A child account on Windows is one of two things. It can be a local user that signs in only to that PC, or a Microsoft account that joins a Microsoft family group, which lets an organizer manage screen time and app and website filters remotely. The steps, the results and the setup work differ, so choose the type before you start.
Choose between a local child account and a family-group child account
Both options work on Windows 11 and Windows 10. Microsoft’s account guide covers both versions in one set of Settings paths (Manage user accounts in Windows). Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so a Windows 10 PC will no longer receive security updates unless it is enrolled in an extended program. Setting up accounts on it still works the same way.
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| Factor | Local child account | Microsoft child account in a family group |
|---|---|---|
| Sign-in scope | Signs in only to this PC | Uses a Microsoft account that can sign in across Microsoft services |
| Family Safety controls | Not managed through a family group | Organizer-managed screen-time limits and app and website filters, after enrollment and device connection |
| Setup requirements | Create a local user without a Microsoft account | An existing or new Microsoft account, an accepted family invitation, a connected Windows device, and possibly parental consent depending on the account’s region |
If you only want a separate desktop, downloads folder and sign-in for your child, a local account is enough. If you want to set limits from your own account or see activity, you need the family-group route. You can use both: enroll a child in the family group, then connect the device to that child’s Microsoft account.
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- Press Windows key + I to open Settings, then go to Accounts > Other users.
- Click Add account.
- Click I don’t have this person’s sign-in information, then click Add a user without a Microsoft account.
- Enter a user name and password. Windows may also ask for security questions and password hints.
- Click Next, then Finish.
Windows adds the user, but the new account’s type should still be checked. Select the child under Other users, choose Change account type, and set it to Standard User (see the section on standard accounts below).
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Option B: Add a Microsoft child account for family controls
Step 1: Add the child’s Microsoft account to the PC
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Other users > Add account.
- Enter the child’s existing Microsoft account email. If the child has no Microsoft account yet, follow the prompts to create one. Microsoft documents this sign-in method in its account guide.
Step 2: Invite the child to your family group
- As a family organizer, sign in at account.microsoft.com/family.
- Select Add a family member.
- Choose the Member role. Microsoft says this is usually the best role for a child.
- Send the invitation to the child’s email address or phone number. The child must accept it.
Someone already in another family group has to leave it, or be removed from it, before they can join yours. The invitation steps are described in Microsoft’s guide to adding people to a family group.
Step 3: Complete any parental consent prompt
Depending on the statutory age in the account’s region, the sign-in or registration flow may ask for consent from a parent or guardian Microsoft account. Complete the prompt from that adult account. The threshold and the flow differ by region, so follow the on-screen wording for your location. Microsoft’s parental consent guide explains the process.
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Step 4: Connect the child to the Windows device
- Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other people.
- Under Your family, select the child.
- Select Allow.
- Have the child sign in to Windows with that account. The PC should then appear among the child’s connected devices.
Labels vary between Windows builds. If Family & other people is not visible, use the Family area under Accounts, or the invitation flow in Step 2. Microsoft’s device connection guide covers the device step.
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Set the child’s Windows account to Standard User. Microsoft warns that Family Safety features may not work properly if the child account is an administrator. Keep at least one trusted adult account with administrative rights so you can install software and manage the PC. The device guide and the troubleshooting page both name this as a common cause of control failures.
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What the family group controls and what you still need to configure
Organizers can add and remove members, manage limits and permissions, and view activity when reporting is enabled. The roles and what each one can see are set out in Microsoft’s roles, permissions and data sharing page.
Creating the account does not switch on any limits. Microsoft’s Family Safety setup overview lists screen-time limits, app and website restrictions, and device connection as separate tasks. Connect the device first, then configure each control you want.
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Troubleshooting
- Limits or filters do not apply. Confirm the child is in the family group, the Windows device is connected to the child’s account, and the child’s Windows account is a standard user. Administrator status is the first thing to check (troubleshooting Microsoft Family Safety).
- The invitation cannot be accepted. The child may already belong to another family group. They must leave that group, or be removed from it, before joining yours.
- A consent prompt appears. Complete it from a parent or guardian Microsoft account. The requirement depends on the region where the account is registered.
- Family settings are missing on the PC. Use the Accounts area of Settings and check the invitation status from the family page, since menu labels differ between builds.
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