Microsoft family features

Last updated

Microsoft family features
Other namesMicrosoft Family Safety (Windows 8 & Windows 8.1)
Parental Controls (Windows 7 & Windows Vista)
Operating system Microsoft Windows, as Family Safety on Android, iOS
Type Parental controls
Website https://account.microsoft.com/family/

Microsoft family features (includes family safety features formerly known as Microsoft Family Safety, formerly Parental Controls in Windows 7 and Vista) is a free set of features available on Windows 10 PC and Mobile that is bundled with the Windows 10, Home edition operating system. On July 17, 2020, Microsoft released Microsoft Family Safety on Google Play and App Store (iOS) as well. [1] Starting in Windows 10, a Microsoft Account is required to use the Microsoft family features. A parent can manage settings for a child if both of their Microsoft Accounts are in the same family. When parents turn on settings for their child, these settings are applied to every device that the child logs into with that Microsoft Account. [2]

Contents

Other changes to family safety features in Windows 10 include Windows Store purchase controls and the ability to find a child's Windows 10 Mobile device on a map. [3]

History

Microsoft has offered family safety features since March 2006 when a preview of Windows Live OneCare Family Safety was first offered to 3000 beta testers. After over a year and a half of testing, the final version was released on November 6, 2007. On December 15, 2008, Microsoft released an updated version 2009 of the software, and rebranded it as Windows Live Family Safety, removing it from the discontinued Windows Live OneCare family of products. [4] [5] Web Filtering and Activity Reporting were previously features in Windows Vista Parental Controls. They were removed from the Windows 7 release when they were moved to Windows Live. On September 30, 2010, Windows Live Family Safety 2011 (Wave 4) was released as part of Windows Live Essentials 2011. [6]

On May 14, 2012, Microsoft announced that Windows Live Family Safety will be renamed to Microsoft Family Safety and will be built-in as part of its Windows 8 operating system. [7] [8]

In August 2015, Microsoft Family Safety was renamed Microsoft Family Features and the family features offering was expanded beyond that of just family safety to include Windows Store funding.

On December 16, 2015, Microsoft added new features to Windows 10 which included screen time extensions and the ability to manage settings for both Windows 10 PC and Mobile in one place. [9]

In addition, Microsoft added a unified management center for recent activity, browsing history, app and game purchasing and downloading history and made it possible for a parent account to locate their child's Windows 10 phone. [10]

Windows 8 features

Windows 10 features

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References

  1. ↑ "Microsoft Family Safety".
  2. ↑ Windows Help Articles: Set up family features on Windows 10
  3. ↑ Microsoft Family FAQ: Changes to family features
  4. ↑ Mondok, Matt (August 31, 2006). "Adults only: Windows Live OneCare Family Safety beta released. Microsoft has released a beta of its parental control application known as …". Ars Technica .
  5. ↑ Wenzel, Elsa (November 12, 2007). "Microsoft unwraps Windows Live desktop suite. Windows Live downloads now provide windows to Web services for e-mail, chatting, blogging, and photos". CNet .
  6. ↑ Arar, Yardena (February 5, 2009). "Microsoft Plans a Stripped-Down Windows 7". PC World.
  7. ↑ Building Windows 8: Keeping your family safer with Windows 8
  8. ↑ Pogue, David (October 24, 2012). "Windows, Revamped and Split in 2". New York Times .
  9. ↑ Microsoft Family FAQ: Changes to family features
  10. ↑ Viswav, Pradeep (December 16, 2015). "Microsoft makes several changes to family safety features in Windows". Microsoft-News.
  11. ↑ Muntenescu, Florina (January 3, 2010). "Enhance Parental Controls with Windows Live Family Safety". Digital Life.
  12. ↑ Blecherman, Beth (August 10, 2012). "TechMama: Take Charge of Windows 8's New Parental Controls". LAPTOP Magazine (Tom's Guide).
  13. ↑ Rubenking, Neil J. (December 7, 2010). "Windows Live Family Safety 2011". PC Magazine.
  14. ↑ Skinner, Carrie-Ann (March 21, 2011). "How to use Windows Live Family Safety. We demonstrate parental controls with Windows Live Family Safety, free software that helps keep your children safe from the dangers of the web". PC Advisor.
  15. ↑ Sohn, Phil (July 16, 2010). "What's new with Family Safety?". Windows Live™ - The Windows Blog. Microsoft. Archived from the original on July 21, 2010.
  16. ↑ Brandon, LeBlanc (August 20, 2009). "Updated Version of Windows Live Family Safety Released". Windows Experience Blog. Microsoft. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012.
  17. ↑ Strommen, Daniel (January 23, 2020). "Turning off online management of Windows 8.1 and Windows 7 parental controls". Microsoft.
  18. ↑ Windows Help Article: Keep your kids safer on the PC
  19. ↑ Brink, Shawn (June 14, 2012). "Family Safety Requests - Send and View in Windows 8". Ten Forums.
  20. ↑ "Changes to family features". Microsoft.com. Retrieved July 24, 2018.
  21. ↑ Brink, Shawn (December 19, 2015). "How to Manage Screen Time Settings for Child in your Microsoft Family". Ten Forums.
  22. ↑ Rubenking, Neil (February 19, 2016). "Microsoft Family Safety for Windows 10". PC Magazine .
  23. ↑ Windows Help Articles: Put money in my child's Microsoft account
  24. ↑ Brink, Shawn (December 17, 2015). "How to Find Your Child in Microsoft Family on a Map". Ten Forums.
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