Microsoft’s family safety tool blocks Chrome browser

Since early June 2025, Microsoft’s Family Safety feature, used by parents and schools to manage kids’ online activity, has been stopping Google Chrome from working properly on Windows devices. When kids try to open Chrome, it either doesn’t start or closes right away. This issue has frustrated many users, as reported on Reddit and support forums. Microsoft’s Family Safety is designed to filter out inappropriate websites and control app access for children.

However, a bug in the system is now targeting Chrome specifically, preventing it from running. This affects families and schools using Microsoft 365 subscriptions, where Family Safety is often turned on by default. The feature works best with Microsoft Edge, which may explain why Chrome is being blocked. To fix this, parents or schools can turn off the “block inappropriate websites” setting in Family Safety. However, this allows kids to visit any website, which might not be ideal.

Another workaround is renaming Chrome’s executable file to something like “chrome1.exe,” which lets the browser launch. Some users have also switched to local accounts instead of Microsoft accounts to bypass the restrictions. Microsoft hasn’t officially explained why this is happening, but their team is aware of the issue. For now, users must choose between disabling web filters or using workarounds to keep Chrome running. This glitch has sparked debates about whether Microsoft is intentionally pushing users toward Edge, though no solid proof supports this claim.