Parental controls and age ratings for games

Understanding age ratings

Most games carry an age rating from an independent rating board, shown on the box and the store page. The rating sits beside content descriptors that explain why, such as violence, strong language or in-game purchases. In North America the board is the ESRB. In much of Europe, including the UK, it is PEGI. Other regions have their own systems.

Ratings cover the game's own content. They do not rate what other players say or do in online chat, which is why ratings often add a note such as "users interact" or "online interactions not rated." The rating boards' own websites explain each symbol and descriptor, and you can search them by game title.

What family settings usually cover

• Age limits that block games and apps above a chosen rating.
• Play time limits by day of the week, with warnings before time runs out.
• Spending controls: a monthly limit, approval for each purchase, or no purchases at all.
• Communication settings for voice chat, messages and friend requests, often with parent approval for new friends.
• Activity reports showing which games were played and for how long.
• Web browser and content filters on the device.

The exact menus differ between consoles, PCs and stores, and they change with updates. Look for "family", "parental controls" or "child account" in the system settings, and use the platform's official help pages for current steps. Many platforms also offer a free phone app that lets parents manage these settings and approve requests remotely.

Setting up, step by step

1. Create your own adult account first, then create a child account linked to it as part of a family group.
2. Set the age limit to match your child's age, or the age you are comfortable with.
3. Set spending controls before adding any payment method to the console or store.
4. Choose communication settings. Friends only, with your approval for new friends, is a common starting point for younger children.
5. Add play time limits that match the rules you agree as a family.
6. Check PC stores separately. On a computer, family settings may be split between the operating system and each game store or launcher, so set up each one.
7. Test it. Sign in as the child and try to open a blocked game or make a purchase.

Talk about it together

Controls work best alongside conversation. Explain the rules and the reasons, and agree on them together where you can. Ask your child to come to you if anything online upsets them, and promise you will not ban gaming as a reaction to them telling you. Revisit the settings as they grow up. Playing a game with them now and then is one of the easiest ways to learn what they enjoy and who they play with.

What controls cannot do

No setting catches everything. Children may play at friends' houses, on phones or on other devices. Settings can sometimes be changed if a child knows the parent password, so keep it private. Controls are a safety net, and the online safety guide covers the habits that matter as much.

Parental control questions