How to Set Up Parental Controls on PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch

All three major games consoles (PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch) have parental controls built in. Most parents don’t know they exist, or find them confusing to set up. This guide covers the most useful settings on each platform in plain English.

The short version: you can control what games your child can play, how long they can play, whether they can chat with strangers online, and whether they can spend money, all from your phone once it’s set up.

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PlayStation 5 (PS5)

Sony’s parental controls work through a Family account system. You create a family group with your PSN account as the Family Manager, then add child accounts for each child.

Setting up a child account

1. On a computer or phone, go to account.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com
2. Sign in with your PSN account
3. Go to Family Management > Add a Child
4. Create the child’s account. You’ll need to enter their date of birth (this determines the default content restrictions)
5. Sign into that account on the PS5

What you can control

• Content age ratings: set the maximum game rating the child’s account can play (PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16, or 18)
• Monthly spending limit: set to £0 to prevent any purchases without your approval
• Communication with others: restrict who your child can message and play online with
• PlayStation Store access: restrict browsing and purchasing entirely if preferred

PlayStation App (recommended)

Download the PlayStation App on your phone and sign in as the Family Manager. From the app you can approve or deny your child’s requests to play higher-rated games or spend money in real time, without needing to touch the console.

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Xbox (Series S / Series X / Xbox One)

Microsoft’s system is called Microsoft Family Safety and works across Xbox, Windows PCs, and the Family Safety app.

Setting up on Xbox

1. Create a Microsoft account for your child at account.microsoft.com
2. Add it to your family group at account.microsoft.com/family
3. Sign the child into that account on the Xbox

What you can control

• Content age ratings: set the maximum game rating (PEGI ratings)
• Screen time: set daily time limits and a schedule (e.g. no gaming after 9pm)
• Spending: require your approval for any purchases, or set a monthly allowance
• Multiplayer: restrict online play entirely, or limit it to friends only
• Communication: control who can send messages and voice chat

Microsoft Family Safety App

Download the Microsoft Family Safety app on your phone to manage everything remotely. You’ll get notifications when your child makes a purchase request, and can approve or deny it instantly. Screen time reports are also available in the app.

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Nintendo Switch

Nintendo’s system is the most straightforward of the three, with a dedicated app that makes it easy to manage.

Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App

Download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your phone. Open System Settings > Parental Controls on the Switch and follow the on-screen instructions to link the console to the app.

What you can control

• Restriction level: choose a preset (Child, Pre-teen, Teen) or customise manually
• Play time limit: set a daily limit and choose what happens when it’s reached (a warning, or the console suspending)
• Bedtime alarm: set a time when the console shows a reminder to stop
• Online features: restrict online play, user-generated content, and communication
• Software purchases: restrict purchases from the Nintendo eShop

The app also shows a monthly play activity report with which games were played and for how long.

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A few general tips

Set a PIN or password for the parental controls. This stops children from simply turning the settings off themselves.

Review settings periodically. What’s appropriate at age 8 isn’t the same at 13. It’s worth revisiting the settings as children get older rather than leaving them on the original configuration indefinitely.

Talk to your children as well. Controls are a useful safety net but not a substitute for conversation about appropriate content, online safety, and spending.

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If you’d like help setting any of these up on your console, or you’re having trouble getting the family account system to work, I help with console setup and configuration across Falkirk and Central Scotland.

Find out more about console gaming help in Falkirk, or call 07944 156 453. No fix, no fee, 7 days a week.