructive effect on the psyche of the child and his subsequent behavior in society.

Consider Windows features 10 that will allow you to control the work of your child on personal computer, see the navigation history in the browser, impose restrictions and prohibitions on certain actions and media content, as well as on the launch of certain software.

Most importantly, create a “children's” account

Built into the functionality of Windows 10, the ability to create user-controlled "children's" accounts gives almost everything that is needed to control the activities of the child while he is sitting at the computer. You can impose restrictions on the time your child is in Windows, block access to certain applications and computer games, see the history of visiting sites.

To create a new account in Windows 10 specifically for a child, you must have another account in the Microsoft Live service, which will be linked to the new “child” account being created in the operating system. If you do not have such a Microsoft Live account, then you can create it here, from Windows. In the text, we will consider both options for creating an account.

So let's get started - open the options window ( “Win” + “I”), select the “Accounts” section by clicking on it:

In the new window that opens, select the menu item “Family and other people”:

Then click the "Add family member" button.

A new window will open - add Windows user 10. There are only 2 selection points here, we will be interested in the first one - “Add child account”.

If you have another Microsoft account

We confirm the choice of the option to create a child account, in the new window we enter the email address for the new Windows account. Remember that this address must be linked to an existing Microsoft Live account, under which the child will work:

In the next window that appears, confirm linking your account to the current operating system (and your main account):

The next window will notify you that an invitation has been sent to the specified email address. Familiarize yourself with the contents of the window and close it:

The newly created account will be in a confirmation pending state:

Check your email address provided during this registration for an email from Microsoft. Confirm the system prompt:

After clicking the button to accept the invitation, a notification window will open in the browser. Confirm the connection of the account by clicking on the appropriate button:

Enter the password for the connected account:

And fill in additional information about the child:

That's all, this Microsoft account is linked to your child account:

If you don't have another Microsoft account

In this case, you can choose an alternative option - registering a new Microsoft account. To do this, click the link "I don't have an email address":

Next, you need to make a choice - register new account with the simultaneous registration of a new email in the Outlook service, or indicate your current email, which is not yet linked to a Microsoft account.

Consider the first option - register an account with the creation of a new email. We come up with a name for the email, as well as a password for the new account. Enter the date of birth of the child:

In the next window, enter the number mobile phone(as a rule, the parent enters his number), to be able to additional protection account, to reset your password, etc.:

In the next window, uncheck the 2 checkboxes related to promotional activities by Microsoft if you do not want to participate in advertising network Microsoft and receive promotional offers. Click "Next":

Registration completed, new Microsoft account created:

and this account is automatically added as an account to your Windows 10:

Your e-mail will receive a corresponding notification of successful registration, rather funny and elegantly designed, and not just the text in the letter:

Child account settings

For implementation detailed settings child account, go to the family settings management section:

When you select this item, you will be logged in through the browser to the page of your Microsoft Live account.

Use your username to log in:

For children's accounts, a number of settings are available that allow you to control the actions of the child on the computer.

Chapter "Actions" allows you to see what sites the child has visited, as well as what programs he has run on the computer. To do this, you need to enable the option to record Windows user activity, and you can also enable the function of sending a weekly report to you by e-mail.

Chapter “Device timer” allows you to set time intervals when working in Windows given account is allowed. A very convenient feature that allows you to control the time your child spends at a personal computer.

next section, “Content Restriction”, allows you to enter restrictions on purchases from this account in the Microsoft Store service, you can control these actions.

Here you can also set age restrictions for using content and software, including computer games:

In the same window, you can manage software launch restrictions. By default in Windows 10 for a child account, all web browsers are blocked except for Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer- only if the child specifically uses these 2 browsers (both developed and owned by Microsoft), it is possible to control the child's account from Windows 10 in terms of the user's work on the Internet, control of the content (content) of sites viewed in the browser. Therefore, without much need, do not allow such an account to work with other browsers, otherwise control will be lost:

At the same time, enable the content control option in the web browser in order to exclude the child from sites containing content that is unacceptable for viewing by a minor.

The “Expenses” section, with its functionality, allows you to deposit to a child’s account cash so that the child can independently manage this money by making purchases of services and software in Microsoft services. Top up your account with the amount you think is acceptable:

Unfortunately, if your child has knowledge of working in Windows, he can easily bypass the restriction on using the Internet by installing some alternative browser, of which there are now enough a large number of. You will have to manually control your child's use of third-party software by looking at the account history of the types of applications that were launched from the child's account.

Filtering Internet traffic through DNS servers

If your child, presumably, can still bypass Windows protection by installing an alternative browser, for unhindered surfing on global network, then the option of using DNS filters that are configured at the level network card computer. This is a very effective way to block unwanted web content for a child's account. Alternatively, use it to filter content on the web.

Set up virus protection

Complete protection against viruses is the eternal question of all users. Must be installed and configured antivirus program, which will take over the main points of protecting Windows from external encroachments.

Account Control

Make sure that the children's account in Windows 10 does not have “Administrator” level rights, because. with this level of rights, your child will have access to system settings Windows, which can lead to sad consequences, up to the loss of performance of the operating system itself.

