# Microsoft Family Safety — user reviews > 735 indexed App Store user reviews of Microsoft Family Safety by Microsoft Corporation, rated 4.10/5 from 7,848 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-family-safety/id1489209093/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-family-safety/id1489209093.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 5,320 · 4★ 784 · 3★ 299 · 2★ 248 · 1★ 1,197 ## What do users think of Microsoft Family Safety? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 🚀 Easy to manage screen time - 👍 Helpful for monitoring device usage - 🔒 Provides good parental controls - 💡 Allows approving requests from app **Cons** - 🐛 Inconsistent time tracking - 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs - 🔒 Lack of password/PIN protection - 👎 Unintuitive and confusing to use **Commonly reported bugs** - Location tracking inaccuracies - Inability to approve requests from app - Settings not persisting after updates - Frequent crashes on latest version **Most requested features** - Allow setting custom time limits - Provide ability to group apps/websites - Add audio alerts for requests - Enable remote device locking/pausing ## Newest reviews (13 of 735) ### 3/5 — Great app, needs some work *2026-09-02, version 2.0.7* The app is a great idea and it is easy to navigate. It needs some polish to make it easier to do what is made for without making it too complicated. Definitely reading to work with apple to give it a 5 star. ### 4/5 — Almost covers everything *2026-08-30, version 2.0.7* What happened to the Xbox settings? ### 2/5 — Bring back XBOX screen time *2026-08-29, version 2.0.7* Very useful app, but now XBOX is managed via the browser its so frustrating ### 1/5 — Confusing too many password entries *2026-08-17, version 2.0.7* I really don’t like google and Microsoft but unfortunately the world doesn’t allow other systems anymore. The Microsoft family safety app crashes too often. Goes to the website and stops working. Useless. ### 4/5 — Works okay with other things *2026-08-17, version 2.0.7* We use this with many other safe guards. Our son is very tech savvy so this was not enough but helped. ### 1/5 — Was good, now won’t work after update *2026-08-15, version 2.0.7* Won’t open with following instructions, I’ve done my best to follow those instructions but now it won’t open without telling me I need to follow the instructions 😡 I use this app daily to allow my son access to his computer once he’s completed his morning routine, it’s quick as easy (though I would prefer time slots smaller than half an hour) but now the app won’t work. Very annoying. ### 1/5 — No Xbox now? No point! *2026-08-15, version 2.0.7* Completely and absolutely stupid that the Xbox settings have “moved to a website” instead of using the app. A site where you can also see and manage everything that is left over in the app! What is even the point of this app now? Just gonna delete this useless piece of garbage! Update after Microsoft (non)response: You created an Xbox Family Settings as A SEPARATE APP? And didn’t even mention it when you stripped it without warning from Family Safety - just linked to the web page. My criticism still stands! ONE app to control safety and limits beats TWO SEPARATE APPS to do THE EXACT SAME THING!!! Again, the only explanation? Microsoft is fixing to dump the money loosing Xbox and gaming unit entirely and the is the preparation for that dump. Fine, then I’m dumping Microsoft. ### 2/5 — Pain in my - for YEARS *2026-08-14, version 2.0.7* This family setting be has been a pain for YEARS, I have been 18+ the entire time and they make it hard as all to change the settings, an now the app screen goes to a blank white when I try to officially join my family group that I am a LONE MEMBER IN so why I have to join in the first place? No one knows. And now the app won’t even load to let me in fully. I’m 26. Km trying to get into a COLLEGE BOOKSTORE SITE AND IT WONT LET ME. IM NOT EVEN IN MY FAMILIES FAMILY. RIDICULOUS. ### 1/5 — Why get rid of x-box? *2026-08-13, version 2.0.7* This app used to be great. Everything was at the touch of a button. I could add money to kids accounts and switch up screen time limits. Now I have to login through the browser to get x-box limits and controls. Why make it harder? ### 1/5 — Don’t waste your time *2026-08-12, version 2.0.7* Literally the stupidest biggest waste of time to try to set up especially with Minecraft. For some reason it is associated with Xbox and it’s horrible. Wasted so much time trying to set up Minecraft to be able to play with my kid on our phones. ### 1/5 — Why move out Xbox limits? *2026-08-10, version 2.0.7* It was so easy to get into the app to set Xbox limits and edit them. Now you have to go to the website login etc. it is such a worse user experiencie…..and doesn’t that fall within the very core reason for this app to exist? Very disappointing… ### 2/5 — Notifications stop working *2026-08-07, version 2.0.7* If phone is reset, the notification will stop working and app won’t ask permission for notifications to allow or disallow either. Have to delete and reinstall the app. ### 1/5 — Xbox setting removed *2026-08-06, version 2.0.7* App was decent not useless. I liked having access to Xbox settings and activity on my phone quickly. