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Title: Ask Engadget: How do I set up an Xbox for my kid?

Date: Fri, 30 May 2025 11:00:22 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/ask-enga...

Q: My question is how best to set up an Xbox for my kid. I want to know how
to control use time and whether I should use my email to set up. ΓÇô
Guillermo from Utah

A: You're in luck! Console parental controls have come a long way from the
days of hiding NES systems (or their controllers) from unruly kids.
Microsoft, in particular, has made it very easy through its Xbox Family
Settings app for iOS and Android, which supports Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One
systems. Once you've added your kids to your Xbox family group, you'll be
able to manage and see reports of their playtime, restrict access to specific
content, require parental approval for purchases and sort incoming friend
requests. In typical Microsoft fashion, though, setting up Xbox family
accounts can be a bit confusing, so let's go over it step by step.

Microsoft How to set up an Xbox for your child

Turn on your Xbox and sign in with your Microsoft account.

Press the Xbox button on your controller, and head to Profile & system >
Settings > account > Family settings > Manage family members.

Choose Add to family > Add new.

Unfortunately, Microsoft requires an email address for new accounts. You can
either entire your child's existing email if they have one, or choose the Get
a new email option to create an Outlook email address. (This may seem a bit
absurd for younger children, so if you don't want to create an email for your
6 year old, you may be better off just physically controlling access to
consoles like the old days.)

Next, you'll have to verify the addition of a new family group member. You
can do so by either choosing This Xbox on the next screen and entering your
Microsoft account details, or selecting Their phone/PC to have an email sent
to you. In either case, you'll have to consent to the new member.

What is a Microsoft child account?

In its documentation, Microsoft says "a child account is defined as any
Microsoft account thatΓÇÖs affiliated with an adult Microsoft account when
the age of the child or teen is less than the age of majority for their
country or region." These accounts are broken into "Child" and "Teen"
categories, which specify age ranges between eight and 12, and 13 to 17.
Microsoft notes there can be differences depending on location, like in South
Korea where teen accounts range from 13 to 18.

Devindra Hardawar for Engadget Are there any issues with Microsoft child
accounts?

As useful as the Xbox Family app and child accounts may seem, they can also
lead to problems while playing Minecraft, according to comments on Reddit.
Reddit user "Microdad_" said they weren't able to gift a game to their
child's account, they had to deal with a buggy website to allow them to play
Minecraft and after all of that trouble their child still can't play in their
realm. User "Electronic_Ocelot825" encountered similar issues, replying, "You
are spot on. I go through same [sic] crap and it drives me to the point where
I am furious.ΓÇ¥

Have a tech question youΓÇÖd like Engadget to answer?

As tech reporters, the Engadget staff is always answering questions from
readers, friends and family about electronics, software, gaming, big tech
policies and more. So we decided to write down our answers. This question
came from a coworker from Yahoo, Engadget's corporate parent. If youΓÇÖve got
a tech-related question youΓÇÖd like us to answer for you, please email
ask@engadget.com.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/gaming/xbox/ask-enga...
my-kid-110022860.html?src=rss

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