Everything parents need to know about Xbox: Accounts, safety, restrictions and more

Xbox consoles are fantastic for kids, but making sure they stay safe online should always be the number one priority.

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Thankfully, Microsoft and Xbox provide someincredibletools to help control and monitor your kid’s experiences on Xbox Live, which can be a little chaotic at times.

Here are some tips and tricks for getting the most out of Xbox for parents and those of us buying consoles for younger relatives! Do note, most of these restrictions will carry across to Windows 10 PCs as well when connected to the child’s Microsoft account.

Related: How to clean Xbox controllers properly

Consider updating it before gifting it

First thing’s first, you’ll need to update that Xbox One! Providing the child in question won’t mind, I highly advise anyone buying Xbox consoles this year to carefully remove it from the box and connect it to your home internet, following the instructions bundled in the box.

The Xbox One has been continuously updated since launch, and the unit you receive might not be fully up to date. The patches can begigabytesin size, and give your new console tons of extra features, but it can take a long time to update and install, especially if you’re on a slower connection.

To make sure the day isn’t spoiled by long update times, consider setting it up early, then re-boxing it after the updates are complete.

Set up Microsoft Accounts for you and the lucky kid(s)

To ensure you’re ready to go on Xbox Live, make sure youcreate a Microsoft Accountfor you and your child. If you have an Xbox 360 account, an Outlook.com account, or a Hotmail.com account, you already have a Microsoft Account ready to go. Follow the steps below for a guide on how to set-up a new child under your Microsoft Account.

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Set up an Xbox Profile for your child

Before we can customize your child’s experience on Xbox Live’s social features, you will need to sign in to your new Xbox console as the parent.

When booting up your console for the first time, it will prompt you for your email and password, create a Gamertag for you, and you’ll be ready to go. In case you didn’t know, Gamertags are your username on Xbox Live. You can use this username to share an anonymized identity online, which is ideal for youngsters on the network. To get your child signed into your new Xbox console, follow these steps.

Before creating their Gamertag, let’s switch back into your parent account to double-check that your child’s privacy and access settings have been correctly configured.

Customize your child’s Xbox privacy and content settings

Your child’s Microsoft Account will sync settings that you’ve set up previously on the web in the first section, and if you need to make further changes, you can do it either via your Xbox One or via the Microsoft Account Familysettings found here. Be sure to bookmark it!

Alternatively, follow the steps below for information on how to customize your child’s experience on Xbox Live.

Once you’re happy with your child’s privacy settings, it’s time to move on to the next section and give them a Gamertag and a Gamerpic!

Create a Gamertag and set up a Gamerpic

With the boring stuff out of the way, you should encourage your child to select a Gamerpic and Gamertag of their own on the system. Depending on the privacy settings you’ve tailored above, the Gamertag will be used as their method for connecting with friends and sharing content on Xbox Live. The first change is free, but subsequent Gamertag changes cost money, so choose wisely!

Note:You can return to this page at any time to change these settings.

Xbox Family Settings mobile app

Microsoft has also recently introduced into preview the Xbox Family Settings app for iPhone and Android. The Android version can be downloaded by anyone from the Google Play Store while the iPhone version was only opened up to the first 10,000 applicants through Testflight.

It doesn’t do anything you can’t already do through the web portal as detailed above, but what it does (or will do when it’s fully released) is allow you to apply and monitor settings and activity from your smartphone, removing the need to be in front of a PC.

It’s still a work in progress but it’s a pretty handy thing to have, and in conjunction with the main Family Safety app which is also in preview gives you access to everything you need wherever you are.

A convenient way to manage your family settings

Still in preview, this app from Microsoft will allow you on-the-go access to your family settings without the need to be at a PC.

Further information

For more information on how to use your Xbox One, refer to the guide below!

Xbox

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Richard Devine is a Managing Editor at Windows Central with over a decade of experience. A former Project Manager and long-term tech addict, he joined Mobile Nations in 2011 and has been found on Android Central and iMore as well as Windows Central. Currently, you’ll find him steering the site’s coverage of all manner of PC hardware and reviews. Find him on Mastodon atmstdn.social/@richdevine