Xbox Family Settings review

Xbox Family Settings is the free console counterpart to Microsoft Family Safety. Xbox's page lists screen time schedules for each child with different hours for each day of the week, and a Pause control that shows the child a screen time up message until a parent lets them play again. Spending is where it stands out: with Ask to Buy, the parent gets a notice when a child asks to buy a game or in-game item they cannot pay for, and the app shows the child's balance, lets the parent add money as an allowance, and lists recent purchases. Friend requests come to the parent through Ask a parent, parents decide how the child plays online, and Minecraft can be allowed as an exception to the multiplayer setting. Daily and weekly reports show which games each child plays. Everything stays on the console: there is no web filter or phone control here.

Who it is for

families with an Xbox console

Price

Free.

Free
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 12, 2026.

Key features

• Screen time schedules for each child with different hours for each day
• Pause screen time to stop console play until a parent allows it
• Ask to Buy requests, account balance, adding money and spending history
• Friend requests through Ask a parent, plus online multiplayer settings
• Daily and weekly activity reports per child

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Spending tools let parents set an allowance on the child's account
• Strength: Requests for more time and new friends arrive on the parent's phone
• Strength: Can allow Minecraft multiplayer while other online play stays off
• Weakness: Manages Xbox consoles only
• Weakness: There is no child version of the app
• Weakness: Web filtering and PC limits need Microsoft Family Safety instead

Key facts

• Price: Free
• Consoles: Xbox
• Parent app: iOS 13 or higher, Android 8.0 or higher
• Spending: Ask to Buy, balance, add money, spending history

Where it ranks

Xbox Family Settings is No. 7 in our Best Free Parental Control Apps verdict.