Your guide to kid-proofing a computer

After children have their own computer, they can experience more fun, but it also brings new security concerns. Both Microsoft and Apple realize this and have built-in parental controls in Windows and macOS systems to help you minimize the risk of your child's exposure to bad content.

Parent control settings can help you understand how your child uses the computer, but they do not fully guarantee that all apps and websites strictly comply with these restrictions. It is recommended that you check the websites that your child can access after setting up parental controls and enable additional parental control settings as appropriate.

How to set up parental controls on Windows

Whether your child has a standalone computer or a shared computer, he or she needs a separate Microsoft account to log in. To create an account for your child, open the Start menu, click the Gear icon to open Windows settings, select Accounts, Family, and Other Users, and then click Add family members . The new account will be automatically added to the home group associated with your Microsoft account.

You can only manage parental control settings through the web page, so please log in to your Microsoft account with your browser and visit the "Your Family" page. Click More options under the child's name to set access restrictions on Windows and other devices (those devices may use the child's Microsoft account).

[Related: How to enable parental controls on Netflix, Hulu, and other streaming services]

First optionScreen time Allows you to limit the time your child uses Windows and the number of hours allowed to log in. You can also set screen time limits for a single app (such as games) here, or block certain programs altogether.

The next option is Content Filter, which takes you to a screen where you can restrict your child's actions in the Microsoft Edge browser. Edge will block inappropriate content on the network by enabling the filtering of improper websites and searching switch.

If you need tighter controls, enable Use only allowed websites and list the sites they are free to visit. Children can apply to visit websites outside of this list, but you need to approve the request before they visit. There is also an Apps and Games tab where you can set age rating restrictions for apps, media, and games you access on your computer.

In the same menu, select Spend to limit what your child buys from the Microsoft Store. You can also turn off the purchase function completely or allocate a certain amount of spending to them.

To learn about your child's activities on Windows, click Overview under their name. There you will see the apps and games they use, the websites they visit, and the time they spend on their computers.

[Related: How to Set Parental Controls on Any Phone or Tablet]

Lastly, as long as the Microsoft Family Safety app is installed, you can use the same interface to limit Xbox consoles and Android devices. For more information about these management tools, check out Microsoft's Home Group Guide.

How to set up parental controls on macOS

Creating a standalone user account for your children on the computer they use is the first step to keep them safe. To create a user account, open the Apple menu , go to System Preferences , and select Users and Groups . Click the lock icon in the lower left corner (you may need to unlock the option with your password or Touch ID), and then click the plus symbol on the left to add a new user.

Make sure the account type is set to standard (so that the child cannot install the application without your consent), then fill in the remaining details, including password and avatar, and finally click to create User completes the process. Next, switch to the user account you just set up and start applying restrictions to them.

Go to System Preferences and select Screen Time. There, be sure to enable the Use Screen Time password, otherwise the child may change these settings by himself. Then you will have five different parts that need to be set up.

The first partdowntime allows you to set the number of hours your child can access their Mac account. Outside this time period, the application (except any application you explicitly allow) will not start. App usage time limit allows you to set the time your child uses each program on your Mac every day. Remember that zero minutes is not an option, so if you don't want your child to use any program, it's better to uninstall it. On the same menu, you can also find reports on how your child uses a Mac.

In Communication, you can set up people your child can contact via phone, FaceTime, and the Message app. You can limit it to people in the account contact list, but make sure to uncheck Allow editing of contacts so that the child does not change the contact list.

[Related: Share your phone without letting friends spy]

Always allow Always allow you to set exceptions for the downtime mode we mentioned earlier, while Content & Privacy provides options to filter adult websites, movies, TV shows and music.

If you choose to restrict access to the network, Safari will use its built-in filters to determine which adult websites are. If you want complete control over the internet area your child can access in Safari, click on the content and Allow websites only . Then click Custom to create a list of approved websites.

If you have set up Apple Home Sharing, you can also manage these settings from other devices, such as your iPhone; otherwise, you need to log into your child’s Mac account every time you want to change the settings. For more information on other things you can do, check out Apple’s official guide on home sharing.

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