Microsoft's Family Safety feature, designed to help parents and guardians manage their children's online activities, has recently been reported to inadvertently block Google Chrome on Windows devices. This issue has primarily affected Windows 11 users, though instances on Windows 10 and macOS have also been noted.
Users have reported that after updating Google Chrome, the browser fails to launch, with Microsoft's Family Safety feature preventing its execution. This problem seems to stem from the "filter inappropriate websites" setting within Family Safety. When enabled, this setting appears to block non-Microsoft browsers like Chrome and Firefox, allowing only Microsoft Edge to function properly. This behavior aligns with previous instances where enabling web filtering in Family Safety resulted in the blocking of third-party browsers.
To address this issue, users can disable the "filter inappropriate websites" option within the Family Safety settings. This action has been reported to restore Chrome's functionality. However, this workaround may compromise the intended protective measures of Family Safety, potentially exposing users to inappropriate content.
As of now, Microsoft has not released an official fix for this issue. A Chromium engineer noted that while Microsoft has provided guidance to users who contact them, there has been no widespread resolution implemented.
This incident is part of a broader pattern where Microsoft's features or updates have affected the functionality of competing browsers. For instance, in April 2023, a Windows update disrupted Chrome's ability to set itself as the default browser with a single click, requiring users to navigate through Windows settings to make the change. Additionally, Microsoft's Family Safety feature has previously blocked access to Google services, raising concerns about potential biases in content filtering.
Users experiencing this issue are advised to adjust their Family Safety settings as a temporary solution and to monitor official Microsoft channels for updates regarding a permanent fix.
Source: Daily Jang Microsoft feature accidentally starts blocking Google Chrome on Windows
