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Can´t connect a child´s computer to accounts > family for Parental Control

Christoph Katzer 0 Reputation points
2025-12-09T13:10:08.81+00:00

I just set up a computer for my daughter and wanted to use the MS Family Safety Feature.

  1. What worked so far: I set up the child´s account and connected it to my Microsoft Family Safety. It is listed unter https://account.microsoft.com/family/home and I can manipulate screen time, some settings in edge and so on.
  2. What does not work: Connecting a computer to her account, which is necessary to use parental control. The error message says: "We could not connect to MS Family right now, so changes you makr to family settings might not save." error_family safety

3. What I tried so far: Next to the standard problem solving approaches (i.e. restart, use LAN instead of WiFi), I tried to workarounds described in the following link: Delete and reconnect child´s account to my MS Family and reset the internet connection: https://v4.hkg1.meaqua.org/de-de/answers/questions/5325898/fehlermeldung-bei-einstellungen-konten-familie-wir The errors stays the same.

What is a working solution for that problem? Google says this bug has been known for years and still occurs.

Thanks

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Family and online safety
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  1. Jhun Buala 2,715 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-12-09T14:51:54.1133333+00:00

    Hi Christoph Katzer,

    Good Day. I'm Jhun an independent advisor. In regards with your child's account, according to some forums and reports, this appears to be a partially unresolved bug or a fragile feature that still fails for many even today. But there are a few proven workarounds or mitigation steps that some people found to make Family Safety work again. Here are some caveats and test them systematically.

    1. Make sure child and parent both use Microsoft accounts not local accounts. Sign-out of Windows then sign back in using the child's Microsoft account, the one the same in your family.
    2. Remove and add the child's PC or account again from the family group. Sometimes through the web or through phone app rather than via Windows settings.
      On your PC or phone: go to the web version of Family (account.microsoft.com/family), remove the child’s device / PC from family list (if listed). Then re-add the child, and send fresh invite. Accept the invite on the child’s account. Pause, then re-check the child’s PC.
    3. Ensure your date and time and Microsoft account info are correct and verified. If Windows shows a “Verify your account" or "Verify your email” notice under Settings > Accounts > Your info, complete that verification.
    4. Try creating a fresh user profile, first local then convert to Microsoft account, and then add that to the Family group. Sometimes problem lies with corrupted user-profile data or misconfigured profile.
    5. Try to manage the device via the mobile App (or web) and avoid using the PC’s Family-settings UI. Install/Open the Family Safety mobile app, sign in as parent, and attempt to add the child’s device from the mobile device, rather than via Windows Settings.
    6. As a last resort: try to uninstall / reinstall / repair Windows, if you suspect system file corruption. You can run also System File Checker via CMD, before doing a clean reinstallation of Windows.

    I hope this helps.

    Regards,
    Jhun

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