Set parental controls for Xbox 360 and Xbox LIVE

The Xbox 360 console lets you customize and manage your family's access to games, movies and television content. The Xbox 360 parental controls can be used to control the console itself and access to Xbox LIVE. Parental controls allow you control things such as:

• Which games can be played.
• Which movies and TV shows can be watched.
• How long each family member can use the console on a daily or weekly basis.

Whether or not someone can access Xbox LIVE. You can also change the online safety and privacy settings for your account or a managed dependent account.

• Block or allow access to Internet Explorer for Xbox.
• Determine who can see your profile.
• For parents, determine if approval is required to accept or send friend requests.

Watch the video “How do I turn on parental controls.”

Parental controls are divided into two groups: console controls and online safety and privacy settings. Console controls are located in the Family Settings or Family Center area on your console (depending on your Xbox LIVE membership type).

1. On your console, go to Settings, then select Family.

2. Select On to turn on Console Safety.
3. Enter a 4-button pass code using your controller.
4. Select Save and Exit.

• Ratings and Content: These settings let you restrict games and video content based on the content's rating. You can also set whether or not unrated or explicit content can be played on this console.
  Tip You can set up exceptions for individual games that are outside of the rating restrictions you have set.
• Family Timer: This setting allows you to limit the time that your console can be used on a daily or weekly basis.
• Xbox LIVE Access: This setting allows you to decide if your family can connect to Xbox LIVE from this console.
• Xbox LIVE Membership Creation: This setting allows you to control whether or not new Xbox LIVE memberships can be created from your console.

1. On your console, go to Settings, then select Family.
   
   Tip Not seeing Settings? You might be using an older version of the console software. See Update your Xbox 360 console software for information on how to update your console software.
   
2. Enter your 4-button pass code.
3. Select Change Pass Code.
4. Select Change Pass Code again.
5. Enter a new 4-button pass code twice.
6. Select Done.
7. Select Save and Exit.

How do I set the Family Timer on the console?

Watch the video “Set the Family Timer to help limit screen time.”

Use the Family Timer to limit the amount of time that your family can use your console on a daily or weekly basis. Family members can see how much time remains by pressing the Guide button on the Xbox controller. When the time expires, the console shuts down and can't be used again until the Family Timer automatically resets the next day or week.

To set the Family Timer

1. On your console, go to Settings, and then select Family.
   
   Tip Not seeing Settings? You might be using an older version of the console software. See Update your Xbox 360 console software for information on how to update your console software.
   
   
2. Select On to turn on Console Safety.
3. Enter a 4-button pass code using your controller.
4. Select Family Timer.
5. Select whether you want to set a Daily or Weekly timer.
6. Move down to the time period and use the left stick to increase or decrease the time period, then select Continue.
7. Select Save and Exit.

When the Family Timer is on, notifications will appear 1 hour, 30 minutes, 15 minutes, and 5 minutes before the time runs out. These give players sufficient warning so that they can save their games. However, when one of these notifications appear, you can add time or disable the timer altogether by entering the pass code.

1. When a Family Timer notification appears, press the Guide button to see the Family Timer options.
2. Enter your pass code using your controller.
3. Choose to add more time, suspend the timer, or turn the console off.

Note For information about controlling the Xbox LIVE experience, please see Online Safety and Privacy. To learn about ESRB Ratings and safe gaming tips, please see GetGameSmart.com.

You can change the online safety and privacy settings for any profile on your console.

1. On your console, sign in to your Xbox LIVE account.
2. Go to Settings, and then select Privacy.
3. Select Change Settings, and then select Customize.

4. Change the settings to whatever you’d like.
5. To exit, press the B button on your controller, and then select Save and Exit.

1. Sign in to Xbox LIVE using an adult account.
2. Go to Settings, and then select Family.
3. Select the child account that you want to manage.
4. Go to Online Safety, and then select Change Settings.
5. Change the settings to whatever you’d like.
6. To exit, press the B button on your controller, and then select Save and Exit.

For more information about how to set up and configure your online safety and privacy settings, see Xbox LIVE and Zune online safety and privacy.