Xbox Family Settings App Is Now Available On iOS And Android Devices

The holiday season is around the corner, which means more games for your kids to play. Help keep them safe with the Xbox Family Settings app. The app is now available on iOS and Android devices and is an easy way to manage younger gamers’ experience. 

Microsoft’s core messaging, especially in the last few years, has been about accessibility and gaming being an experience for all. Long before COVID-19 kept us in our homes, gaming has always been a solace for many and kids shouldn’t miss out just because not every game is child-friendly. 

For parents, older siblings, or whatever the circumstance, the Family Settings app allows for a child’s gaming experience to be more regulated and a safer place for a balanced relationship with video games and the gaming community itself. 

Accepting (or denying) friend requests, managing a child’s friendlist, limiting screen time, and more are all apart of this tool. The first step is to create your child’s account and from there, the following adjustments can be made:

• Screen time limits – set limits for each day of the week; for example, you can allow for more game time on the weekends or reduce it during the school week. And a new feature available today allows parents to proactive grant additional screen time – a great option if they did well on a test or completed their homework!
• Content filters – set filters based on the age of each child; for example, an 8-year-old can only access games that are rated E and will be blocked from accessing titles that are intended for more mature players
• Play and communication settings – choose the option to block all access to play and communication with other players, limit access to “friends only” or grant permission for older children to play and chat with “everyone”
• Friends list – new with the app is the ability to approve or decline friend requests your child has made to add friends; parents can also view their friends list
• Activity reports – view daily and weekly activity reports for each child to understand how they are spending their time on Xbox

Multiplayer capabilities can also be tailored through this app as well, which is great for games like Fortnite and Minecraft that are child-friendly while still being connected to others online. 

It’s a great tool for parents worried about particular gaming habits, especially with the next generation of consoles arriving just in time for the holidays. 

[Source: Xbox]