The short answer: Every Windows laptop, including Dell, comes with free parental controls through Microsoft Family Safety. Keep your own account as the administrator, add your child as a family member with their own account, then turn on screen time limits, app limits, and website filtering from the Family Safety app on your phone.
When my daughter started first grade, her class went (mostly) paperless. Math homework, reading practice, even class announcements all moved online, so it was time to set up a computer just for the kids. Here are the steps I take. Want to go screen by screen? My interactive Windows parental controls guide walks you through every setting.
Step 1: Make Sure You’re the Administrator
Your own Microsoft account should be the administrator on the laptop, with a password your kids don’t know.
Step 2: Add Your Child
In Windows 11, go to Settings > Accounts > Family and add your child as a family member with their own account. It’s fun to use their photo as their profile picture.
Step 3: Turn On Family Safety
From the Microsoft Family Safety app on your phone (iPhone or Android), you can:
- Set daily screen time limits, different for each day of the week if you like
- Limit specific apps and games (yes, even Roblox)
- Filter websites. Filtering works in Microsoft Edge, and when it’s on, other browsers like Chrome are blocked unless you unblock them.
- See activity reports, and approve purchases and new apps
Step 4: Install Their Programs From Your Account
Any programs they need for school, install while you’re signed in as the administrator.
Step 5: Set It Up Together
Switch to their account and let them help. Add bookmarks in Edge for their homework sites and favorites, so they’re not searching around to find them.
Step 6: Talk About the Rules
Teach them how to take care of the computer, where it’s okay to use it (not in a bedroom with the door shut), and go over your family’s tech agreement before you hand it over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Dell have its own parental controls? No, and it doesn’t need to. Dell laptops run Windows, so you use Microsoft Family Safety, the same as on any Windows PC.
Does my child need a Microsoft account? Yes. Family Safety works through each child’s Microsoft account in your family group.
Does Family Safety filter Chrome? No. Website filtering works in Microsoft Edge, and when it’s on, other browsers are blocked so kids can’t get around it.
Where can I find step-by-step screenshots? My interactive Windows parental controls guide walks through each screen, and the video above shows it all in action.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I receive compensation if you make a purchase using the links.
