It used to be that locking down your family computer from inappropriate material or users sitting in front of their PC way too long was a chore. In Windows 8, the operating system itself is able to monitor underage users. Windows 8 is able to manage these tasks because of a featured called Family Safety.
Originally a standalone app only available to users who downloaded the Live Essentials collection of apps, Family Safety can monitor child accounts and report online activity directly to a parent account. It can also be used to automatically regulate when your child is online. For example, parents can tell their Windows 8-equipped tablet, notebook or all-in-one to not let their children in during certain times or for an extended amount of time. All of this monitoring relies on something very essential to Windows: user accounts. Every single Windows device allows parents to create user accounts. In Windows 8 Microsoft introduced a new Child account type that is limited in what it does and automatically reports information back to the device’s administrator account.
Before we begin, it’s important to remember that you’ll need the Windows 8.1 update before the setup process you get looks exactly like what’s shown below. Windows 8.1 is a free update that Microsoft makes available in the Windows Store. If you don’t already have it, download it now. It’ll take about an hour and also includes new customization features and the ability to hide the Start Screen when your device boots. Go to the Windows Store to see if it’s available on your device. If you see a banner labeled Install Windows 8.1, then tap or click on it to begin the setup process. If you don’t see the banner than you’ve already installed the update.
Setting Up Family Safety
Because Family Safety relies on parents and children having separate accounts, it’s that point that the setup process begins. If you haven’t created separate accounts for your entire family on every device, now is the time to do so. We walk Windows 8.1 users through creating any type of account in How to Create New Accounts in Windows 8.1.If everyone is using the same account on your Windows 8.1 device, remedy that now by creating at least one separate child account (or multiple child accounts if you have multiple children).
If you’ve already created at least one separate child account, here’s what to do. Go to the Start Screen by pressing the Windows key on your notebook or desktop’s keyboard. Tablet or 2-in-1 users should press the Windows button underneath their device’s display.