What Age Can a Child Have a Microsoft Account?

A child can have a Microsoft account at any age, but if the child is younger than 13, certain rules apply, and parental consent is required to access certain Microsoft services. The minimum age limit of 13 is set by Microsoft to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) regarding online account creation for children under the age of 13.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Information

1. Can a 9-year-old have a Microsoft account?: Yes, a 9-year-old can have a Microsoft account, but parental consent is required, and a valid credit card information may be needed to prove the parent’s age.
2. Is Microsoft free for kids?: Microsoft offers Office 365 Education for free to students and educators, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Microsoft Teams, with a valid school email address.
3. What happens to your Microsoft account when you turn 13?: When a child turns 13, they will have more control over their own account settings, and can change certain family safety settings.

Managing Child Accounts

4. How do I manage my child’s Microsoft account?: Parents can manage their child’s Microsoft account by going to the Family Portal, signing in with their account, and scrolling down to select Manage my child’s profile information.
5. How do I change my child’s age on Microsoft account under 13?: Parents can change their child’s age by visiting Microsoft Family Safety, logging in to the Parent account, selecting Manage Permissions, choosing the child account, and clicking Edit this child’s personal info.
6. Can I create a Microsoft account for my child?: Yes, parents can create a Microsoft account for their child and add it to their family group by signing in at family.microsoft.com and following the prompts.

Age Restrictions and Parental Consent

7. What are Microsoft age restrictions?: Microsoft has a minimum age limit of 13 for Microsoft Accounts, and certain rules apply for children under 13, including parental consent for access to certain Microsoft services.
8. Why is Microsoft asking for parent’s permission?: Microsoft requires parental consent for children under the age of 13 to comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
9. Why is my Microsoft account still a child account?: An account may remain a child account if it was created by a family member and designated as a child account, requiring the user to prove their age with a valid credit card.

Removing Age Restrictions and Leaving Family Group

10. How do I turn off age restrictions on Microsoft accounts?: An adult account in the Microsoft family can turn off parental control by going to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, selecting the child account, and making the necessary changes.
11. Can you have a Microsoft account at 13?: Yes, a child can have a Microsoft account at 13, and Microsoft has a minimum age limit of 13 for Microsoft Accounts that can access Microsoft services.
12. What age can you leave Microsoft family?: Generally, a child can leave the Microsoft family group at the age of 18, not 13.

Verification and Restrictions

13. How do I verify my age on Microsoft?: Users can verify their age by providing a photocopy of official identification, such as a driver’s license, state-issued ID, or passport, and a valid email address.
14. Why is my Microsoft account restricted?: Microsoft may temporarily lock an account due to unusual activity, and users can unlock their account by signing in and following the instructions to get a security code.
15. Do Microsoft parental controls turn off at 18?: No, Microsoft parental controls do not automatically turn off at 18, and the child must be removed from the family group by a parent to gain full control over their account.