How to Set Up Minecraft Parental Controls in 2024?

Minecraft is a highly popular game that never fails to grab the attention of players of different age groups. Because it’s an open-ended game and allows the participants to get as creative as possible, there’s a risk of getting addicted to it.

Moreover, as a parent, showing concern for mature language and inappropriate interaction is indispensable. This is why setting Minecraft parental controls is a must and this write-up will help you make the game safer for kids.

The parental controls on MineCraft are so amazing! I wish YT and Snap took a more thoughtful approach even if it comes at the cost of growth.

— Partha Sundaram (@ParthaSundaram) July 10, 2022

Quick Answer: Minecraft parental controls allow a parent to mute chats, report or block users, access family-friendly servers, set up realms, and more.

Things You Should Know Before Setting Minecraft Parental Controls?

Before you allow your child to play Minecraft and decide to set a few parental controls, it is better to know a few things.

• Minecraft recommends their players to be older than 10 years which means the game is not for players below 10 years. This doesn’t mean that the game is inappropriate, instead, it shows that the game can help in the development of 10+ kids.

• Multiplayer gaming can pose some threats, but if your child plays with other players, it helps in learning skills like problem-solving, planning, time management, leadership, and more.

• It is true that playing Minecraft can lead to addiction, so setting parental controls can do a fine job here.

Now, that you know a bit about Minecraft multiplayer gaming and the fact that it can lead to addiction, let’s take a look at setting parental controls.

How to Set Parental Controls on Minecraft?

There can be a few changes you can consider to set parental controls on Minecraft online. That said, let’s start with how to mute someone.

While playing the game, you can simply mute or disable the chat option so that your kid never comes across any mature language. So, to mute or disable the chat: 

• You need to click the chat option present at the top.

  

• Now, click the Settings (gear-like) icon.

  

• Turn the toggle on for the first option: Mute All Chat. Doing so will result in disabling chat throughout the game.

  

Also, you can simply type “/ability” in the given space, and it has three different options. To mute someone, type “/mute <player’s name> <duration> [reason].”

Banning someone in Minecraft means they won’t be able to contact you, can’t see your messages, and can’t join your Realm.

To do so, just type “/ban <name> [reason …]” in the box.

Blocking someone is very easy as you just have to pause the game and click on the username of the specific player you want to block. Then, choose Report or Block.

When playing Minecraft Multiplayer, you can set permissions for a player in your world or realm. Just pause the game, and click on the player’s username.

Now, you can customize the settings shown on the right.

Being a parent, you can allow your children to access family-friendly Minecraft servers. These servers have volunteers who take care of mature language, inappropriate content, and bullying in the Minecraft world.

You need to search online for these websites and enter the Multiplayer realm. Then:

• Open the Menu >> Options >> Chat Settings. 
• Switch Chat to Commands Only or Hidden.
• Turn on Prompt on Links to avoid any scams or phishing links.

You can have full authority to add a player to your server through Minecraft realms. With one realm, you can add up to 10 players, and let your child and their friends enjoy the game in a safe environment. However, you’ll have to buy this feature. 

To buy a Minecraft realm, follow these steps:

• Click on Minecraft Realms from the main menu.

  

• On the next page, click on “Click to start your new realm.”

  

• Enter the realm name and description. Once entered, click on Create. 

  

• Then, select the world you want to put in your realm. Start the game and invite the players with whom your child would play.

If your children are playing the game using your Microsoft account, you can make any changes to their account and revert game settings for parental functions like:

• Restrict Content – You can restrict a few game features that even include multiplayer gaming and creating realms.

• Disallow Cross-platform Play – You can put restrictions on cross-platform play. This means your kid will only be able to play with your friends on only one platform whether it’s PC or Xbox.

• Put Restrictions on Player Clubs – You can decide if your child can join player clubs or not.

• Manage Friend List – When it comes to multiplayer gaming, you can decide if your child can add new friends or not.

• Limit Purchases – Your child will have to verify any purchase from you after setting limits to any in-game purchases.

Final Thoughts – Is Playing Minecraft Good for Children?

Minecraft is a sandbox video game that can help your child learn basic programming skills, creative skills, and teamwork abilities. Even though the game can keep your child entertained and engaged for a long time, playing it often can lead to addiction.

As too much of everything is bad, it is better to think about parental controls and what to do in Minecraft to make the game safer for your children.

Sources:

PARENTAL CONTROLS IN MINECRAFT – Minecraft’s Official Site

Gaurav Rathore