Skip to main content

How to set parental controls on Xbox Series X

If you are reading this, you are more than likely you are a parent or guardian looking to protect your children, whether it be from inappropriate content or too much screen time. Fortunately, like its predecessor and the best parental control software currently available, the Xbox Series X offers a wide range of parental controls, ensuring your child can game safely even when you’re not around. To set them up, just follow the steps below.

See more

Recommended Videos

How to set parental controls for the Xbox Series X

Image used with permission by copyright holder

One of the amazing things about the Series X is that if you previously owned an Xbox One console, many of your settings can easily be carried over to your new console — all you have to do is connect your Microsoft account.

Step 1: Set up your Microsoft Account

First things first: You have to have your own Microsoft account in order to set up parental controls. You can create an account on your Series X or through Microsoft’s website. Whichever method you choose, however, you will need an email account to start.

Step 2: Create a child account

If your child already has an Xbox account, they can use that account. If not, you can use a separate email to create an account. If you do not have another email address to use, you’ll be prompted to create a new email when creating your child’s account. To do so, press the Guide button on your controller, select Add New, and follow the on-screen prompts. Then, go back to the Parent or Main account.

Step 3: Enable parental controls

Image used with permission by copyright holder

To manage your child’s account, you have to add said account to your family. To do that, press the Guide button, select Settings under Profile & System, and select Family Settings under the Account tab. Then, select Manage Family Members, followed by Add to Family. Once you add a person to your family, you’ll have access to their Privacy & Content Restrictions.

Setting privacy and content restrictions

The Series X allows you to enable a host of restrictions, which you can set for each person in your family. Under Privacy & Online Safety, you can manage permissions for Xbox Live, apps, messages, and data collection. Here, you can also restrict gaming and app content based on your child’s age. With web filtering, you can even designate which websites your child can visit.

Pro tip: Try using the Xbox Family Settings app

The restrictions are only part of the package. Microsoft also offers an Xbox Family Settings app for Android and iOS, which allows you to view family activities directly on your phone. The app is a neat way to monitor content without logging on to your Series X in order to do so. With the app, you can select which games your child can play, manage their daily screen time, and carry out a host of other actions without picking up a controller. Talk about convenience.

James Holloway
James is a techie at heart; he covers Home Theater and Gaming for Digital Trends with a focus on how to get the best out of…
The most common Xbox Series X problems and how to fix them
Xbox Series X

Like any other consoles, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S aren't without issues. We all hate being interrupted when playing the best Xbox games with some technical glitch. This is even worse when you're locked in on an intense multiplayer game with your headset on and are ready to go. Even after several years on the market giving Microsoft time to push out updates and fixes, there are still some issues that can crop up.

In this guide, we're going to cover the most common Xbox Series X problems, as well as how to fix them, including:

Read more
All upcoming Xbox Series X games: 2024, 2025, and beyond
Emmerich Voss holds an artifact in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

The Xbox Series X and Series S have now been out for over four years, bringing better resolution, higher frame rates, and ray tracing to gamers around the world. And the best upcoming video games continue to show off all those bells and whistles in fun, new experiences.

If you're eager to find out what Microsoft has in store for the years ahead, we've rounded up every game confirmed so far, including new offerings, franchise installments, and ports of existing titles. We're looking beyond the first-party projects here to encompass all the great games coming to this powerful piece of gaming hardware. Maybe some of them will end up being among the best games on Xbox Series X.
Upcoming Xbox Series X games 2024
The games listed below either have 100% confirmed release dates or solid release windows that we expect them to hit in 2024. Any games with more ambiguous release windows will be listed below the confirmed releases.

Read more
A classic platformer trilogy is coming to Xbox Game Pass tomorrow
Spyro flies off away from an attack with white mountains in the background.

After a little tease earlier today, Xbox quickly confirmed that the Spyro Reignited Trilogy is coming to Xbox Game Pass shortly. Best of all, it's hitting multiple tiers, including Game Pass Standard.

Spyro Reignited Trilogy includes Spyro the Dragon, Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage!, and Spyro: Year of the Dragon, and will be added to the subscription service on November 12 -- so, tomorrow. It'll be available on Game Pass Ultimate, PC Game Pass, and Game Pass Standard.

Read more