Every major gaming platform has free parental controls. Setting them up takes a few minutes and can prevent surprises on your card statement.
Quick hits
- Nintendo, Xbox, PlayStation and Steam all offer free parental controls.
- Most let you limit games by age rating, set play time limits, control spending and manage chat.
- Nintendo and Xbox have dedicated phone apps for managing settings.
- Steam Families lets parents approve purchases and set play time for child accounts.
- Controls work best alongside rules you agree with your child.
Parental controls let you shape how, when and what your children play. They’re free on every major platform, and you can adjust them as your kids grow up.
What you can usually control
- Games by age rating: block games above a rating you choose; our age ratings guide explains what each means.
- Play time: daily limits and bedtime cut-offs.
- Spending: limits, approval requests or no purchases at all.
- Communication: who can send messages, voice chat or friend requests.
Nintendo Switch
The free Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app links to your child’s console. From your phone, you can set daily play time, restrict games by age rating, limit posting and communication features, and see what your child has been playing.
Xbox
The Xbox Family Settings app manages child accounts in your Microsoft family group. You can set screen time, content filters, spending rules, including asking a parent before buying, and who your child can communicate with.
PlayStation
On PS5 and PS4, you can set up a family on your PlayStation account and manage child accounts’ settings on the console or online. Options include age levels for games, play time, monthly spending limits and communication restrictions.
Steam
Steam Families replaced Steam’s older Family Sharing and Family View features. Adults can set parental controls for child accounts, including which games and features they can access and when they can play, and children can send purchase requests for a parent to approve.
Pro tip
Set up controls before handing over a new console. It’s easier than adding restrictions after your child is used to having none.
Agree on the rules together
- Explain why you’re setting limits.
- Agree on times, such as no gaming before homework or after a set hour.
- Review settings regularly and loosen them as your child shows responsibility.
- Talk about online safety, including not sharing personal details and telling you if something upsetting happens.
Keep accounts secure
A parent account with a weak password undoes all of these settings. Our guide to protecting your gaming accounts explains how to lock it down.
Player questions
Will my child be able to get around parental controls?
Determined kids sometimes find workarounds, so keep account passwords private and talk openly about the rules.
How do I stop accidental purchases?
Set spending limits or require approval for purchases, and avoid saving a card to a child’s account.
Can I limit who my child talks to online?
Yes. Most platforms let you restrict communication to approved friends or turn it off entirely.
What about phones and tablets?
Apple’s Screen Time and Google’s Family Link offer similar controls for mobile games.
Games, platforms and settings change with updates, so check the official help pages for your platform if something looks different.