Microsoft’s Family Safety App Is Blocking Google Chrome—And No One Knows Why
If Google Chrome suddenly stopped working on your PC, Microsoft’s Family Safety app may be to blame. According to Google support engineers, a mysterious issue is preventing Chrome from launching when Family Safety is enabled—though the exact cause remains unclear.
The bug has reportedly been affecting users for weeks, and while Microsoft hasn’t officially commented on the situation yet, Google confirmed the issue in a recent post on its support site. According to The Verge, users have found that simply renaming the Chrome executable file can restore functionality—indicating this isn’t a Chrome flaw, but likely a misfire in Microsoft’s filtering system.
Until a proper fix is released, Google is recommending the following workaround:
- Visit familysafety.microsoft.com or open the Family Safety app.
- Select the affected child’s profile.
- Either:
- Disable “Filter inappropriate websites” under the Edge tab, or
- Go to the Windows tab → Apps & Games → and unblock Chrome.
Microsoft Family Safety is designed to help parents manage screen time, block apps, and filter content—but this particular glitch may be too aggressive. Hopefully, a proper fix is on the way.
