How to Hide or Show the Family Options Page in Windows Security in Windows 11

The Family Options page in Windows Security is designed to help parents manage safety settings and monitor family devices. However, in workplaces or non-family environments, this page may be unnecessary.

This guide walks you through multiple ways to show or hide the Windows Defender Security Center Family Options page, depending on what fits your setup.

📌 Recommended deployment strategies:

Methods to hide or show family options in Windows Security

Before using any method below, make sure you meet the following requirements:

📌 General prerequisites:

• Windows 10 version 1709 or later, or Windows 11
• Administrator rights to adjust registry and policy settings
• Familiarity with command-line tools, PowerShell scripting, or Group Policy Management

Method 1: Via Local Group Policy (per device)

This is a direct and user-friendly approach to controlling the visibility of the Family Options page on a per-device basis.

📌 Use Cases: Best for standalone systems where Family Safety features are not used or needed, such as in office or kiosk setups.

📌 Prerequisites:

• Only available on Windows 11 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.

Step-by-step:

1. Press Win + R, type gpedit.msc, and click Enter to launch the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > Windows Security > Family options
3. Double-click Hide the Family Options area.
4. Choose:
   • Enabled – Hides the Family Options page.
   • Disabled or Not Configured – Shows the Family Options page.
5. Click OK.
6. Restart Windows Security or your PC to apply the changes. (Read #2 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)

Method 2: Via Registry Editor (per machine)

This method allows you to edit the Windows Registry directly, which is suitable for all Windows editions, including Home.

📌 Use Cases:

• Ideal for systems where Group Policy Editor is unavailable (e.g., Windows Home).

📌 Prerequisites:

• You must be signed in with an administrator account.

⚠️ Warning: Editing the registry can cause system issues. Create a backup before proceeding.

Step-by-step:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and click Enter to open the Registry Editor.
2. Navigate to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Family options
   • If the Family options key doesn’t exist:
     1. Right-click Windows Defender Security Center
     2. Select New > Key
     3. Name it Family options
3. In the right pane, right-click > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
4. Name it: UILockdown
5. Set the value to:
   • 1 – Hide the Family Options page
   • 0 or delete the value – Show the Family Options page
     (Read #1 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
6. Close the Registry Editor and restart Windows Security or your PC. (Read #2 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)

Method 3: Via Command Prompt

This is a quick command-line version of the registry edit used in Method 2. It’s ideal for automation, scripting, or quick remote edits.

📌 Use Cases:

• Useful for batch deployments, login scripts, or when remotely managing devices via administrative tools.

📌 Prerequisites:

• You must run Command Prompt as an administrator.

Step-by-step:

1. Press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows Terminal (Admin). (Read #3 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
2. Run one of the following:
   • Hide the page:
     

     reg add “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Family options” /v UILockdown /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

   • Show the page:
     

     reg delete “HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Family options” /v UILockdown /f

3. Once done, restart Windows Security or your PC to confirm changes. (Read #2 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)

Method 4: Via PowerShell

PowerShell provides a flexible option for manual control and automated deployments in environments that use scripts or remote management tools.

📌 Use Cases:

• Best for provisioning scripts, system imaging, or remote configuration via Windows Management tools.

📌 Prerequisites:

• You must run PowerShell as administrator.

Step-by-step:

1. Press Win + S and search for PowerShell.
2. Right-click Windows PowerShell and select Run as administrator. (Read #3 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
3. Run one of the following:
   • Hide the page:

• • Show the page:

4. Once done, restart Windows Security or your PC to apply the changes. (Read #2 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)

Method 5: Via Group Policy Preferences (enterprise deployment)

This approach is for Active Directory (AD) environments where admins must deploy settings to multiple systems through Group Policy.

📌 Use Cases:

• Ideal for centralized control in domain-based environments.

📌 Prerequisites:

• Group Policy Management Console (GPMC) installed on the admin system
• Permission to edit GPOs and link them to Organizational Units (OUs)

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC).
2. Navigate to: Computer Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry
3. Right-click Registry > New > DWORD Value.
4. To hide:
   • Action: Update
   • Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
   • Key Path: SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender Security Center\Family Options
   • Value Name: UILockdown
   • Value Type: REG_DWORD
   • Value Data: 1
5. To show:
   • Action: Delete
   • Use the same key path and value name
     (Read #1 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
6. Link the GPO to the target OU and run gpupdate /force. (Read #4 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)
7. Once done, restart Windows Security or your PC to apply the changes. (Read #2 in ⚠️ Things to look out for.)

⚠️ Things to look out for

Additional considerations when configuring the Windows Family Options page visibility

Here are key technical notes to keep in mind when managing the Family Options page in Windows Security:

Changes apply system-wide

This policy is stored under the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE registry hive, which means changes affect all users on the device. There is no way to apply this setting on a per-user basis.

No official ADMX template

Microsoft doesn’t currently provide a dedicated ADMX template for managing the visibility of the Family Options page. Policy deployment must be handled using Group Policy Preferences (GPP) or direct registry editing.

Hiding the page only blocks access

Hiding the Family Options page only removes access to it through the Windows Security app. It doesn’t disable Microsoft Family Safety features. Even if the page is hidden, family safety services will continue to run in the background.

Restart required

You must restart Windows Security or reboot the system for any changes to take effect. Applying the policy or registry change isn’t enough to enforce visibility status.

Manage the visibility of the Windows Defender Security Center Family Options page

While the Family Options page offers powerful parental control features, it may be unnecessary in non-family environments such as enterprise or education. Controlling its visibility allows organizations to tailor the interface based on operational needs.

The great thing is that Windows provides flexible deployment options for managing the Family Options page. These range from individual device configuration to organization-wide policy enforcement by using tools like Local Group Policy, Registry Editor, Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Group Policy Preferences.

Related topics:

• How to Enable or Disable Local Security Authority Protection in Windows 11
• Hide Account Protection in Windows Security in Windows 10 and Windows 11
• How to Manage Microsoft Family Settings in Windows 10