How to Change My Xbox Account to a Child Account

An Xbox Live account features a variety of online safety settings that determine how the account interacts with other gamers on the service. The default settings for an adult account allow for profile sharing, voice messaging and text messaging. An adult account can also use the Kinect for video chatting. However, if a user does not want to be bothered by other gamers, he or she can change the adult account to a child account. The preset Online Safety settings associated with the child account will limit exposure to other Xbox Live users.

Step 1

Sign into the profile to be converted from an adult account to a child account. The account options necessary for changing the "Online Safety" settings are only available to the account while it is active. Sign the account into Xbox Live if it is not already set to do so by default. Navigate to the "My Xbox" section of the Xbox dashboard and then select the profile to be changed.

Step 2

Select "Change Settings" in the "Online Safety" window. The settings allow the user to restrict the profile from several Xbox Live features. Users can use the presets for adult, teen and child accounts or customize specific settings. Select the dot next to "Child" and then select "Save and Exit." A warning window will appear and note the profile had been signed out of Xbox Live and the changes will take effect the next time the user signs into the account.

Step 3

Sign into the child account, open the profile and then navigate to the "Online Safety" window. Read the list of restrictions placed upon the child account under the heading "Not Allowed." If the user decides the settings for a child account are too limiting, the account can be reverted back to an adult account in the "Online Safety" window. Select "Change Settings" and select the dot next to "Adult." Select "Save and Exit" to revert the profile to an adult account.

Tips

Child accounts can still use voice chat with gamers on their friends list and use Windows Live Messenger.
The "Family Timer" feature in the "Family Settings" section can limit console play time.
The "Online Safety" settings also apply to Xbox Live features available through the Kinect peripheral.

Warnings

Any account loaded on the Xbox console can change the "Family Settings" if the password is known.
Child accounts can change their "Online Safety" settings even if "Console Safety" in the "Family Settings" window is turned on.

References

Resources

About the Author

Jonathan Knorr Langdon is a freelance writer from South Jersey with a Master of Arts in creative writing from Rowan University of Glassboro, New Jersey. His areas of expertise include gaming, general computer usage and research. His articles have appeared at eHow and Answerbag.