child-time

How to limit Minecraft time on a Windows PC

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Minecraft can be creative and social — and it can also eat the whole evening. Here's how to set fair, predictable rules on a Windows computer.

🎬 Video: Limits and sleep mode

A daily limit, hours when the computer rests, and allowed hours for a specific game.

Allow Minecraft only at certain hours

  1. Install child-time on your child's PC and let them play once, so Minecraft appears in the app list.
  2. In the dashboard open Kids & limits → “⏸ App” and choose Minecraft.
  3. Pick “After a daily minute limit” (say, 90 minutes a day), “Only outside allowed hours”, or “Always” to pause it.
Java or Bedrock? The Microsoft Store / Bedrock edition runs as its own app, so the rule applies only to Minecraft. The Java edition runs inside Java (it shows up as “Java” / javaw in the app list) — a rule on it applies to every Java program on that computer, which for most kids means just Minecraft.

Cap total screen time

Set a daily limit for the whole computer with “+ Limit” and bedtime hours with “😴 Sleep mode”. Your child sees a timer and gets warnings at 15, 5 and 1 minute left — time to save the world before the time's up screen appears.

Turn extra time into a deal

Add tasks that earn minutes — homework, sports, chores. Your child marks them done, you approve, and the minutes are added. Reports show how play time changes week by week.

Related guides: Parental controls for a school laptop · How to limit YouTube time on a Windows PC · Homework before video games: how to make the rule stick · How to block or schedule games on your kid's PC

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