Fix Windows Family Safety Blocking Google Chrome on Windows 11

Here's a summary and guidance on the Windows Family Safety issue that blocks Google Chrome, as reported by Engadget and discussed in the Windows Forum:

What Is Happening?​

• Microsoft Family Safety, a parental control tool, is currently blocking Google Chrome from opening on Windows 11 (and sometimes Windows 10).
• Chrome will not open—it flashes and closes with no error.
• Only Chrome is affected; Edge and other browsers are not.

Why?​

• According to Google, the root cause is a conflict with Family Safety’s content filtering feature when enabled.
• Microsoft has not fixed the bug as of the latest reports.

Solutions & Workarounds​

1. Change Family Safety Settings​

• Turn off “Filter Inappropriate Websites” in Family Safety:
• Go to: https://familysafety.microsoft.com
• Turn off filtering for the affected account.
• Note: This will remove protection from inappropriate websites, which may not be suitable for children.

2. Rename the Chrome Executable​

• Go to the folder where Chrome is installed (usually C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application).
• Rename chrome.exe to chrome1.exe.
• Create a shortcut to chrome1.exe if needed for easier launching.
• This bypasses the Family Safety block but may have security or update implications.

3. Wait for an Official Fix​

• Google and Microsoft are aware, but 17+ days in, Microsoft has not resolved it.
• Monitor the situation for an official patch or update.

Additional Info​

• This is not the first time Microsoft’s features have restricted non-Edge browsers.
• If you need Family Safety but want a functioning browser, consider using Edge temporarily.

Sources​

• Original Engadget Article
• Relevant forum fixes and discussion

If you need detailed step-by-step instructions for the workaround or have another question about Windows Family Safety or Chrome, let me know!

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Source: Engadget Windows parental controls are blocking Chrome