Family Safety Archives

Winsage

August 14, 2025

Releasing Windows 10 Build 19045.6276 to the Release Preview Channel

The Windows 10 22H2 Build 19045.6276 (KB5063842) is now available in the Release Preview Channel. Key updates include: - Updated Mobile Operator Profiles for better connectivity. - Fixed display issues for certain characters in textboxes. - Resolved issues with mf.dll for web camera devices in Remote Desktop Services. - The Narrator now correctly identifies the “Enhance Facial Recognition Protection” checkbox. - The “Ask to Use” approval flow for blocked applications is functioning properly. - Addressed issues with the Removable Storage Access policy. - Improved the Chinese Simplified Input Method Editor to prevent empty boxes for extended characters. - Introduced a feature for blocking outbound network traffic for customers using the Windows 10 keyless Commercial ESU solution with a Windows 365 subscription. - Fixed an issue with the Windows Search pane preview display. - Windows Backup for Organizations is now generally available, facilitating device transitions with backup and restore capabilities.

Winsage

July 18, 2025

Microsoft confirms Windows 10 KB5062554 breaks emoji picker’s search feature

KB5062554, the July 2025 security update for Windows 10, has caused issues with the emoji picker search functionality, resulting in users receiving the message: “We couldn’t find this one” when searching for specific emojis. Microsoft has acknowledged the problem but has not provided a workaround. The only solution currently is to uninstall the KB5062554 update, which restores the search function. Additionally, there are issues with the Family Safety web filtering feature, preventing parents from approving browsers other than Edge, and problems with the Microsoft Changjie Input Method Editor, which users can address by reverting to an older version.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

Microsoft Confirms Google Chrome Block After Windows 11 Users Complain

On June 23, Windows 11 users reported crashes of Google Chrome, particularly when using the Microsoft Family Safety parental control feature. The issues began around June 3, coinciding with an update to Chrome version 137.0.7151.68/69, causing the browser to close unexpectedly for users with children under parental control. Google acknowledged the problem and suggested workarounds, while Microsoft remained silent initially. Recently, Microsoft confirmed that it is adding the latest versions of Chrome and other browsers to a block list and that parents must approve the use of alternative browsers when web filtering is enabled. Users may continue to experience shutdowns of Chrome and other browsers during this update phase.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

A second Windows 11 bug takes suspicious aim at Google Chrome — and the same Microsoft app is to blame

Windows 11 users experienced issues launching Google Chrome due to Microsoft's Family Safety feature, prompting a response from Chrome’s support manager, Ellen T. A workaround was suggested: disabling the “Filter inappropriate websites” option or renaming the Chrome.exe file. Additionally, Microsoft acknowledged another issue affecting Chrome users, where the content filtering feature was ineffective because the latest version of Chrome was not included on the block list used by Family Safety. Microsoft is working to update this block list. Another bug causes Chrome to close unexpectedly when Parental Controls are enabled, but only if the Activity reporting feature is disabled. Users are advised to enable Activity reporting to restore normal functionality. These issues affect Windows 10 version 22H2 and Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2, and 24H2. Microsoft is committed to resolving these problems and will update its support documentation accordingly.

Winsage

June 26, 2025

Microsoft confirms Family Safety blocks Google Chrome from launching

Microsoft's Family Safety parental control service is experiencing a significant issue that prevents users from launching Google Chrome and other web browsers on Windows systems. This problem has been reported since early June, with users facing unexpected crashes when trying to access Google Chrome. A bug in the web filtering tool requires children to seek parental approval to use alternative browsers, as new versions of approved browsers are inadvertently blocked after updates. Microsoft is updating its block list to include the latest versions of these browsers. The issue affects devices running Windows 10 22H2 and Windows 11 22H2 or later. Users are advised to enable the 'Activity reporting' feature to ensure proper parental approval requests. Microsoft is working to resolve the absence of consent prompts and the unintentional blocking of updated browser versions.

Winsage

June 23, 2025

Microsoft is blocking Google Chrome in the name of family safety — but this time it actually makes sense

Users of Google Chrome on Windows are experiencing an issue that prevents the browser from launching, which is linked to Microsoft Family Safety. Ellet T, a Chrome Community Manager, stated that for some users, Chrome cannot run when Microsoft Family Safety is enabled. The situation has been discussed on platforms like Reddit and The Verge, where users noted that Microsoft Family Safety is designed to restrict access to third-party browsers to manage online activity for children. Microsoft's official site for Family Safety mentions that "Other commonly used browsers will be blocked for this to work." When a child account tries to access Chrome, it should prompt, "Ask your parent for permission," but the absence of this dialog box has raised concerns about the functionality of the tool.

Winsage

June 21, 2025

This Windows safety feature is crashing Google Chrome

Microsoft's Family Safety feature has caused issues for users of Google's Chrome browser, leading to crashes or failures to launch on Windows systems since June 3. Chrome support manager Ellen T confirmed that the problem is linked to Microsoft Family Safety, stating that Chrome cannot run when this feature is enabled. Other browsers, like Firefox and Opera, are unaffected. Users have found a temporary workaround by renaming the Chrome executable file or disabling the "filter inappropriate websites" setting in Family Safety, though this compromises parental controls. There has been no official communication from Microsoft regarding a fix, and a Chromium engineer noted on June 10 that no updates have been received from Microsoft about resolving the issue.

Winsage

June 21, 2025

Microsoft’s Family Safety Feature Is Blocking Chrome: Here’s the Workaround

Microsoft's Family Safety feature is inadvertently blocking access to Google's Chrome browser on Windows computers. This issue was reported on June 3, when a user experienced crashes while using Chrome despite attempts to restart and reinstall the browser. The Family Safety feature is designed to help parents manage children's screen time and monitor online activities. Workarounds include unblocking Chrome through the Family Safety app or renaming the Chrome executable file to bypass the block. Microsoft has not yet issued a statement regarding the issue.

Winsage

June 20, 2025

This Microsoft app thinks Google Chrome is NSFW (Not Safe For Windows)

Microsoft's Edge browser promotion efforts have led to issues for some Chrome users, who reported being unable to access Chrome after a crash. This problem, first noted on June 3 by a Reddit user, may be linked to Windows 11's Family Safety feature, which is intended to protect younger users. Chrome support manager Ellen T confirmed that for some users, Chrome cannot run when Microsoft Family Safety is enabled. Microsoft has suggested that parents and IT administrators can disable the "Filter inappropriate websites" option to restore access to Chrome, although this may expose users to inappropriate content. Reports of the issue have decreased, but some users remain affected, particularly those who activated Web Safety under the Edge tab between November 2024 and June 3. The cause of the issue—whether it is a flaw in Chromium or Windows 11's Family Safety feature—remains unclear.

Winsage

June 20, 2025

Microsoft’s Family Safety app is blocking Chrome on Windows PCs

Mark has over 30 years of experience in technology journalism, with the last 10 years at PCWorld where he has written more than 3,500 articles on topics like PC microprocessors and Microsoft Windows. He has also contributed to publications such as PC Magazine, Byte, eWEEK, Popular Science, and Electronic Buyers' News. Mark received the Jesse H. Neal Award for breaking news. Recently, he had to part with several dozen Thunderbolt docks and USB-C hubs due to his office reaching capacity.