Last verified: August 2026. Platforms change their menus often — visit this page for the latest version.
ESRB rating: E10+ (Everyone 10 and up)
How Minecraft parental controls work
Minecraft has no parental controls of its own — everything is managed through Xbox and Microsoft. Your child needs a Microsoft child account linked to your family group, and from there you configure multiplayer, chat, and purchases.
Initial setup
- Create a Microsoft child account for your child at account.microsoft.com.
- Download the Xbox Family Settings app on your phone.
- Add your child's account to your Microsoft Family group.
- In the app, open Content Settings and review the Minecraft permissions.
- Configure multiplayer: off, friends only, or everyone.
- Turn on "Ask a Parent" so your child has to request permission before buying anything.
Essential settings checklist
What's new in 2026
Microsoft expanded AI-powered moderation to eleven additional content categories, and spam reports dropped by 90%. Age verification is already live in the UK and is expanding to more countries through 2026.
In February 2026, CyberSafe: Bad Connection? launched — a free educational experience about online safety that kids can play inside Minecraft itself. It is a good way to raise the topic without it sounding like a lecture.
Warning signs to watch for
Do not confuse Microsoft's two apps. Xbox Family Settings covers the console and shares one screen-time limit across Xbox and Windows. Microsoft Family Safety is broader: it allows separate limits per platform and limits on individual games or apps, which the Xbox app does not offer. For Minecraft the first one is enough; if you also want to limit Minecraft separately from everything else, you need the second.
Tip: Minecraft in Creative mode without multiplayer is safe at any age. The risk is in online play with strangers. Start offline and add multiplayer gradually, as your child shows they can handle it.
Minecraft parental controls guide →