Parental Controls That Actually Hold: Setting Them Up on Console, PC and Phone

Parental controls for gaming consoles, PC, and mobile devices are only as strong as the account structure they operate within. The most effective parental controls are tied to the child’s account, not just the device they’re using. This article walks through the steps to set up account-bound controls that actually limit spending, playtime, and communications on gaming consoles, PC, and phones.

Start with the Account, Not the Device

Before adjusting any settings, the first step is to create a separate account for the child within the parent’s family structure. Every console and PC gaming platform provides a way to do this:

1. Nintendo Switch: Go to System Settings > Parental Controls > Parental Controls Settings. You can create a separate account for your child or link their console with the Parental Controls app. This app offers preset age categories to simplify setup based on the child’s age and interests.

1. PlayStation: Create a separate child account from the family’s user profile, then go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management. Select the child account to set spending limits and content access.

1. Xbox: Go to Settings > Account > Family. Create a new family group and add your child’s profile as a family member. From there, you can set content restrictions, screen time limits, and monitor their Xbox activity.

On PC, Microsoft’s family controls require first creating an adult account, then a separate child account added to the family. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/ and use the steps in Family settings > Your family. You’ll need to know the child’s date of birth.

On phones, iPhones use Screen Time, while Android phones have Family Link. Both require creating a child account and adding controls through the parent’s account. Go to Settings > Screen Time (iOS) or Settings > Parents > Family Link (Android) to set up the child’s profile and limitations.

Spending Limits Come First

Once the child account is created and part of the family group, the next step is to limit spending on the child’s account. Platforms can track purchases and download activity for a family profile, but this won’t help if the child can spend freely from their own account or features access. We warn that preset profiles often omit this step.

To limit spending:

• Nintendo Switch: Set a card spending limit and Nintendo eShop spending limit in the Parental Controls app. The Switch will block any purchase that exceeds the set amount until the adult increases the limit.

• PlayStation: Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Wallet > Child’s Name > Wallet Spending Limits. Here you can set a total spending limit, and allow or block in-game purchases.

• iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases. Here you can completely block purchases or require your permission for every purchase attempt.

• Android: In the Family Link app for parents, go to the child’s profile > Manage settings > Controls on Google Play. Here you can set a spending limit, block In-app purchases, or require your approval for purchases and downloads.

However, platforms can track purchases and downloads at this level, helping to understand and restrict habits. Setting these spending limits before playtime or content restrictions helps avoid situations where a child spends heavily before a time limit cuts them off.

Playtime and Age Presets

Next, set time limits for daily or total playtime, and create age-appropriate content presets. Most platforms offer age-based content profiles: Nintendo Switch offers preset age categories for content options; PlayStation and Xbox have PEGI-5 to PEGI-18 options. However, these are just presets: you can turn off anything specific at this point.

Time limits can be tricky, especially when a game session was stopped by a parent. With these methods, you can control and observe game time:

• Nintendo Switch: Go to Parental Controls > System Settings > Parental Controls Settings. You can set a playtime limit for each day of the week, and a total playtime limit.

• PlayStation: Go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management > {Child Name} > Play Time. Here you can set a daily playtime limit, and set weekly time limits for each day of the week. You can use the preset options or customize a schedule.

• iPhone/iPad: Go to Settings > Screen Time > App Limits. Here you can set a time limit for total screen time, or limit apps like games. Set a time limit and block access at the end of the day.

One warning: Many pre-set options leave features and functions under these presets unchecked. Be sure to look under each age range to make an informed choice, even if the age level seemed like a good match.

Restrict Communications

Child profiles on gaming platforms often correspond weakly to adult friends, and may not enforce stranger safety from being exploited. After setting up playtime restrictions and spending limits, it's important to disable or restrict communication features.

• Nintendo Switch: Set Restricted Options to "No" to block all Forms of communication, or select 'Restricted' to block all online access, or 'Custom' to limit Nintendo Switch Online features. Disable video sharing to prevent unauthorized content access.

• PlayStation: In the PlayStation Parental Controls, go to {Child Name} > Communication. Disable Messaging, Block DMs, Block voice and text chat, Turn off Play together with voice. Restrict your children’s friends on their platform.

• Xbox: Go to Settings > Account > Family. Select the child’s profile, then go to Privacy & online safety. Here you can block the child from communicating with strangers, and block the ability to receive friend requests from people outside their family. You can also disable voice and text chat in games.

• iPhone/iPad: In Screen Time, go to Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps and Digital Content > Communication Limits. Here you can limit who the child can communicate with, and which apps they can use to communicate.
• Android: In the Google Family Link app, go to the child’s profile > Manage settings > Filters on Google Chrome. Here you can block websites and apps that allow communication with strangers.

Communication settings are the weakest point for legitimate parental restrictions. Double-check controls on how the platform treats friend requests, chat, and voice communication. Strangers can easily bypass many preset content safety settings.

Verify from the Child Side

The final and most important step is to verify that the parental controls are actually working from the child’s perspective. Don’t just rely on the parent dashboard. Log in to the child’s account and test the controls to make sure they are properly enforced.

• On Nintendo Switch, log in to the child’s account and try to make a purchase, play a restricted game, or access social features. They should be denied if the controls are set properly.

• On PlayStation, log in to the child’s account and try to make a purchase, play a restricted game, or add a stranger as a friend. If the controls are set correctly, they should be denied.

• On Xbox, log in to the child’s profile and try to access restricted content, make a purchase, or communicate with strangers. The controls should prevent these actions.

• On iPhone, open the child’s Screen Time and check the app limits, content restrictions, and communication settings. Try to make a purchase or access a restricted feature to test the controls.

• On Android, open the child’s Google Family Link app and check the app restrictions, screen time limits, and location settings. Try to access a restricted app or open a blocked website to verify the controls.

Double-check communication features are under strictest controls, then verify the controls again, this time focusing on friendly group chat features. Controls can get overridden unintentionally during play.

What Age Ratings Actually Do (and Don’t Do)

Platform age ratings like ESRB and PEGI are a helpful starting point, but they’re not foolproof. Ratings provide general guidance on content appropriateness, but they don’t take into account each child’s individual sensitivities, social awareness, or maturity.

The ESRB, for example, rates games based on overall content, language, suggestive themes, cartoons, fantasy, and more. But if a game is rated T (or “Teen”) for animated blood or fantasy violence, it’s assumed that a 12-year-old can handle it. However, some 12-year-olds with personal sensitivities or social or behavioral challenges may not have the maturity to process this content and might be negatively impacted.

Then again, the absence of a worrying rating doesn’t mean a child can handle more without parental oversight. A game might be rated E (or “Everyone”) but include in-game purchases or microtransactions that parents worry about or otherwise question the appropriateness for their child.

Therefore, Use age ratings as a rough guideline, not a definitive answer, and pay attention to the ESRB, PEGI, or other equivalent rating specifics for each game or content purchase. Organizations like ESRB provide detailed ratings in the overview of the rating itself.

Conclusion

Parental controls on gaming consoles, PC, and phones are only as effective as the account structure they operate within, and there are considerable gaps with both the controls’ setup and their verification. By setting up a child account, connecting it to the family structure, and then applying spending, time, and communication limits to that account, parents can create a more robust safety net for their child’s gaming experience. However, even with these controls in place, it’s crucial to monitor your child’s gaming activities, have open conversations about online safety, and be prepared to adapt the controls as your child grows and their gaming habits evolve.