And also look at the article about the main and malware,
it explains why running as "Administrator" is basically a bad idea.

Click in the "Family and other people" section on the username for which you want to change access rights, and click the "Change account type" button:

In the account type selection window, select “Standard user” if “Administrator” is set:

UAC setup

Windows UAC is an operating system service that allows you to control the operation of applications. When installing high level protection UAC notifies the user of almost any action that an application tries to perform. Of course, this is somewhat annoying when, when working in the system, you constantly get warning windows about program actions, but this option, when enabled, increases Windows security at times, allowing you to control the installation and modification of applications, and UAC allows you to additionally protect yourself from viruses , which covertly, as a rule, try to make various changes to operating system to commit malicious acts.

To set the proper level of UAC, left-click the "Start" button. Next, type the phrase “UAC” from the keyboard, select the section that appears “Change User Account Control Settings”:

The Application Control Level Setup window opens. Change the position of the slider to familiarize yourself with the settings for each of the levels, determine the optimal one for yourself, and click “OK” to apply:

The selected setting will be applied after the operating system is restarted.

Non-programmed control of the child's actions

It will be very good if, in addition to special Windows settings 10 to control the work of the child on a personal computer, you will also independently, “live” perform certain controlling actions. For example, do not provide access to e-mail child, so that he could not independently register on various sites, services on the Internet.

Place the computer on which the teenager works in a place inside the apartment or house where the child will not be alone with the PC - in the living room, near the kitchen, etc., that is, in a passageway, which will allow you and other members Your family from time to time to see what exactly the child is doing while sitting in front of the screen.

In addition, enter the rules for working on a PC, announce them to your child and monitor their implementation - prohibitions on visiting certain websites, registration in various popular Internet services where the presence of a child is undesirable due to his age. Over time, such interaction will bear fruit, the teenager will get used to discipline in his work.

Conclusion

When introducing restrictions on the use of a child account, do not forget that your child lives in the era of digital technologies, and strong restrictions imposed on interaction with a computer, the Internet can harm, prevent the development of a growing person, a future conscious citizen of society.

Interact with your child, clarify his interests, help him realize his ideas, help him search for information on the Web. It may be necessary to install additional educational, educational programs, in accordance with the interests of the teenager.

A simple restriction in work can only give an even greater impetus to the child for already covert work with a PC, exploring the Internet, and you will not be able to be present and control this activity every minute.

It is quite possible that already from a certain time your son or your daughter will show the level of knowledge of Windows and its components is much higher than you have. And that's good, because. modern teenagers are closely interacting with the digital world, practically linking their daily lives with these technologies, and this can hardly and should not be interfered with!

What options do you use for safe work your child on the internet? Were there any sad incidents related to the child's online activity? Share in the comments!

How to enable parental controls in Windows 10

So, the first step is to create a child account. After all, for local accounting. profiles to enable parental control on Windows 10 will not work.

It's very easy to create it:

If he is less than 8 years old, then for such an account. records will be automatically enabled maximum security. If the children are older, then the parameters are configured manually. Although in the first case, you can also change any parameters to choose from.

And the last step is to enter a phone or e-mail address to be able to restore your account. entries (for example, if you forget your password). You will also be asked for permission to use the data entered by Microsoft. Of course, it's best to disable this option. Thereafter new profile will be successfully created.

If you want to set parental control on Windows 10 for a child, then it is advisable to do the login and initial setup yourself (to enter a new profile, open Start and click on the desired account). Why is it necessary? First, you may need to install additional settings. Secondly, when you first turn it on, this message will pop up:

In the future, parental control is configured through the administrator profile online.

How to set up parental controls in Windows 10

To go to the parental control settings, go to:

Start - Settings - Accounting. records.
Family and other users.
Family settings management.

After that, the following window will open:

This is where parental controls are configured in Windows 10. Since there are a lot of functions, let's briefly consider each of them:

In principle, all options are standard and already familiar to the average user, so you don’t have to understand them.

By the way, if in the parent Windows control 10 a time limit is set, the child may ask for a few extra hours.

As a result, the parent will receive a corresponding letter by e-mail, through which it is possible to extend the session time.

Some nuances of parental control in Windows 10

It is not clear why the developers broke everything that worked perfectly in the G8, plus they put a couple of sticks in the wheels.

First, blocking sites with prohibited content only works in Internet browsers Explorer and Microsoft Edge. It is clear that this is an advertisement for their products, but who uses them today? As a result, users have to manually configure parental controls for other browsers ( Google Chrome, Opera, Firefox).

By the way, when you open any blocked site, you can send a request to gain access to it.

Secondly, you can not block games and programs until the child starts them. Although they still appear with a very long delay (at least 1 day).

And most importantly: a smart child who knows how to use Google and Yandex can easily bypass all the parental control restrictions in Windows 10. All you need to do is go under the child account. recording, and then activate the local profile - and all the restrictions you set will no longer work. Of course, you can’t turn it off quietly, you will definitely know about it. But what's the point if the child gets unlimited access to a computer or laptop? And what is it all about - a blunder of the developers, or they did it on purpose - one can only guess.