How to limit your child's computer time on Windows
If “five more minutes” turns into the whole evening, a clear rule that enforces itself works better than daily arguments. Here are the options on Windows 10 and 11.
1. Agree on the rules first
Any limit works better when the child knows it in advance: how many minutes on school days and weekends, when the computer “rests” (for example after 9 pm), and how to earn extra time. Write the rules down — it ends the “you never said that” arguments.
2. Microsoft Family
Windows has a built-in family group: the child needs their own Microsoft account added to your family at family.microsoft.com, where you can set screen time per day. It suits families who already use Microsoft accounts. Comparison (in Russian).
3. child-time
child-time is free parental control for Windows 10 and 11 that works with ordinary local Windows accounts:
- Daily limit. When time is up, the screen locks and the child sees a clear message.
- Bedtime hours when the computer can't be used.
- Pause individual apps — always, or outside allowed hours (e.g. a game only from 6 to 8 pm).
- Reports on which apps were used and for how many minutes.
- An honest timer on the child's screen, plus pop-up warnings with a sound at 15, 5 and 1 minute left.
- Earn time with tasks: the child completes a task, you approve it, minutes are added.
Set it up in 5 minutes
- Create an account in the parent dashboard.
- On the child's computer, sign into Windows as the child, download the program and run it.
- Sign in with your account, pick the child and set a limit under “Children & limits”. Full guide.
Tip: make the child's Windows account a standard (non-admin) one — that makes the limits harder to bypass.