How to Set Up and Use the Microsoft Family Safety App
The Microsoft Family Safety app provides a set of reporting and parental control tools for people with Microsoft accounts. With filtering controls, location reporting, and app-usage recording, this app gives parents a way to monitor their family’s digital footprint. Account Microsoft family
Again, to use it, you’ll need a Microsoft account, as well as an iPhone, iPad, or Android device. Alternatively, you can head to the web dashboard to view your family members’ recorded data on a PC or Mac.
What Can the Microsoft Family Safety App Do?
The Microsoft Family app is a platform for parents to monitor how their children and other family members use their digital devices.
It allows you to monitor the screen time and app usage of each family member whenever they use a Windows or Xbox device. You can also limit access if someone’s screen time is excessive, or block certain apps (like games) if they become a problem. This feature isn’t available on Apple devices, however.
The app can also filter certain apps or websites so they can’t be accessed at all. If you have younger family members who use digital devices, this allows you to limit the kind of content to which they’ll be exposed.
If you’re worried about their safety, you can also take advantage of the built-in location-tracking feature. Using the GPS on someone’s iPhone or Android device, you can see where that person is. You can also save favorite locations so it’s easier for everyone to find each other.
The biggest downside of the app, however, is that any limitations you apply will only work with other Windows or Microsoft products. For instance, if you want to filter websites, you have to use Microsoft Edge on your smartphone or Windows PC.
Additional features, such as driver-safety monitoring, and travel departure and arrival notifications, are planned for future updates, though.
Setting Up the Microsoft Family Safety App
To set up the Microsoft Family Safety app, you’ll first need to install it on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device. The first member of a family group becomes the “Family Organizer.” This person has the ability to add new members and change the settings for other family members.
You can download and install the app from the Google Play Store for Android, or the App Store for an iPhone or iPad. If you haven’t yet created a family group, one will be created automatically when you first sign in to the app.
You’ll need to give the app permission to operate in the background, as well as provide your location for monitoring. If you don’t want to provide this information, just tap “Skip” in each prompt.
After you sign in and accept or refuse the requested permissions, you’ll see the main menu called “Your Family.” It contains a list of your family members, along with their current locations if they’ve shared it.
You can switch between “List” mode, in which family members are listed by name, and “Map” mode, in which you’ll see where each family member is on a world map.
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