Minecraft
Online multiplayer settings, chat filters, server controls
Last updated: March 2026
Set Up a Microsoft/Xbox Family Account
Minecraft (Bedrock Edition on console, mobile, and Windows) uses Xbox/Microsoft accounts. Go to xbox.com/family or download the Xbox Family Settings app. Sign in with your Microsoft account. If your child doesn't have a Microsoft account yet, create one and set their correct age.
Add Your Child to Your Family Group
In the Xbox Family Settings app or at family.microsoft.com, tap "Add a family member" and enter your child's Microsoft account email. They'll receive an invitation. Once accepted, you'll be able to manage their settings. Make sure you are listed as a "Parent/Guardian" and they are listed as a "Member."
Configure Privacy and Online Safety
In your child's profile in Xbox Family Settings, go to "Privacy & online safety." Under "Xbox privacy," set "Others can communicate with voice, text, or invites" to "Friends only" or "Block." Set "You can join multiplayer games" to "Allow" or "Block" depending on your preference. Set "You can communicate outside of Xbox" to "Block" for younger children.
Configure In-Game Multiplayer Settings
Open Minecraft on your child's device. Go to Settings, then "Profile." Look for the multiplayer toggle. For Bedrock Edition, you can also go into a world's settings and set it to "Invite Only" so only people your child specifically invites can join. Disable "Visible to LAN Players" if you don't want other devices on the same network to see the game.
Java Edition: Lock Down Server and Chat
If your child plays Minecraft Java Edition on PC, controls work differently. For servers you host, edit the server.properties file and set "white-list=true" to require approval for every player. Set "enable-chat=false" to disable in-game text chat entirely. Only add trusted friends to the whitelist. Avoid letting your child join random public servers, as these often have minimal moderation.
Pro Tips
- •Bedrock Edition (console, mobile, Windows Store) has stronger built-in parental controls than Java Edition. If your child is under 13, Bedrock is the safer choice.
- •Popular third-party Minecraft servers (like Hypixel) have their own chat moderation, but it's imperfect. Review which servers your child frequents.
- •Minecraft Realms (paid subscription) lets you create a private, invite-only server. This is the safest way for your child to play multiplayer with friends.
What This Doesn’t Cover
- •Java Edition has limited parental controls built in. You'll need to manually manage server settings or use third-party mods for chat filtering.
- •If your child plays on a friend's computer or on a public server, your family settings won't apply to that environment.
- •Voice chat through third-party apps (like Discord) during Minecraft sessions is not controlled by Minecraft's settings.
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