> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.focusme.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Parental Controls

> Use FocusMe to manage your child's screen time, block inappropriate content, and enforce healthy computer habits.

FocusMe works as a powerful parental control tool. Here's how to set it up for your child's computer.

## Basic Setup

### 1. Block Inappropriate Websites

Create a plan with **Block** + **Block Some Websites**:

* Add adult content sites, violent games, or any sites you want to restrict
* Use [RegEx](/advanced/regex) for broad category blocking

Or use **Block All Websites** and whitelist only approved sites — the safer approach for younger children.

### 2. Set Time Limits

Create a separate plan with **Time Limit**:

* Allow 1-2 hours of gaming per day
* Allow 30 minutes of social media (for older children)
* The budget resets daily

### 3. Enforce Bedtime

Create a plan with **Block** + **Block Computer** enabled:

* Weekly Schedule: block every night from 9 PM to 7 AM (adjust for age)
* This completely locks the computer during sleep hours

### 4. Enforce Screen Breaks

Create a plan with **Screen Breaks**:

* 45 minutes of screen time, then a 10-minute break
* Helps prevent excessive screen use

## Protection for Parental Controls

<Frame caption="Setting Password protection for parental control — only you know the password">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/focusme/ajaI0zfqDb9BHlbJ/images/guide-parental-password-protection.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=ajaI0zfqDb9BHlbJ&q=85&s=d3894ebbe7c102d33bc29088277ef842" width="1002" height="717" data-path="images/guide-parental-password-protection.png" />
</Frame>

**Use Password protection** on all parental control plans:

* Set the **protection when active** to **Password** — your child cannot stop blocking without your password
* Set the **protection on standby** to **Password** as well — prevents editing the plan outside schedule hours
* Set the **When Disabled** protection to **Password** — prevents editing or deleting the plan when it's not running
* Set **Pause/Postpone** to **Disallowed** so the plan can't be paused at all

This is better than Enforced mode for parental controls because you can still modify plans yourself when needed — just enter your password.

## Tips

* **Use a master password** on FocusMe itself (in Settings) so your child cannot open the app and modify plans
* **Block Task Manager** (`taskmgr.exe`) and **Settings** to prevent circumvention attempts
* **Install on their Windows account** — FocusMe runs regardless of which Windows user is logged in
* **Start lenient and tighten.** Let them earn more screen time through good behaviour rather than starting with maximum restriction