An everyday example
Fictional example: Siobhan in Cork gives her children Aoife (7) and Cian (11) a shared console for Christmas. The evening before, she installs the parental controls app on her phone and picks a PIN. During setup she learns that the restriction level applies to the whole console. She sets it for Aoife and adds Cian’s games as individual exceptions.
For purchases, the family agrees on €10 a month, paid with a gift card. Siobhan does not store a bank card on the account. After the holidays, the three of them sit down and check whether the play time and chat rules still work.
What should you prepare before unwrapping?
Setup goes faster if you have these ready:
- Your own account with the manufacturer: a Nintendo Account, a PlayStation account or a Microsoft account.
- A child account for each child, rather than letting them play on yours.
- The parental app on your smartphone: the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, the PlayStation Family app or the Xbox Family Settings app.
- A PIN or password that your child does not know and cannot guess.
Talk to your child beforehand about which games they want to play and with whom.
Tip: Before you buy, check the game’s age label and descriptors, such as the one for in-game purchases.
Which age labels and rules apply in Europe?
PEGI provides age ratings for video games in 38 European countries. Its labels are PEGI 3, 7, 12, 16 and 18. The in-game purchases descriptor means a game lets players buy digital goods or services with real money, such as extra content, subscriptions or virtual currency.
Germany uses its own USK labels. Switzerland is not in the EU, so EU rules do not apply there automatically; it is phasing in its own law.
| Country | Label or rule | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| EU-wide | PEGI ratings; consumer principles on in-game currencies | Consumer authorities adopted key principles on in-game virtual currencies on 21 March 2025 |
| Germany | USK: no age restriction, 6, 12, 16, no youth approval | Labels are issued under section 14 of the Youth Protection Act (JuSchG) |
| Austria | PEGI, FSK or USK symbols | Saferinternet.at advises choosing games labelled with these symbols under youth protection law |
| Switzerland | Youth Protection in Film and Video Games Act (JSFVG) | Partly in force since 1 January 2025; industry bodies have two years to draw up their own rules |
| France | Parental control obligation for connected devices | Since 13 July 2024, new connected devices sold in France, including consoles, must offer free parental controls from first start-up |
| Italy | Decree-Law No 123 of 15 September 2023, Article 13(3) | Manufacturers must inform users about parental controls; consoles are included where compatible |
| Spain | Guides from INCIBE, the national cybersecurity institute | Parental control fact sheets for various devices, including Nintendo Switch |
How do you set up parental controls on the console?
The steps below come from the Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox help pages.
Nintendo Switch 2: Parental Controls
- On the HOME Menu, open System Settings › Parental Controls › Parental Controls Settings.
- If you want to use the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls app, link the console to the app first.
- Under Restriction Level, choose Teen, Child, Young Child or Custom.
- Set a PIN of 4 to 8 digits.
- Set the play time limit and bedtime in the app.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: nintendo.com
On Nintendo, the restrictions apply to the console, not to individual users, so Nintendo recommends setting them for the youngest player. Through the safelist in the app you can make exceptions for individual games.
PlayStation 5: Parental controls
- First set up a family and add your child as a family member.
- Go to Settings › Family and Parental Controls › Family Management.
- Select your child, then select the parental control you want to set, for example the age level for games and apps, playtime settings or web browsing.
- Alternatively, sign in to Account Management on the web, select Family Management, your child and Edit, or use the PlayStation Family app.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: playstation.com
Xbox: Xbox Family Settings app
- Download the Xbox Family Settings app from the App Store or Google Play. It works on iOS 13 or later and Android 8.0 or later.
- Add your family members to your account.
- Make sure your child signs in with the Microsoft account that has the Xbox profile used in your family. Otherwise the settings do not apply.
- In the app, set Screen Time and check Ask to Buy, Friend Management and Online Multiplayer.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: xbox.com
How do you limit purchases and spending?
Many games sell extra content, subscriptions or virtual currency. Each console limits this through the family account.
| Console | Setting | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Spending Restrictions in the Nintendo Account family group | Blocks purchases and automatic renewals in Nintendo eShop and on the official Nintendo website |
| PlayStation 5 | Monthly Spending Limit in Family Management | Set to 0 by default |
| Xbox | Ask to Buy in the Xbox Family Settings app | Also shows your child’s account balance and spending history |
Nintendo: Spending Restrictions in your Nintendo Account
- Sign in with your parent or guardian Nintendo Account and open your account settings.
