Windows 10: This device is locked because of family settings for screen time

If on your Windows 10 computer, you aren’t able to log in and you see a message that This device is locked because of your family settings for screen time, then this post might help you solve this problem. Such an issue occurs when you have set up a screen time limit for your child’s account on Windows 10 using Microsoft Family Safety.



This device is locked because of your family settings for screen time


To solve this problem, you can try the following options:

1. Increase screen time limit
2. Create a new Child account.

Let’s check both options.

1] Increase screen time limit


When you have set up a screen time limit say 8 hours, 9 hours, etc., then your child’s account is locked on the exact time set by you. So, you need to allow or increase the screen time limit. It can be done in three ways:

• Using Microsoft Family Safety account
• Using My Parent is here option
• Using Send a request option.

Using Microsoft Family Safety account




The steps are as follows:

1. Open Microsoft Family Safety homepage
2. Login with your account credentials. You need to log in with your parent account
3. Click on the More options drop-down menu available for your child account
4. Select Screen time option
5. Scroll down the page
6. Expand Windows 10 devices section
7. Click on the day for which your device is locked
8. Change screen time limit
9. Press on the Done button.

Alternatively, you can also use Microsoft Family Safety mobile app to increase the screen time limit.

Using My Parent is here option


When the message is displayed that this device is locked because of your family settings for screen time, a My Parent is here option is given in that message. You can click on that option. After that, it will prompt you to sign in with your parent account.

Once you have signed in with your parent account, it will provide Extend by drop-down menu where you can set minutes (say 15 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour, 8 hours, etc.) to give more time for your child’s account. Select a time limit and then press Allow button.



After that, your child will be able to use the locked device again.

Using Send a request option


This option can also help you access your locked Windows 10 device. What you need to do is access the child account which is locked and you will see the same message. In that message, there is a Send a request option. Click on that option.

Now you will receive an email in your parent account. Login to your email account and open that email. In that email, you will have options (like 15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.) for extra time.



Click on an option. It will open your Microsoft Family Safety account and you will see a message that you have given your child more screen time today.

Once done, your child will be able to log in and use his/her Windows 10 account again.

2] Create a new Child account




If using the above options, you’re still not able to access the locked device, then chances are your child’s account has gone corrupted. In that case, you need to add a new child account on your Windows 10 computer using the Settings app.

Read: Fix we couldn’t connect to the Microsoft family right now.

Once the child account is created, access your Microsoft Family Safety account, and set up a family by inviting and adding your child, and then he/she will be able to login to his/her Windows 10 device. Later, you can also set up a screen time limit for your child as per your requirements.

Hope this will help.


This article This device is locked because of family settings for screen time first appeared on TheWindowsClub.com.

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MS Family Screen Time - Locked Screen

On some days, MS Family reports more than 9 hours of screen time on my child’s account when I’m confident it should be far less. Does MS Family keep the clock running even when the screen is locked? If so, I suggest you pause the clock when the screen
is locked.

 

Family Screen time is not working!

I had this exact problem and these are the steps I took to get the issue resolved:

• Navigate to family safety settings and remove the child from the family having issues.
• Login to the childs account and launch Settings (windows key + i)
• Click the Accounts icon and select Sign in with local account instead
• Follow the steps to change to a local account. When completed, Login back to your account (admin account)
• Go back to the family safety settings and add your child back to the family group.
• Access your childs email address to accept the family invitation
• Verify the child now shows properly in the family settings and that the screen times are still correct.
• Login to the childs account and launch Settings (windows key + i)
• Click the Accounts icon and select Sign in with microsoft account instead
• Your family settings should now take affect.

I know this is pretty tedious, but like I said, it worked for me. If you are still having trouble, I suggest contacting support and they can help walk you through the steps to get it resolved.

 

Family Safety screen time stuck on old settings

• I set up family safety settings under windows 8.
• Configured screen time options to for only daytime, so as to prevent my son from using the computer too early or too late in the day.
• I've upgraded the computer to Windows 10 (live update, not a fresh install).
• Now I want to change the screen time settings for my son. Nothing I have attempted (short of clean install of Windows) has worked.
  • Changing time settings doesn't work
  • Turning off Screen Time doesn't help
  • Removing/Adding his account from family safety doesn't help
  • Removing/Adding the computer from family safety doesn't help
• I don't see a Windows Family Safety service running on the machine, which is odd.
• I really don't want to do a fresh Windows install.

Any suggestions are welcome.