Windows 11 users have reported that the Microsoft Family Safety feature is blocking access to Google Chrome following a recent browser update.
Microsoft Family Safety, designed to help parents manage their children’s online activity through content filtering, appears to block browsers other than Microsoft Edge when enabled. This behavior was noted by users after updating Chrome to version 137.0.7151.68/69, causing the browser to close unexpectedly and fail to reopen.
Google acknowledged the issue in a support posting, attributing the problem to Microsoft Family Safety restrictions, but Microsoft has yet to provide an official statement. Community reports and forums have been active since early June when the problem was first noted.
As a workaround, Google advises users to either disable the “Filter inappropriate websites” option under the Edge tab on the Family Safety portal or unblock Chrome via the Windows tab in the Apps & Games settings.
Steps include:
- Visit https://familysafety.microsoft.com or use the Family Safety mobile app.
- Select the child profile.
- Disable website filtering under the Edge tab, or unblock Chrome under Windows tab > Apps & Games.
Microsoft’s Family Safety FAQ clarifies that filtering features work exclusively with Microsoft Edge, and other browsers may be blocked when parental controls are active. This design aims to prevent the bypassing of content filtering on Windows 11 devices.
Separately, Google released an important Chrome update to version 138.0.7204.49/50 addressing 11 security vulnerabilities, including three listed in the CVE database. While none are rated critical or high, these flaws could allow attackers to bypass content security policies or execute code remotely.
Chrome updates usually install automatically over several days, but users seeking immediate protection should manually trigger the update via the Help > About Google Chrome menu option. Restarting Chrome after updating is necessary to apply security patches. Google assures users that open tabs will normally reopen after restart, minimizing disruption.
Windows 11 users affected by Family Safety restrictions on Chrome should consider either adjusting parental control settings as advised or switching to Microsoft Edge until full support for other browsers is offered.