- Select Family Group, then your child’s supervised account.
- Turn on Spending Restrictions to block purchases and automatic renewals in Nintendo eShop.
- If needed, use Age-Based Purchase Restrictions to limit what your child sees in Nintendo eShop, then select Save changes.
Menu path as given in the manufacturer’s help; it may differ by device and version: nintendo.com
You need a family group. For a child aged 15 or under, Nintendo has you create a new account; an existing account of someone aged 16 or over is linked to yours.
On PS5, select your child in Family Management and choose Parental Controls › Monthly Spending Limit. As PlayStation sets it to 0 by default, raise it only once you have agreed on a budget. In the Xbox app you can also add money to your child’s account.
Avoid storing a bank card on your child’s account; gift cards make a budget easier to keep. Subscriptions often renew automatically, so before your child starts a trial, read Free trial: check price, term and reminder.
At EU level, the network of national consumer protection authorities (CPC Network) adopted key principles on in-game virtual currencies on 21 March 2025. They call for clear and transparent pricing, respect for the right of withdrawal and attention to the vulnerability of consumers, in particular children. The European Commission also lists a joint statement of the network dated 30 September 2026 on stronger consumer protection in video games.
How do you manage play time and online contact?
On Nintendo, the app lets you set a daily play time limit of up to 6 hours, with different limits for individual days if you wish. You can choose a bedtime between 16:00 and 23:45, and the app can suspend the software when time is up.
For chat, Nintendo has the setting Free Communication With Others. On PS5, choose Restrict under Communication and User-Generated Content: text messages and voice chat with other players are then switched off, while pre-written in-game messages remain possible. Your child can ask for an exception for a specific game, which you can approve.
On Xbox, the app covers Friend Management and Online Multiplayer. Requests for more screen time or a new friend arrive in the app for you to answer.
As your child grows older, give them more say and review the settings together from time to time. When a smartphone is the next wish, Your child’s first smartphone helps you agree on rules.
Tip: Siblings sharing a Nintendo console share one restriction level. For keeping data apart on a shared device, see One tablet for several people.
Common mistakes
- Setting up the console with a parent’s account, so purchases and settings run through your account instead of a child account.
- Using a birthday or 1234 as the PIN, or keeping it on a note next to the TV.
- Choosing the restriction level for the older sibling on a shared Nintendo console, where it applies to everyone.
- Leaving a bank card stored after the first purchase instead of using gift cards or a limit.
- Setting everything up once and never looking again, although games and friendships change.
Your checklist
The checkboxes are for your own reference. No entries are sent to us. To keep a copy, print the page or save it as a PDF using your browser menu.
Common questions
What age is a games console suitable for?
PEGI and USK ratings apply to individual games, not to the console. What matters is what your child plays and with whom. Besides the age level, look at the descriptors, for example for in-game purchases. Play the first rounds together: you will see whether content and pace suit your child, and you can agree on the rules at the same time.
Can my child change the parental controls?
Changes are protected by a PIN or a parent password. On Nintendo, the PIN has 4 to 8 digits. Choose one your child does not know and cannot guess, and do not type it in while they are watching. Still, explain why the settings exist: children are more likely to stick to rules they understand and helped to shape.
What does a spending limit of 0 on PS5 mean?
PlayStation sets the monthly spending limit to 0 by default. If your child wants to buy something with their own account, you first need to raise the limit in Family Management. Agree on the amount together and adjust it when your arrangement changes. That keeps spending predictable, even in games that use virtual currency.
Are console settings enough on their own?
They cover the console, not your child’s other devices: phones and tablets need their own parental controls. For younger children, switching off free communication with others is a simple start. Which age limits apply to social media is explained in Age limits for social media.
Sources and further information
Primary sources from public authorities, consumer organisations and providers. A source may be in another language; follow the guidance that applies to your service and where you live.
- PEGI: Age ratings and content descriptorsSource review date:
- European Commission: Social media, online games and search enginesSource review date:
- USK (Germany): Which age labels exist? (German)Source review date:
- Saferinternet.at (Austria): Digital games (German)Source review date:
- Swiss Federal Social Insurance Office: Youth protection in film and video games (German)Source review date:
- French Ministry of the Economy: Parental controls on connected devices (French)Source review date:
- Italian Department for Family Policy: Parental control information set (Italian)Source review date:
- INCIBE (Spain): Parental controls on Nintendo Switch (Spanish)Source review date:
