Quick answer: Minecraft is rated E10+ by the ESRB. Every version needs a Microsoft account, and Microsoft treats players under 16 (in the US and EU) as child accounts, with multiplayer off by default. Minecraft parental controls live in your Microsoft account, not the game. Sign in at account.xbox.com/settings or use the Xbox Family Settings app to allow or block multiplayer, friends and chat. To turn off chat, set “Others can communicate with voice, text, or invites” to Block. The catch: Microsoft’s multiplayer setting is all-or-nothing, so for friends-only play, use a private Realm.
Part of our Kids’ Online Safety guides: phones, watches, games and apps.
Table of Contents
Key Findings
- E10+: Minecraft’s ESRB rating, for Fantasy Violence.
- Under 16 = child account in the US and EU (19 in South Korea). Only a linked adult can change settings.
- Multiplayer starts off on child accounts, for both Java and Bedrock editions.
- Controls are account-wide, so they work on PC, console, phone and Switch.
- Older versions aren’t covered. Mojang says it doesn’t provide parental controls for versions before 1.16.4 or for modded games.
Minecraft Age Rating
The ESRB rates Minecraft E10+ (Everyone 10+) for Fantasy Violence. Players craft weapons and fight monsters, and the ESRB notes players can harm animals, though the game doesn’t encourage it.
How to Set Up Minecraft Parental Controls
According to Minecraft’s parental controls guide, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, Java Edition, Dungeons and Realms all require a Microsoft account. To set controls:
- Create a Microsoft account for yourself if you don’t have one, and link your child’s account to it in your family group.
- Go to account.xbox.com/settings and select your child’s account. Their gamertag shows in the top right.
- Online Safety tab: choose Allow or Block for “You can join multiplayer games,” “You can create and join clubs” and “You can add friends on Xbox Live.”
- Privacy tab: set “Others can communicate with voice, text, or invites” to Everyone, Friends or Block.
- Prefer an app? The Xbox Family Settings app does the same from your phone, and can allow an exception for Minecraft only.
For screen time and spending on a console, also see PS5, Xbox and Switch parental controls.
How to Turn Off Chat in Minecraft
| Where | How |
|---|---|
| All versions (account-wide) | account.xbox.com/settings, then your child, then Privacy: set “Others can communicate with voice, text, or invites” to Block, or Friends for friends-only |
| Block multiplayer entirely | Online Safety tab: set “You can join multiplayer games” to Block. No multiplayer means no chat with others |
| Java Edition in-game | Options, then Chat Settings: set Chat to Hidden |
| Hide one player (Java) | Pause menu, then Player Reporting, then the chat-box button next to their name |
Multiplayer, Servers and Realms: What’s Safe?
- Off by default: per Xbox support, multiplayer is off by default on child accounts.
- All-or-nothing: turning on “You can join multiplayer games” can also open public servers, where your child may meet strangers. Microsoft doesn’t offer a friends-only switch for this.
- Realms are the safer middle ground: a Realm is a private server your child shares with invited friends only. Microsoft says a Realms subscription lets your child play with up to 10 friends.
- Public servers: these are run by third parties with their own rules and moderation. For younger kids, stick to Realms or local play.
Reporting and Hiding Players
In Java Edition, open the pause menu and choose Player Reporting. The chat-box button hides a player’s messages, and the yellow warning button reports abusive chat to Minecraft’s moderators, along with the surrounding messages for context. For anything else, Mojang has a Report a Concern form.
Is Minecraft OK for a 6-Year-Old? An Age-by-Age Guide
| Age | Our suggestion |
|---|---|
| Under 7 | Single-player or Creative mode, with multiplayer and chat blocked. Play together. |
| 7 to 9 | Multiplayer off, or a private Realm with friends you know. Chat set to Block or Friends. |
| 10 to 12 | Realms with known friends; chat friends-only. Talk about not sharing personal details. |
| 13 to 15 | Public servers with care. Keep chat friends-only and show them how to report and hide players. |
| 16+ | No longer a child account in the US. Talk about scams and off-platform contact. |
Your child plays other games too? See Roblox parental controls and Fortnite parental controls. Prefer a tablet setup? See the best tablets for kids.
How We Did This
- We read Minecraft’s parental controls guide, Microsoft’s Xbox support page on Minecraft safety settings and the ESRB rating, on October 18, 2026.
- We did not test these settings on a child’s account. Menus change over time, so check your account for the current options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Minecraft rated?
The ESRB rates Minecraft E10+ (Everyone 10 and up) for Fantasy Violence. Players craft weapons and fight monsters.
How do I turn off chat in Minecraft?
Sign in at account.xbox.com/settings as the parent, select your child, open the Privacy tab and set “Others can communicate with voice, text, or invites” to Block or Friends. In Minecraft: Java Edition, players can also hide chat in the game’s chat settings.
Is Minecraft multiplayer safe for kids?
Multiplayer is off by default on child accounts. If you turn it on, your child may be able to join public servers with strangers. A private Realm with friends only is the safer option.
What is a Minecraft child account?
Microsoft treats accounts for players under 16 in the US and EU (19 in South Korea) as child accounts. Only a linked adult account can change their settings.
Do I need an Xbox to use Minecraft parental controls?
No. Minecraft uses a Microsoft account on every device, so you manage the settings at account.xbox.com or in the Xbox Family Settings app, even if your child plays on a PC, phone or Switch.
Is Minecraft OK for a 6-year-old?
Many young kids play in single-player or Creative mode. The ESRB rating is E10+, so for a 6-year-old, keep multiplayer and chat off and play alongside them.
Sources
- Minecraft: Parental Controls in Minecraft
- Xbox Support: Manage a member’s safety settings to access Minecraft features
- ESRB: Minecraft rating
- Xbox: Family Settings app
- Minecraft: Parents’ Guide
