Parental controls/internet browser lock?

[mrsrobey]

What kind of parental control options are available on the steam deck? Is it possible to lock the internet browser or remove it entirely (then require a pin to reinstall)?

Can you require a parental pin to download new apps onto the device, not just the steam store?

Does family mode on the steam deck translate to the entire operating system or just in the "steam store"?

[@R+5]

Try "asking" those things to search engines first to find out more.

You should consider that steam deck was never advertised for children, but older audiences, that are expected a level of madurity that matches most of the content available in steam. And imo, if you want to limit the time your kid plays you can either take physically the deck.

maybe you could change settings to make the deck to always ask for login password after returning from sleep mode, which may not be always a safe option because if theres a bug or glitch in an update that affects the login screen, it could prevent you from returning to your session.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/1/5267542371395629333/

Then also consider that the deck is first a gaming device intended mainly for a single user, because even if its still possible to make other user accounts, that can reduce the amount of space available which in the basic version of the steam deck is very limited, and the "middle range option" may not be enough for two users, with two different (os) user and steam accounts.

so imo, rather than relying in a login screen with a lock, maybe just taking the steam deck physically is more practical.

Originally posted by mrsrobey:

What kind of parental control options are available on the steam deck? Is it possible to lock the internet browser or remove it entirely (then require a pin to reinstall)?

To have "parenthal control" in one account, you have to own that account, meaning you wont want to have multiple user accounts in the deck, but a single one you share with your children, and therefore has only one user, meaning you will have to share the limitations (unless you want to run out of disk space fast, even if you are the one installing the games).

afaik you could remove the browser available in desktop mode, but not the one integrated within the steam client, and it doesnt make sense for what you probably want to do: if what you want is to prevent access to specific sites, then you must use something like a "pi-hole" to filter unwanted content in your network, so it doesnt matter if the browser isnt locked (which only makes sense to keep your settings, and you can easily make more profiles for different users in firefox), .

https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/pi-hole-raspberry-pi/

https://linustechtips.com/topic/1414771-steam-deck-parental-controls/

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-remove-switch-firefox-profiles

Originally posted by mrsrobey:

Does family mode on the steam deck translate to the entire operating system or just in the "steam store"?

in steam theres nothing under that name.

there is "family view" and "family sharing";

"family view" is related to how you want to limit your account to prevent a kid to see and try to install "adult content" with it.

"family sharing" is to share the license of a game with another account you authorized previously: is meant to allow two users in two different systems and in different accounts to be able to use "shared titles" from the same library, but wont allow playing at the same time. for that you will need another license (one in each account).

[Prezidentas]

I don't believe kids were among the target audience for the deck so the parental controls are pretty lacking

[Æþerfox]

Originally posted by @R+5:

Try "asking" those things to search engines first to find out more.

You should consider that steam deck was never advertised for children, but older audiences, that are expected a level of madurity that matches most of the content available in steam. And imo, if you want to limit the time your kid plays you can either take physically the deck.

maybe you could change settings to make the deck to always ask for login password after returning from sleep mode, which may not be always a safe option because if theres a bug or glitch in an update that affects the login screen, it could prevent you from returning to your session.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/1/5267542371395629333/

Then also consider that the deck is first a gaming device intended mainly for a single user, because even if its still possible to make other user accounts, that can reduce the amount of space available which in the basic version of the steam deck is very limited, and the "middle range option" may not be enough for two users, with two different (os) user and steam accounts.

so imo, rather than relying in a login screen with a lock, maybe just taking the steam deck physically is more practical.

Originally posted by mrsrobey:

What kind of parental control options are available on the steam deck? Is it possible to lock the internet browser or remove it entirely (then require a pin to reinstall)?

To have "parenthal control" in one account, you have to own that account, meaning you wont want to have multiple user accounts in the deck, but a single one you share with your children, and therefore has only one user, meaning you will have to share the limitations (unless you want to run out of disk space fast, even if you are the one installing the games).

afaik you could remove the browser available in desktop mode, but not the one integrated within the steam client, and it doesnt make sense for what you probably want to do: if what you want is to prevent access to specific sites, then you must use something like a "pi-hole" to filter unwanted content in your network, so it doesnt matter if the browser isnt locked (which only makes sense to keep your settings, and you can easily make more profiles for different users in firefox), .

https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/pi-hole-raspberry-pi/

https://linustechtips.com/topic/1414771-steam-deck-parental-controls/

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-remove-switch-firefox-profiles

Originally posted by mrsrobey:

Does family mode on the steam deck translate to the entire operating system or just in the "steam store"?

in steam theres nothing under that name.

there is "family view" and "family sharing";

"family view" is related to how you want to limit your account to prevent a kid to see and try to install "adult content" with it.

"family sharing" is to share the license of a game with another account you authorized previously: is meant to allow two users in two different systems and in different accounts to be able to use "shared titles" from the same library, but wont allow playing at the same time. for that you will need another license (one in each account).

