A milliondollar question every parent gets hit with: “How do I set up an Xbox for my kidwithoutlosing my mind?” Let’s get into it. Throw away thoughts of neverending gaming binges and surprise credit card bills. We’re talking parental controls, screen time schedules that actually make sense, and protecting your precious email from a tsunami of Xbox notifications. Should I use my email or not? Perhaps notsomuch! We’ll look into other great options when it comes to account creation to keep your digital lives (somewhat) apart from each other. Consider this an Xbox survival guide.
No more hiding the console! With Xbox Family Settings, your mobile device becomes a mission control station under which children can be developed. Microsoft’s app (iOS and Android) empowers you with unfettered access to set screen time limits, content filters, purchase approvals, and friend requests on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. Managing the Xbox? You wouldn’t believe how easy it is, although Microsoft does add a myriad of steps. So I’ll guide you through setting up family accounts and making it all about YOU.
Microsoft
How to set up an Xbox for your child
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Turn on your Xbox and sign in with your Microsoft account. Ready to control your digital family? Press the Xbox button and head toProfile & system >Settings >Account >Family settings >Manage family members.Now the fun begins!
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ChooseAdd to family>Add new. For new accounts, an email is needed. Do you have a child with an email? Great, then use that one! Otherwise, you are looking at creating new Outlook addresses. Sounds silly for a six-year-old? We agree. Just go old school and control console time from day one.
What is a Microsoft child account?
Ever wondered when Microsoft stops seeing you as a “child”? Brace yourself because their definition is pretty specific. A Microsoft “child account” is really about age-none of this maturity stuff. You have to be under 18 years of age in your country of residence, and the account must be linked with the account of an adult. Think of it as digital training wheels, designated as “Child” (8-12) and “Teen” (13-17). The catch? These age ratings may vary by region. South Korea, for example, considers teens to be 13-18 under this system. So, your digital coming-of-age story with Microsoft could depend solely on where you live.
Devindra Hardawar for Engadget
Are there any issues with Microsoft child accounts?
The Xbox Family app was promised to ease control for the parents, but it has become a labyrinth for some Minecraft parents. Reddit is filled with stories of parental suffering. “Microdad_” tells of the Herculean effort to gift a game and authorize Minecraft access for his child, only to see the child locked out of his own realm. “Electronic_Ocelot825” states: “I go through same crap and it drives me to the point where I am furious.” Could these parental controls by Microsoft be creating more problems than solutions for Minecraft families?
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Thanks for reading Ask Engadget: How do I set up an Xbox for my kid?
