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To block mature-rated games, give your child a separate account and set game-age or title restrictions in that account’s family controls. PlayStation, Xbox, Microsoft-managed Windows games, and Steam each use different settings; a Windows-wide switch does not automatically cover every PC game store. Set game access first, then review screen time, spending, communication, and content-sharing controls separately.

Before you set game restrictions

Create an individual child account for each child on the platform they use. Use the child’s correct birthdate and keep the parent password or PIN private. ESRB recommends individual accounts so one child does not inherit permissions set for an older sibling (ESRB parental-controls guidance; ESRB Family Gaming Guide).

  • Choose the age or rating limit that fits your child. Rating systems and labels vary by region, so use the settings shown for your account’s country.
  • Check the restriction on the child’s own account, not only on the adult account used to set it up.
  • Treat game access, playtime, purchases, online communication, multiplayer, and user-generated content as separate controls. A game-rating filter does not necessarily restrict those other activities.

How do I block M-rated games on my child’s PlayStation?

On PS5, open Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management, select the child, then choose Parental Controls. Pick a restriction level and adjust its individual controls if the preset is not right for your family. The available presets include Child, Early Teens, Late Teens, Older, and No Restriction. You can also use the PlayStation Family app: select the child, then open Settings > Parental Controls > Restriction Level (ESRB PS5 guide).

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  1. Make sure the child is set up as a child member of your PlayStation family and is signed in on the console. Sony says the child should be signed in for controls to be effective.
  2. On the console, go to Settings > Family and Parental Controls > Family Management.
  3. Select the child, open Parental Controls, and choose a restriction level. Customize individual settings if needed.
  4. Alternatively, in the PlayStation Family app, select the child and go to Settings > Parental Controls > Restriction Level.
  5. If you changed settings while the child was already playing, have them sign out and back in so the changes take effect.

For a U.S. rating example, ESRB’s PS5 guide says an age setting of 9 blocks games above E, while its example setting of 11 allows E and E10+ and blocks T and higher. These are examples from the guide, not a universal conversion between a child’s age and a suitable rating. A child can request an exception to a restricted game; the family manager or an appointed guardian can review the request. Sony also offers web management through Account Management > Family Management. See Sony’s PlayStation parental-controls support page for current console, app, and web instructions.

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Purchases are separate from game access: Sony says a child’s PlayStation purchases are paid from the family manager’s wallet, and the monthly spending limit defaults to zero. Review that limit independently if you want the child to be able to buy games or add-ons (Sony support).

How do I set age limits on Xbox?

On an Xbox console, open Settings > Privacy and online safety, select the family member, and adjust Content restrictions. In the Xbox Family Settings app, select the child under Your Family, open Content Restrictions, turn on Filter Inappropriate Content, then choose Allow Content Suitable for Age and confirm the child’s age (ESRB Xbox guide).

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  1. On console: open Settings > Privacy and online safety.
  2. Select the child’s family account and open Content restrictions.
  3. In the app instead: select the child under Your Family > Content Restrictions.
  4. Turn on Filter Inappropriate Content, set Allow Content Suitable for Age, and confirm the child’s age.

ESRB’s U.S.-rating example says an age setting of 11 allows E and E10+ games while blocking T and M. Age-based settings may align with other rating systems outside the United States, and labels and availability can vary by country and account. The Family Settings app also offers controls such as time limits and notifications. Configure communication and multiplayer permissions separately from the age filter; Microsoft’s family controls cover these distinct settings (ESRB Xbox guide; ESRB Windows PC guide).

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How do I block mature games on a Windows PC?

For games managed through Microsoft accounts, add the child to your Microsoft family and set content restrictions in Microsoft family tools. Microsoft Family Safety can also set app and game time limits on connected Windows and Xbox devices, with limits and schedules configured for the child’s account (Microsoft: Set app and game limits). ESRB’s detailed Windows guide describes Windows 10 instructions; do not assume every menu path shown there is identical on Windows 11 (ESRB Windows PC guide).

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Microsoft-managed restrictions should not be treated as a universal block for every game installed on a PC. Check the account controls for the store or launcher the child actually uses. For example, Steam has its own family controls.

Set up Steam Families for Steam games

Steam’s current guidance says Steam Families replaces Steam Family View. An adult can create or manage a Steam Family, add the child, then open Account Settings > Family Management > Manage. Expand the child’s entry, enable parental controls, and configure game access, Steam features, and playtime (Steam Families User Guide & FAQ).

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  1. Create or manage a Steam Family and invite the child’s Steam account.
  2. Go to Account Settings > Family Management > Manage.
  3. Expand the child’s entry and enable parental controls.
  4. Choose the games and Steam features the child can access, then configure playtime.

Steam supports child requests for more playtime or feature access, as well as purchase requests. These are Steam-specific options, not shared PC-wide controls (Steam Families User Guide & FAQ).

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What else should you restrict?

Once game access is set, decide separately whether to limit time, spending, or online interactions. The exact options differ by platform; do not assume a game-rating restriction also controls them.

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  • Playtime: Set schedules or daily limits where available. Microsoft Family Safety supports app and game limits across connected Windows and Xbox devices; Steam has its own playtime controls.
  • Purchases: Review approval or spending settings. PlayStation uses the family manager’s wallet for child purchases; Steam supports purchase requests.
  • Communication and multiplayer: Choose who the child can communicate or play with using the platform’s separate privacy or family settings.
  • User-generated content and platform features: Review access to shared content and other social features independently of the game’s age rating.
  • Exceptions: Decide how to handle a child’s request for access to a restricted game or feature. PlayStation and Steam document request workflows for certain restrictions.

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