I tried asking a Google, it was so confident that this was the only result that it just opened to this page instead of giving me results.

[Spytes]

Originally posted by Ætherfox:

Originally posted by @R+5:

Try "asking" those things to search engines first to find out more.

You should consider that steam deck was never advertised for children, but older audiences, that are expected a level of madurity that matches most of the content available in steam. And imo, if you want to limit the time your kid plays you can either take physically the deck.

maybe you could change settings to make the deck to always ask for login password after returning from sleep mode, which may not be always a safe option because if theres a bug or glitch in an update that affects the login screen, it could prevent you from returning to your session.

https://steamcommunity.com/app/1675200/discussions/1/5267542371395629333/

Then also consider that the deck is first a gaming device intended mainly for a single user, because even if its still possible to make other user accounts, that can reduce the amount of space available which in the basic version of the steam deck is very limited, and the "middle range option" may not be enough for two users, with two different (os) user and steam accounts.

so imo, rather than relying in a login screen with a lock, maybe just taking the steam deck physically is more practical.



To have "parenthal control" in one account, you have to own that account, meaning you wont want to have multiple user accounts in the deck, but a single one you share with your children, and therefore has only one user, meaning you will have to share the limitations (unless you want to run out of disk space fast, even if you are the one installing the games).

afaik you could remove the browser available in desktop mode, but not the one integrated within the steam client, and it doesnt make sense for what you probably want to do: if what you want is to prevent access to specific sites, then you must use something like a "pi-hole" to filter unwanted content in your network, so it doesnt matter if the browser isnt locked (which only makes sense to keep your settings, and you can easily make more profiles for different users in firefox), .

https://www.raspberrypi.com/news/pi-hole-raspberry-pi/

https://linustechtips.com/topic/1414771-steam-deck-parental-controls/

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/profile-manager-create-remove-switch-firefox-profiles



in steam theres nothing under that name.

there is "family view" and "family sharing";

"family view" is related to how you want to limit your account to prevent a kid to see and try to install "adult content" with it.

"family sharing" is to share the license of a game with another account you authorized previously: is meant to allow two users in two different systems and in different accounts to be able to use "shared titles" from the same library, but wont allow playing at the same time. for that you will need another license (one in each account).

I tried asking a Google, it was so confident that this was the only result that it just opened to this page instead of giving me results.

Same, most results other than this are just the standard bot generated spam websites

[Alymere]

I am actually really interested in learning about something like this for myself. I'm not worried about my kid using the Steam Deck for Web browsing, I'm worried about myself. I have Covenant Eyes installed on all my other smart electronics and can't on Steam. It would be helpful if the Steam Deck was not able to switch to desktop mode and download web browsers. I would prefer not to have that temptation and it just be a fun gaming device for my Steam library games. If you ever find a solution please share.

[Ithilian]

Originally posted by @R+5:

Try "asking" those things to search engines first to find out more.

Google brought me here

[saxmata]

I don't see any actual "parental controls" for the steam deck, but figured a couple things to do.

Anyone correct me if I'm wrong:
1. Set a pin for 'desktop mode' (now child is not able to access that feature without me imputing the password)
2. Setup the 'steam family' (now i'm able to see any apps/games that are installed/downloaded on the device.

I don't mind my kids having some internet access, but i like to keep it in a controlled environment (as much as possible).

Again, correct me if i'm wrong. Or if anyone sees any loopholes on this or if there's a better way.

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by WarriorOfLight:

I am actually really interested in learning about something like this for myself. I'm not worried about my kid using the Steam Deck for Web browsing, I'm worried about myself. I have Covenant Eyes installed on all my other smart electronics and can't on Steam. It would be helpful if the Steam Deck was not able to switch to desktop mode and download web browsers. I would prefer not to have that temptation and it just be a fun gaming device for my Steam library games. If you ever find a solution please share.

That should be much easier than blocking a child. You can download block list and add them as an extension.

https://github.com/hagezi/dns-blocklists/tree/main

Look for public blocklist and add them to your web browser.



The OP will have issues. Even if the OP can figure out how to prevent any web browser downloading from flatpak. The kid can figure out how to download the windows version of firefox or chrome and run them onto wine/proton to install it.

Even worse, desktop applications are chrome web browsers too. The kid can figure out how to turn the Slack client as a web browser. At that point, you might as well tell your kid won and have a chat about internet usage. The kid is way too advance to be stopped.

[iesugashu]

Originally posted by WarriorOfLight:

I am actually really interested in learning about something like this for myself. I'm not worried about my kid using the Steam Deck for Web browsing, I'm worried about myself. I have Covenant Eyes installed on all my other smart electronics and can't on Steam. It would be helpful if the Steam Deck was not able to switch to desktop mode and download web browsers. I would prefer not to have that temptation and it just be a fun gaming device for my Steam library games. If you ever find a solution please share.

I found this link https://help.steampowered.com/en/faqs/view/6B1A-66BE-E911-3D98