HomeDiscover WindowsProducts
Windows 7Windows VistaWindows XPInternet ExplorerWindows LiveWindows Phone
ShopDownloadsHelp & How-to
Windows 7Windows VistaWindows XPInternet ExplorerWindows LiveWindows Phone
Windows Community
Windows Vista Help homeTop solutionsUsing Windows VistaCommunity & forumsContact support

Applies to these editions of Windows Vista:

Compare editions

See also

Specify which games children can play

If your computer is connected to a domain, Parental Controls are not available.

You can use Parental Controls to control which games your children are allowed to play on your computer. You can block:

  • All games.

  • Specific games of your choosing.

  • Specific games based on age ratings.

  • Specific games based on content ratings.

These four methods can be used in combination.

Note

Note

Parental Controls can be set to block most games. However, if your computer does not recognize a game, it will not be blocked by Parental Controls. If you discover an unblocked game, you can add the game to the list of blocked programs manually. For more information, see Prevent children from using specific programs.

Show all

To block all games

  1. Open Parental Controls by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, and then, under User Accounts, clicking Set up Parental Controls. Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

  2. Click the name of the person you want to prevent from playing games.

  3. Under Parental Controls, click On.

  4. Click Games.

  5. Under Can‌ person's name‌ play games?, click No.

To block games by age rating

  1. Open Parental Controls by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, and then, under User Accounts, clicking Set up Parental Controls.‌ Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

  2. Click the name of the person you want to prevent from playing games.

  3. Under Parental Controls, click On.

  4. Under Can‌ person's name‌ play games?, click Yes.

  5. Under Block (or allow) games by rating and content types, click Set game ratings.

  6. Under Which ratings are ok for‌ person's name‌ to play?, click a ratings level.

To block games by content

  1. Open Parental Controls by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, and then, under User Accounts, clicking Set up Parental Controls.‌ Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

  2. Click the name of the person you want to prevent from playing games.

  3. Under Parental Controls, click On.

  4. Under Can‌ person's name‌ play games?, click Yes.

  5. Under Block (or allow) games by rating and content types, click Set game ratings.

  6. Under Block these types of content, select the content types that you want to block.

To block specific games

  1. Open Parental Controls by clicking the Start button Picture of the Start button, clicking Control Panel, and then, under User Accounts, clicking Set up Parental Controls.‌ Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

  2. Click the name of the person you want to prevent from playing games.

  3. Under Parental Controls, click On.

  4. Under Can‌ person's name‌ play games?, click Yes.

  5. Under Block (or allow) any game on your computer by name, click Block or allow specific games.

  6. In the alphabetical list of games, click the game that you want to block, and then click Always block.

Was this helpful?
Thank you.
Do you want to add anything else?
Thank you. Your feedback helps us to continually improve our content.
1200 400 How can we make this more helpful for you? Submit Skip this Do you want to add anything else? Submit No thanks