--- title: Microsoft Family Safety canonical: https://saasranked.com/software/microsoft-family-safety/ category: Parental Control Apps points: 71 rank: 7 of 10 facts_checked: 2026-10-08 --- # Microsoft Family Safety Free Microsoft app for screen time limits and content filters on Windows, Xbox and Android devices. 71 points out of 100. #7 of 10 parental control apps. Vendor: Microsoft. Website: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/family-safety - The iPhone app is listed as free, with no in-app purchases shown, and no paid plan appears on Microsoft's pages [6]. - Device time limits work on Windows and Xbox; app and game limits also cover Android [1]. - Web and search filters work only in Microsoft Edge, and other browsers are blocked [1][3]. - Parents get activity reports covering apps, websites and Bing searches [5]. - Location tracking was removed from the app in December 2024 [6]. Verdict: Family Safety suits families with Windows PCs or Xbox consoles who want free screen time limits and filters [1][6]. Parents set daily hours [2] and are notified when a child asks for more time [1][6]. The catch: filtering needs Edge, phone limits cover Android only, and location tracking was removed [1][2][6]. Best for: Families whose children use Windows PCs or Xbox consoles. Status: Microsoft removed the Drive Safety and Location Tracking features in the iPhone app's 2.0.0 update, dated December 5, 2024 [6]. ## Points | Criterion | Line | Value | Points | Note | |---|---|---|---|---| | Systems | Windows PC | Yes | 6/6 | Screen time limits and content filters work on Windows 10 and Windows 11 [1]. | | Systems | Other systems | Android | 3/12 | Limits and filters cover Android devices; the iOS app is for parents. No macOS or ChromeOS support listed [1][2]. | | Controls | Website filtering by category | Yes | 8/8 | Mature sites are blocked by default, with allowed and blocked site lists. Counted as one adult category plus custom entries (Edge only) [3]. | | Controls | Block apps and games | Yes | 6/6 | Parents block an app or game per platform, including Mobile; content filters cover apps and games on Android [4][1]. | | Controls | Daily limits and schedules | Yes | 8/8 | Parents set allowed hours and time ranges for each day, plus a total daily limit, on Windows and Xbox [2]. | | Controls | Time limits per app | Yes | 3/3 | App and game screen time limits are listed for Windows, Xbox and Android [1]. | | Controls | Pause or lock from the parent app | Yes | 3/3 | App Store release notes say parents can lock and resume a child's Xbox and Windows 11 devices, and 2.0.0 (Dec 5, 2024) restored the Lock Device feature [6]. | | Controls | Removal protection | Not published | 0/3 | Not published on the vendor's features or support pages [1][2]. | | Controls | YouTube controls | Not published | 0/2 | Not published on the vendor's features page [1]. | | Monitoring | Live location | No | 0/6 | The app's version 2.0.0 notes (December 5, 2024) say Drive Safety and Location Tracking features have been removed [6]. | | Monitoring | Place alerts | Not published | 0/2 | Not published on the vendor's features page; location features were removed [1][6]. | | Monitoring | Social media and message alerts | Not published | 0/5 | Not published on the vendor's features page [1]. | | Monitoring | Activity reports | Yes | 3/3 | Activity reports show app and game use, websites visited, Bing searches and screen time [5]. | | Monitoring | Child requests | Yes | 3/3 | The features page lists screen time requests and content filter requests; the App Store says parents are notified when a child asks for more time [1][6]. | | Terms | Money-back period | Not published | 0/2 | Not published; the app is listed as free [6]. | | Price and plan | Free plan | Yes | 8/8 | No plan page exists. The App Store lists the app as free, with screen time limits and content filters [6]. Reading chosen for a free product. | | Price and plan | Cheapest paid family plan | $0 | 12/12 | App Store lists the app as free; no paid plan found. Counted as a fully free product [6]. | | Price and plan | Devices on the priced plan | 100 | 8/8 | No device cap appears on Microsoft's pages; counted as a free product with no stated cap [1][6]. | ## Plans | Plan | Price | Per month (USD) | |---|---|---| | Free | Free [6] | $0 | Microsoft's pages give no device cap and no paid tier. The $0 price and 100-device value rest on the free App Store listing [6]. ## Strengths - Windows 10 and 11 are supported for device time limits and filters [1]. - Children can send screen time requests, and parents are notified when a child asks for more time [1][6]. - Activity reports list apps, websites and Bing searches [5]. - Parents can block individual apps and games for each platform [4]. - Parents can lock a child's device from the app, per the App Store release notes [6]. ## Limits - Web filters work only in Microsoft Edge, and other browsers are blocked [1][3]. - Screen time on phones applies only to Android devices [2]. - Microsoft removed Drive Safety and Location Tracking in December 2024 [6]. - Microsoft's pages name no macOS or ChromeOS support for the child's device [1]. ## Sources 1. [Microsoft Family Safety](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/family-safety), Microsoft, accessed 2026-10-08 2. [Set screen time limits across devices](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/family-safety/set-screen-time-limits-across-devices), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-08 3. [Filter websites and searches using Microsoft Family Safety](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/family-safety/filter-websites-and-searches-using-microsoft-family-safety), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-08 4. [Block or unblock apps with Microsoft Family Safety](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/family-safety/block-or-unblock-apps-with-microsoft-family-safety), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-08 5. [View device and app use with Family Safety activity reporting](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/family-safety/view-device-and-app-use-with-family-safety-activity-reporting), Microsoft Support, accessed 2026-10-08 6. [Microsoft Family Safety on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-family-safety/id1489209093), Microsoft Corporation (Apple App Store), accessed 2026-10-08