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Borderline unusable *2026-09-03, version 2.0.7* My wife and I use this app to block games when it’s homework time for the kids. This use to be manageable, but as of Oct 26 it is incredibly hard to use. Usability - the app redraws itself continually so what you were about to push moves away. Blocking websites - for sure reason websites that were listed directly under ‘Web activity’ stopped appearing there for days, they’ve now returned but I have no idea why. Multiple managers - my wife and I both manage our children’s access, but the view is see does not match what she sees, if I block a website or app, it does not reflect on her device even after multiple refreshes, this means that we do not know what is blocked, and may not been able to block or unblock apps as we’re setting out of date information. ### 1/5 — Doesn’t work *2026-09-02, version 2.0.7* I used to be able to manage my kids screen time etc through this but now the app redirects me to the website to finish “setting up” but there’s nothing on the website to complete. Just makes the app completely pointless! ### 1/5 — Garbage *2026-08-31, version 2.0.7* I have nothing but issues with managing purchases for the kids!! Honestly, I just wouldn’t bother with in app purchases until Microsoft can sort this ridiculous app out. It was no better with the Xbox family app before so it’s clearly been a problem for a while. ### 1/5 — Do NOT use *2026-08-29, version 2.0.7* This app does not do anything it purports or alleges to do. Pop up ads to get you to buy Microsoft 365 and CoPilot. Aug 29, 2026: Been monitoring my son’s computer, and all of a sudden, on the app, his computer has disappeared. I don’t have time to constantly re-add his computer! ### 1/5 — Needs a lot of work *2026-08-26, version 2.0.7* Giving additional time from the app never works. Further, the app is currently unusable due to an update that sends you to the website with no additional instructions. ### 1/5 — Buy a Mac just to Avoid *2026-08-25, version 2.0.7* This is the worst POS ever. Microsoft gives zero F’s for parents with ever moving and changing apps and authorizations. Buy a Mac if you have kids and can. Never rely on this POS. ### 1/5 — Sudden blocking to open app asking to update settings *2026-08-23, version 2.0.7* App is suddenly asking to login to web app and update settings for all family members, instead of adding in non blocking way. This caused interruption to my kids class as I couldn’t allow them to access pc to join an online class, the link app redirecting also to some docs page and not the page we can take required steps. It’s common sense to not interrupt users even when you need them to update some settings, very inconvenient update. Hope you guys think about user experience. ### 1/5 — Rendered Useless *2026-08-22, version 2.0.7* What even is the point of this app anymore since you took Xbox time management out completely?? Why ‘fix’ something that isn’t broken. I won’t bother using this app anymore since I have to sign onto my account online to access Xbox limits. Will just adjust everything there even though this app was much more convenient when I could adjust them all in one place. Thanks for breaking something else that previously worked just fine. ### 1/5 — Very bad app *2026-08-22, version 2.0.7* Please have a look at apple’s screen time functions and change your app. ### 1/5 — Removed Xbox controls *2026-08-19, version 2.0.7* This used to be a great app but fit some reason Xbox can no longer be controlled by it . You are redirected to website but website states use app! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Works *2026-09-07, version 2.0.7* This mostly works. My kid asks for extra time every time if I’m home but that is parenting not Microsoft. Maybe don’t tell your kid you have that power. ### 5/5 — Great way to keep my child safe *2026-08-29, version 2.0.7* It is a safe way to protect my children ### 5/5 — Excelente *2026-08-26, version 2.0.7* Me ha servido mucho para controlar las actividades en línea de mi hijo ### 5/5 — When they age out of Google Family… *2026-08-22, version 2.0.7* Ditch the Chromebook for a PC and use this app instead ### 5/5 — Essential Tool for our Kids *2026-08-19, version 2.0.7* Take control of reverting on the computer of your kids. ### 5/5 — Amazing! *2026-08-19, version 2.0.7* Now I can tell what my kids are doing easily ### 5/5 — Great for access control *2026-08-09, version 2.0.7* Go for managing kids accounts and access time ### 5/5 — Truly empowering and helpful *2026-07-22, version 2.0.7* Kids don’t like to be told to turn off the laptop but this utility manages it without friction. Could be improved by allowing time to be extended without request and without having to change the weekly schedule. ### 5/5 — Cool *2026-07-13, version 2.0.6* Cool ### 5/5 — Ótimo *2026-07-03* Perfeito para controle de acessos para meu filho **Developer response:** Thank you for using Family Safety. We're glad to hear that you've been enjoying our app. If there are other ways we can improve the experience for you, please send feedback via the app (Home/Menu > Help and feedback > Send feedback) Thank you! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-10.*