How to set up parental controls for Xbox Ally and other Windows-based devices for safer gaming

Whether you’re wrapping up the festive period, stepping into the new year, or your child has just received an Xbox Ally, Xbox Ally X, or another Windows handheld, setting up parental controls can give you peace of mind.

It helps you monitor activity, prevent accidental spending, and stay informed about what your child or family member is doing.

This guide walks you through everything you need to get started.

Windows 11 Parental Controls

For those unaware, the Xbox Ally, Xbox Ally X, and other Windows handhelds run Windows 11.

This includes devices like the ROG Ally, ROG Ally X, MSI Claw, Lenovo Legion Go, Lenovo Legion Go S (Windows edition), and Lenovo Legion Go 2.

It does not include the Steam Deck or any other SteamOS-powered handheld.

Parental controls on these devices are handled through Microsoft Family Safety and Xbox Family Settings, which let you manage what a child can see and do.

To begin, you’ll need a Microsoft account for each user, and you’ll need to create a family group.

How to set up a Family Group

The easiest way to set up Parental Controls would be to download the Microsoft Family Safety App on your device of choice, either via Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store.

However, you can do this on your PC or your web browser of choice. Setting up a Family Group is very straightforward if you follow these steps below:

• Create or make sure your Child or Family member has their own Microsoft account, here https://signup.live.com/
• Make sure your child or family member is logged into the device you wish to manage. Instructions on how to do this are below.
• Once this is done, sign in to your own Microsoft account at: https://account.microsoft.com/family/
• Select Add a family member.
• Choose the Member option and select Next.
• Enter your Child's or Family Members Microsoft account email or share the link via WhatsApp.

Adding your family member to a device

Adding your child or family member to your device is very easy and straightforward, follow these steps below:

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• First, log in to the device with your Microsoft Account.
• Then navigate to Windows Settings. This can be done in several ways.
• If you're in the Xbox FullScreen Experience, swipe up from the bottom and select Windows Desktop
• Then open the Start Menu and search for Settings, and open it.
• If you're not in Xbox FullScreen Experience, just go to the Start Menu, search for Settings, and open it.
• Once in Settings, go to Accounts.
• Select Family.
• Your Child's or Family members' account will appear here.
• Select it and choose the option Allow sign-in.
• Once this is done, go back to the sign-in screen of your device and select your family member's profile, then go through the login process.
• I did have to restart my device before it would appear under my family member's profile.

Enable Activity sharing

Before you can view screen time or online activity, you may need to check that activity reporting is turned on.

To do this, follow these steps:

• Sign in to the Microsoft Family Safety website using your child's or family member's account.
• Open their profile and make sure the activity sharing toggle is set to Yes (it will turn green if enabled).

Once enabled, you’ll need to do one more step.

• Go back to your Account on the Microsoft Family Safety webpage.
• Select your child's or Family Member's profile.
• Enable the option "Activity reporting."

You will now be able to view your child or family members activity on their devices.

Configuring your Parental Controls (Via your web browser)

Once a family member is added to your account, you'll see the user profile.

To change their settings, you can do the following:

• Select their user profile.
• Make any changes you desire as per your requirements.

To manage your child’s account through the Microsoft Family Safety website, go to the Family group page and select their name. From here, you will see several management options, including screentime, apps and games, web and search, and spending.

Screen time allows you to set limits specifically for Windows devices, which covers the Xbox Ally and other Windows handhelds. Simply choose Windows within the screen time section and apply daily schedules or usage limits that suit your routine.

Make sure your child has already signed in on their device at least once. If not, the device will not appear for configuration.

Ensure you have followed these steps above to add your child or family member to the device.

Using the mobile app

If you decided to download the mobile app from either Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store, you can follow these steps below in the app to set up your Family Group:

• Once the app has downloaded, open up the Microsoft Family Safety App.
• Log in with your Microsoft Account.
• Within the Your family page, select Add a family member.
• If you haven’t already, ensure your family member has their own Microsoft account, you can choose the “CREATE A CHILD ACCOUNT” within this page.
• Enter your Family’s email address or phone number here to add them to your Family group.

Ensure you have followed these steps above to add your child or family member to the device.

Configuring your Parental Controls (Via Microsoft Family Safety)

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The Microsoft Family Safety app makes everything very straightforward.

Once a family member is added to your group, you can do the following:

• Select their user profile.
• From here, you can manage their devices. Windows Handhelds like the Xbox Ally will appear under Windows devices.
• Select Windows devices, and you can then change screentime, Apps and Games, Web and Search, spending, and more.

For example, under Screentime, we can select Windows or Xbox, for devices like the Xbox Ally and other Windows handhelds, select Windows, and you can configure Time limits.

It is worth noting that your family member user does need to have a device set up with their account, so ensure you have signed them into their Xbox Ally or other Windows-based handheld.

Xbox Parental Controls

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It’s important to follow the previous steps as well as this one for full Parental Controls over your Family members' accounts.

Even though the Xbox Ally and other Windows handhelds are tied to Windows, we still will want to set up Xbox Family Safety too, and to do this, do the following:

• On the handheld, sign in with your child’s Microsoft Account (the same as earlier from your Family group).
• Now download the Xbox Family Settings app from either Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play Store.
• Log in with your Microsoft Account.
• It will recognize your added Family Member(s) from earlier.
• It will run you through a setup of your Family Member(s), choosing their age, communication preferences, and more. This is at your own discretion.
• You now select your Family Member(s) profiles and fine-tune their settings as per your requirements.

Ensure you have followed these steps above to add your child or family member to the device.

Understanding Windows controls vs Xbox controls

Windows parental controls handle the device itself. This includes screen time, app limits, website filtering, downloads, activity history, and general access permissions.
Xbox controls focus on online behaviour, multiplayer, communication, content age ratings, friend requests, and spending approvals for in-game purchases.

If your child uses an Xbox Ally, Ally X, or any Windows handheld, you will want both systems working together. Windows manages time and apps, while Xbox Family Settings controls online safety, messaging, and purchases inside the Xbox ecosystem.

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