Microsoft Releases Xbox Family Settings App Preview

Microsoft announced today that it has released the Xbox Family Settings app in preview on Android and iOS.

“The Xbox Family Settings app (Preview) empowers parents and caregivers to manage their children’s gaming on Xbox consoles through their mobile device,” Microsoft’s Dave McCarthy writes. “It provides a simple and convenient way to create child accounts and customize family settings on the Xbox console to ensure your kids have access to gaming that you feel is appropriate.”

Key features of this app include:

Screen time limits. Parents can set limits for each day of the week, giving you the ability to allow for more time on the weekends or reduce time during the school week, Microsoft says.

Content filters. Parents can set filters based on the age of each child. “An 8-year old can only access games rated E, and will be blocked from accessing titles that are too mature,” Microsoft notes.

Play and communication settings. Parents can block all access to play and communicate with other players, limit access to friends-only or grant permission for older children to play and chat with everyone.

Activity reports. Parents can view daily and weekly activity reports for each child to understand how they are spending their time on Xbox.

The Xbox Family Settings app is available now in preview on Android and iOS.