Gaming parental controls
Comprehensive guides to set up parental controls on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and other gaming platforms. Keep your kids safe while they enjoy online gaming.
Never rely solely on in-game parental controls. Always layer your protection with router-level filtering and regular conversations with your children about online gaming safety. Check PEGI ratings and consider UK age recommendations for each game.
Quick Safety Tips
Privacy Settings First
Always configure privacy settings before allowing your child to play online games.
Disable Voice Chat
Turn off voice communication with strangers to prevent inappropriate contact.
Friend Request Controls
Set friend requests to require approval and monitor your child's gaming connections.
Official Platform Guides
Direct links to parental control settings from each platform's official support pages.
PlayStation Family Management
Set spending limits, restrict games by age rating, manage screen time, and control online communication on PS4 and PS5.
Visit official guideXbox Family Settings
Use the Xbox Family Settings app to manage screen time, content filters, friend requests, and spending from your phone.
Visit official guideNintendo Switch Parental Controls
Download the free Parental Controls app to set play time limits, restrict online features, and manage age-appropriate content.
Visit official guideSteam Family View
Restrict access to the Steam store, community features, and specific games. Set a PIN to control what your child can access.
Visit official guideRoblox Parental Controls
Set account restrictions, manage who can message your child, enable a parental PIN, and review activity dashboards.
Visit official guideEpic Games (Fortnite) Parental Controls
Manage voice and text chat, set spending limits, control who can send friend requests, and filter mature content.
Visit official guideStep-by-Step Safety Guides
How to Disable Chat on PlayStation 5
Keep your child safer online by limiting who can message them on PlayStation Network.
Steps:
- 1Go to Settings > Users and Accounts > Privacy
- 2Select "View and Customise Your Privacy Settings"
- 3Under "Communication and Multiplayer", choose "Friends Only" or "No One" for messages and chat
- 4Save changes and test from a second account if possible
Tip:
You can also use the PS App on mobile to control this remotely.
Block Unknown Friend Requests on Xbox
Prevent strangers from contacting your child by restricting friend requests to known contacts only.
Steps:
- 1Press Xbox button to open guide, then go to Profile & system > Settings
- 2Select Account > Privacy & online safety > Xbox privacy
- 3Choose "View details & customise" > Communication & multiplayer
- 4Set "Others can communicate with voice, text or invites" to "Friends" or "Block"
- 5Set "Others can add you as a friend" to "Friends of friends" or "Block"
Tip:
Use the Xbox Family Settings app to manage these settings remotely from your phone.
Set Up Nintendo Switch Parental Controls
Monitor and control your child's Nintendo Switch gaming time and content access.
Steps:
- 1Download the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app on your smartphone
- 2Create or sign in to your Nintendo Account
- 3Follow the app instructions to link your console (you'll need the console nearby)
- 4Set time limits, bedtime restrictions, and game rating limits
- 5Enable "Restricted Communication" to block chat features in compatible games
Tip:
You can receive daily or monthly activity reports to see what games your child is playing.
Disable Voice Chat in Popular Games
Turn off voice communication in specific games to prevent inappropriate interactions.
Steps:
- 1Open the game and navigate to Settings or Options menu
- 2Look for Audio, Voice, or Communication settings
- 3Set Voice Chat to "Off", "Friends Only", or "Team Only" depending on options
- 4Adjust microphone settings to mute by default
- 5Test the settings in a safe environment before letting your child play
Tip:
Settings vary by game. Popular games like Fortnite, Minecraft, and Roblox each have different menu locations for these controls.
PlayStation Safety
Configure PlayStation Network privacy settings, spending limits, and communication controls.
- • Disable voice/text chat
- • Set friend request restrictions
- • Configure spending limits
- • Enable play time controls
Xbox Safety
Set up Xbox family settings and online safety controls for young gamers.
- • Xbox Family Settings app
- • Screen time management
- • Content filtering
- • Purchase approvals
Nintendo Switch Safety
Use Nintendo's parental controls app to monitor and restrict gaming activities.
- • Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app
- • Time limit alarms
- • Game rating restrictions
- • Social media posting controls