How can I block my child from accessing ALL apps from the Windows Store?

Question

How can I block my child from accessing ALL apps from the Windows Store?

Anonymous

I have a tablet running Windows 8.1 and I have added my child as a 'child' account.

I want to be able to block this account from:

accessing any website without my permission
installing/running any app from the Windows store without my permission

I can achieve 1) by setting the 'Web filtering/Restriction level' to 'Allow list only' then using the 'Allow list' to maintain my whitelist of allowed websites.

However, it seems the only option for blocking Windows store apps is an age-rating based filter for games, so the most restrictive I can be is to allow only games rated 3+. This is not what I want - I want to be able to block all apps and games regardless of age rating.

Is there any way I can achieve this using family safety?

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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8 answers

Answer 1

I have already read the pages you have linked to and they do not answer my question.

I am not interested in the age-based filter because I want to block ALL apps and the most restrictive setting will still allow those rated at 3+

I am not interested in blocking apps once they have been installed since my child will already have had the chance to run them.

I want to be able to prevent ALL apps from being installed by my child, in a similar way that I can prevent ALL website URLs from being accessed.

Is there a way I can do this using family safety or not?

Answer 2

Anonymous

Thanks for the reply but I don't really want to turn the store off completely, I just want to be able to block all apps by default then add certain ones to a whitelist as I can for website URLs.

@Microsoft: my 3 questions remain as above

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Answer 3

In light of the recent changes to Family Safety I thought I'd have another look to see if the option I need is now available, but it does not appear to be.

I'm struggling to understand why I can't simply block my child from installing all apps, regardless of age rating.

Three questions I'd like answers to:

1) Is there a way I can prevent my child from installing all apps, regardless of age rating?

if the answer to 1) is 'no' then is this a planned feature that will be implemented as part of the Windows 10 release?
if the answers to 1) + 2) are both 'no' then could someone explain from Microsoft what that rationale behind this is i.e. why must every child be allowed to install apps rated at age 3+ ?

The reply from Microsoft above ended with:

"Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you."

I do still need further assistance - please answer my 3 questions above.

Thanks.

Answer 4

If your interested in turning off the store completly.

Try here if your more confident with your pc, i have this set on my pc and works perfect.

Is a bit fiddly but ms did not intend end users to disable the store, only companies.

If your not familiar with the registry do not manually edit.

Answer 5

Hi ,

Thank you for contacting Microsoft Community.

Use Family Safety with the Windows Store: You can use Family Safety to set an age-based or content-based rating level for the games and apps your child can see and install from the Windows Store. You can also allow or block specific apps and games. Refer the link below.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/family-safety-settings-windows-store

You may also refer the link below for detailed information about Family Safety.

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wiki/windows_other-security/family-safety-frequently-asked-questions/5672f7b2-e3c0-498a-9a6c-c9cab39f68e5

Hope this information is helpful*.*Please do let us know if you need further assistance, we’ll be glad to assist you.

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How can I block my child from accessing ALL apps from the Windows Store?

8 answers