# Xbox Family Settings — user reviews > 562 indexed App Store user reviews of Xbox Family Settings by Microsoft Corporation, rated 4.00/5 from 6,321 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xbox-family-settings/id1507406707/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xbox-family-settings/id1507406707.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 4,107 · 4★ 635 · 3★ 320 · 2★ 304 · 1★ 955 ## What do users think of Xbox Family Settings? Overall sentiment: neutral **Pros** - 👍 Great app for managing screen time - 🚀 Easy to use controls - 🔒 Robust parental controls - 💡 Ability to pause and add screen time - 👍 Helpful for monitoring child activity **Cons** - 🐛 Time tracking issues and delays - 🔍 Confusing and complicated settings - 🔍 Sluggish and slow performance - 🔍 Inability to manage time flexibly - 🔍 Frustrating purchase flow **Commonly reported bugs** - Time limits not working as expected - Settings not saving or syncing properly - Frequent crashes and sign-in issues - Inconsistent behavior across devices **Most requested features** - Custom screen time schedules per app - Ability to cancel or adjust added time - Faster response times and real-time updates - Streamlined setup and navigation - Unified parental control experience ## Newest reviews (20 of 562) ### 3/5 — Wish I could add time to play, not an immediate timer. *2026-08-01, version 2026.7.28* The “add time” to a daily time limit is very annoying. If I want to add 30 min to the day, it starts a timer even if my child turns off the Xbox. I need to be able to add playing time, not a stop watch. If I want to give them an extra hour for the day, I want them to play for another hour. They are afraid to turn of the Xbox and go outside to play for a bit or go to the bathroom because they will run out of time. ### 2/5 — Doesn’t Work *2026-07-28, version 2026.7.7* The app seriously never works. I’m constantly having to sign into the web browser to change settings and time limits because the app says it does but it sometimes does and most of the time does not relay that to the actual Xbox. ### 2/5 — Approving purchase requests doesn’t work *2026-07-19, version 2026.7.7* My child asks for a purchase which I don’t get an email about but I see it in notification on the iOS Xbox family app. I click on the request and am given options to review and deny. If I click on review I’m taken to a random tutorial video that’s tiny on my phone and no way to approve ### 2/5 — Not good, but what choice do you have? *2026-07-06, version 2026.6.4* This app is mostly a disaster. It is cluttered and cumbersome trying to find what you want to do on it. Screen time controls don’t work. It says you can limit your children’s accounts, and it reports their usage accurately, but it does not actually stop them from playing when their time is up. ### 1/5 — Very frustrating *2026-07-02* The prior app let me give time on the Xbox and each individual game. My husband and I could both connect and control the usage depending on who was home. Now the prior app is controlling the time limits set for each game the notifications for more time request. But I’m no longer able to access my old settings to change anything. The new app doesn’t seem to communicate with the settings I added. Now they constantly fighting each other. As well as my husband cannot see the settings I set. He can only access the settings from the old app. It is very frustrating for parents the kids love and hate it because sometimes it never cuts them off or it sometimes doesn’t let them play even if i try changing the schedule or even add time does do anything. ### 1/5 — Not a good App *2026-07-01, version 2026.6.4* I try to use this to limit my child on the amount of time they are on Xbox and this never works. ### 4/5 — Always getting better *2026-06-30, version 2026.6.4* I have been using this since before it was an official app. It is always in development and getting better. There are still lots of features that need to be finished and added, but they are making it better. Looking forward to future updates with the feedback features added. ### 2/5 — Would like more control over the games my son has downloaded *2026-06-28, version 2026.6.4* Since you’ve removed the parental control on the Microsoft family safety app I’m no longer able to control the games my son has already downloaded. Can we get that fixed? Or do 11yr olds get to control all that now? ### 1/5 — Trash. *2026-06-25, version 2026.6.4* You want to remove Xbox from family sharing app yet create this disaster of an app that doesn’t even work. Can’t load a page to add money, can’t load a page to approve a request for my child’s account. WHAT IS THE POINT!???? Can’t even buy a damn game pass so I have to buy a code to put on my child’s account and pay heaps for it… yet you can’t even give me an app that works. And no, it’s not my internet. Everything in my life works perfect except this stupid app. ### 1/5 — No reason why these settings couldn’t be on the website *2026-06-21, version 2026.6.4* There is nothing here that required a dedicated app. These settings and menus could have been easily accessible on the website. Forcing me to download an app by removing functionality from a website is an immediate red flag and suspicious. ### 1/5 — Family Safety worked a lot better *2026-06-21, version 2026.6.4* The Family Safety worked a lot better than this “xbox only” app. Responding to requests for extra time keep failing. The app also only opens about 1/4 or the time. The rest of the