How to Accept Friend Requests on Fortnite with Parental Controls

Accepting friend requests on Fortnite can be a fun way for kids to connect with their peers, but when parental controls are in place, it can sometimes feel like a puzzle. Here’s a direct and comprehensive guide on how to navigate this situation: To accept friend requests on Fortnite while parental controls are active, you, as the parent or guardian, will typically need to temporarily disable the “Require PIN to Add Epic Friends” setting within the game’s parental control settings. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Access the Fortnite Parental Controls: Either from within the Fortnite game itself or through the Epic Games Account Portal, navigate to the Parental Controls section.
2. Enter Your PIN: You’ll be prompted to enter your six-digit Parental Control PIN. If you’ve forgotten this PIN, you’ll need to reset it via the email address associated with the account (see details in the FAQ below).
3. Locate the “Require PIN to Add Epic Friends” Setting: Scroll through the parental control options until you find the setting titled “Require PIN to Add Epic Friends“.
4. Toggle the Setting OFF: If this setting is ON, it means your child needs your PIN every time they want to add or accept a friend request. Switch it to the OFF position temporarily.
5. Accept the Friend Request: With the setting off, your child can now accept the friend request in the game.
6. Re-Enable the Setting (Optional): If you prefer to keep tight control over your child’s friend list, you can go back to Parental Controls and switch the “Require PIN to Add Epic Friends” setting back to ON.

By following these steps, you can manage friend requests on Fortnite effectively, allowing your child to connect with friends while maintaining the parental controls you desire. This method also works when adding new friends, not only accepting requests.

Understanding Fortnite’s Parental Controls

Fortnite’s parental control system is designed to give parents and guardians tools to manage their children’s online experience. These controls are crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable gaming environment. Understanding how these controls work can prevent frustration and allow you to set appropriate boundaries.

Key Parental Control Settings in Fortnite

• Require PIN to Add Epic Friends: As discussed, this setting determines whether a PIN is required to add or accept friend requests.
• Voice Chat: This setting allows you to control who your child can communicate with through voice chat. Options typically include “Nobody,” “Friends Only,” “Friends and Teammates,” or “Everybody”.
• Text Chat: Similar to voice chat, this setting manages text-based communication.
• Purchases: Parents can also set restrictions around in-game purchases, requiring PIN entry to buy V-Bucks or other items.
• Content Rating: You can set content restrictions based on age appropriateness.

The Importance of Setting Up Parental Controls

Implementing and understanding parental control settings on Fortnite and other online games is crucial for several reasons:

• Child Safety: Protecting children from potential online predators and inappropriate content is paramount.
• Managing Screen Time: Parental controls can help set boundaries for gaming, promoting a healthy balance with other activities.
• Controlling Communication: Limiting who children can communicate with can help prevent bullying and online harassment.
• Financial Security: Setting limits on in-game purchases helps prevent unexpected expenses.
• Age Appropriateness: Parents can control the type of content children access, ensuring it’s suitable for their age and maturity level.

By diligently managing these controls, parents can ensure that their children enjoy a safe and positive gaming experience. It is also essential to have open and honest conversations with children about online safety and responsible gaming behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide more clarity on managing friend requests and parental controls on Fortnite:

1. How do I find my Parental Control PIN on Fortnite?

If you’ve forgotten your current PIN, click on “Forgot Your PIN?” within the parental control settings. A confirmation window will pop up. Click on “CONFIRM.” You will then receive an email with instructions to reset your PIN. For accounts belonging to minors, the PIN reset email will be sent to the parent/guardian email address associated with the account.

2. Why can’t my child accept friend requests on Fortnite?

This is likely because the “Require PIN to Add Epic Friends” setting is toggled ON within the parental controls. You will need to either temporarily turn it off, or enter the PIN to allow friend adds/accepts.

3. How do I turn off parental controls on Fortnite completely?

You can modify or disable any Parental Controls setting by logging into the Epic Account Portal or accessing the Fortnite Parental Controls menu in-game. Enter your six-digit PIN when prompted, and then you can adjust settings. However, you cannot completely turn them off while the account is designated as a minor account. You need to change this status first or if you have the pin, just modify or remove them, according to your desire.

4. How do I unblock a friend request on Fortnite?

Open the Epic Games Launcher. In the top right, click the Friends icon. In the Search or add players field, enter the name of the blocked player you want to unblock. Click on the player’s name, and then click the red Blocked icon, followed by “Unblock.”

5. Why is my Fortnite friend request not working?

There can be several reasons. Ensure that you are both online, that your game privacy settings are set to either Friends Only or Public, and that neither of you have the other blocked. Also, check for network connection issues.

6. How can I remove parental control on an Android device?

If your child’s device is on Android 7.0 or higher, you can stop supervision. On your child’s device, open Settings. At the top right, tap “More” and then “Stop supervision”. Follow the on-screen instructions. You may need a parent access code.

7. How do I delete parental controls entirely from my child’s account?

On Android, use the Family Link app. Tap on the child’s account, then “Manage settings” and then “Controls on Google Play.” However, please note, if the account is of an under age, that account will always need some form of adult supervision. This will remove settings on Google Play, but not on the Epic account itself.

8. Why does Fortnite keep asking for parental permission?

If a player under 13 or the age of digital consent in their country creates an Epic account, it becomes a Cabined Account. This account requires parental permission to access additional features across Epic’s games.

9. Is Fortnite okay for a 7-year-old?

While Fortnite can be enjoyed by some young children, Common Sense Media recommends it for teens 13 and up due to the open chat and action violence. Parents should always assess their child’s maturity level and set appropriate boundaries.

10. Why can’t my son talk to his friends on Fortnite?

Check the Parental Control settings for Voice Chat. If it is set to Nobody, they will be unable to communicate using voice chat. Change it to either “Friends Only”, “Friends and Teammates”, or “Everybody”.

11. How do I change my age restriction on Fortnite on PS4?

From the Home screen, go to “Settings,” then “PS4 System Restrictions,” then “Default Parental Controls,” and then “Age Level for Games.” Choose the desired restriction level.

12. How do you verify a child’s account on Fortnite?

After setting limitations, you will be prompted to verify your adulthood, usually through Face Scan, Credit or Debit Card, or ID Scan.

13. Why is Fortnite asking for my age?

This allows Epic Games to apply settings appropriate for your age and location. Some features may be limited based on your age.

14. What happens when my child turns 13 on Family Link?

On their 13th birthday, children can choose whether to manage their own Google Account or continue with parental supervision. They will be prompted to do so.

15. How do I make Chrome kid-friendly?

Use the Family Link app. Select your child, then “Controls” then “Content restrictions” and “Google Chrome.” Set appropriate access permissions. You can also manually allow or block specific sites.