Microsoft Launcher beta updated with first family safety feature

Since its launch final year, Microsoft has been quick to whorl out new features to Microsoft Launcher for Android. With the latest update headed out to beta users, the company has now turned its attention to parents, adding its first family safety feature.

If you're a beta tester, you tin now download Microsoft Launcher version 4.ten, which includes a way to go on track of your kids' locations and app activity if they are running the launcher on their phones. The feature requires y'all to add together family members to your Microsoft business relationship to work. But once fix up, it acts as a handy manner to keep tabs on the kiddos from the master launcher feed, accessible with a correct swipe from your home screen.

Hither's a look at the official release notes:

Microsoft Family unit on Launcher: Parents with Launcher tin now view last known location and app action for their children's Android phones running Launcher! (Requires Android 4.4+ for parent devices and v.0+ for kid devices)

Microsoft as well labels this as "stage i." The visitor is planning to curlicue out more than family unit features soon.

Microsoft Launcher Beta users we are starting to roll out our new Family safe features in v4.x! Parents can now view child location & app action from children running launcher! Let u.s. know how information technology works! Many more family features coming shortly!
— Vishnu Nath (@VishnuNath) May 16, 2022

Beta testers aren't the just ones picking up a new set of features either. A new update is likewise rolling out to the release version of Microsoft Launcher with new gestures, the option to alphabetically sort apps in folders, and more. Here's a look at what'due south new with version 4.9:

Improved Abode screen import logic

Sort your apps alphabetically in folders

Display names of apps or folders in your dock

Customizable gesture for pressing the Abode push from the Home screen

New gesture option that lets yous quickly lock your Home screen

If yous're enrolled equally a beta tester, you lot can option up Microsoft Launcher version 4.x via Google Play now to test the family safety characteristic. If you'd like to enroll, you lot can sign up to go a beta tester as well. Otherwise, version 4.9 is available for everyone at present.

Run into at Google Play

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