time it just sits on the loading screen. ### 1/5 — Awful *2026-06-21, version 2026.6.4* Doesn’t work. Add child, accept invitation and it sits showing pending forever. Rubbish. ### 1/5 — Purposely slow *2026-06-20, version 2026.6.4* They make it so slow and painful to use so you just turn it off. Anything that makes money they can do perfectly but protecting your kids and it’s useless ### 1/5 — Microsoft is trash *2026-06-14, version 2026.6.4* Can’t get past the silly press and hold captcha for whatever reason. ### 1/5 — Buy anything *2026-06-08, version 2026.6.4* Will not lead the screen to purchase items form a child account anymore ### 3/5 — Screen time *2026-06-08, version 2026.6.4* Some issues with screen time limits…either not calculating properly or sometimes not at all. ### 1/5 — Horrific *2026-06-07, version 2026.6.4* Nothing ever seems to work properly. Even when I’m trying to spend money, it doesn’t let me. ### 1/5 — Zero stars *2026-06-06, version 2026.6.4* The most frustrating app in my life. Total. Garbage. ### 2/5 — Needs improvement *2026-06-06, version 2026.6.4* Does not update in real time and has very limited settings. Disappointed but it is required to manage kids accounts ### 1/5 — Classic Microsoft *2026-06-06, version 2026.6.4* Why does every piece of software Microsoft makes have to be barely functional, endlessly Byzantine, and ultimately impotent? ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Useless and Rubbish *2026-08-01, version 2026.7.28* You can’t even use the app if you’re not an organiser in your family group! It won’t even let you check your screen time limits. Absolute NONSENSE, make it so we can use the app even if you’re a member or a kid!? 😡😡😡 ### 1/5 — Update *2026-07-31, version 2026.7.28* Keeps crashing since update ### 1/5 — Rubbish *2026-07-31, version 2026.7.28* Slow. Repetitive. Glitchy. ### 1/5 — Parental doesnt work *2026-07-29, version 2026.7.28* Nintendo is so much better. This app kids still overpass parental controla and play whatever time they want ### 1/5 — Can’t add money *2026-07-26, version 2026.7.7* I’ve used this app for a while now and this used to be somewhat smooth, but now I can’t add money to my son’s account. At all. It just goes to a black screen after I select the amount I want to add and hit ‘next.’ I can’t even go to the Family Safety app to do this because that app now says that they’ve removed Xbox settings. ### 1/5 — Not Ready for Prime Time *2026-07-25, version 2026.7.7* Simply not functional. ### 1/5 — Come on *2026-07-18, version 2026.7.7* For a billion dollar corporation you can’t have a functional app? Really? Never works. Can’t add funds to child accounts, always bugs out when trying to allow permissions. Never been happy having to use this app. ### 1/5 — Impossible!! *2026-07-17, version 2026.7.7* Every time I try to add credit to my so sons account, it just doesn’t work! It’s so frustrating. ### 1/5 — One of the worst *2026-07-15, version 2026.7.7* I don’t understand how a company with all the resources of Microsoft can’t develop a functional app that nails the basics: I want to track my child’s screen time and I want to be able to add $ to their account to manage game purchases. Neither of these work. Screen time doesn’t display time, and every time I try to add $ and go through the password/second level security text/fight the bots image, then when it get to the purchase an error message or try again later error happens 90% of the time. It shouldn’t be this hard to be a customer of Xbox! ### 1/5 — Happy with old app *2026-07-03, version 2026.6.4* Wish I didn’t have to use two apps to control my kids gadgets ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Hands Down The Best *2026-06-05, version 2026.6.4* No other gaming system has or does child account management as well as this one. Nintendo’s is doo doo compared to how well Microsoft does family control settings with the Xbox. If you’re contemplating a system for your child and want to manage it, I highly recommend getting an Xbox and this application to go with it. ### 5/5 — LOVE IT *2026-04-02, version 2026.1.08* Best app ever for anyone with kids who wanna set a restriction on time and games without moving from your bed ### 5/5 — Parent friendly. *2026-03-27, version 2026.1.08* Super easy to use, and I love the family timer on it, keeps the kids from staying on it all night and makes playtime easy. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2025-12-13, version 2025.11.14* Awesome ### 5/5 — Really good effort *2025-11-27, version 2025.11.14* They do really good at everything I wish they could lock down more who can and can’t talk to your kid but it is a huge platform. Their efforts are amazing and I am happy with what they have to offer. This does help manage my 10 year old! ### 5/5 — Great to Control what Kids are doing *2025-10-19, version 2025.9.07* My wife and I are big fans of this app. Not only does it allow us to control how the kids play, but it gives them warnings when their game time is getting close to the end so they know what to expect. ### 5/5 — Amazing *2025-08-10, version 2025.7.29* Keeps my family from using mine 🔥🙏 ### 5/5 — Perfect for my family *2025-06-28, version 2025.5.27* Easy to set time limits for my kids. So far I have enjoyed having this app and the use I have gotten out of it. ### 5/5 — Great for safety *2025-05-30, version 2024.9.29* Great app ### 5/5 — AEexYuu *2025-04-29, version 2024.9.29* Aexh --- *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 2026-08-24.*