Update FamilyTimeGuard by running a newer installer. The program currently does not check for new releases or download and install them automatically.
Updating one computer does not update the others. If you manage over your home network, update the program on the children’s computers and the panel on the parents’ computers.
Prepare the computers
- Have the installer for a newer official FamilyTimeGuard release ready. Read the accompanying release notes if available.
- Open the existing panel. Read Version … at the bottom. This is the version of that panel, not confirmation of the version on every child’s computer.
- For each computer, check the list of supervised children. Note their daily limits, allowed hours, corrections and action at the limit so you can compare them after updating.
- Ask the children to save their work and sign out. Close the parent’s panel on the computer being updated.
The installer stops supervision while replacing files. Plan the update for a time when the parent can use the computer and finish checking that it works.
Do not uninstall the previous version or remove data before updating. The installer can replace files in an existing installation.
Update the child’s computer
Follow these steps on every computer where limits apply:
- From the parent’s account, run the newer installer and approve the Windows request for administrator permissions.
- On What this computer is for, keep Supervise children on this computer selected. Also keep the panel here or management from another computer, according to how you use the program.
- On Supervised accounts, check every child. Previously supervised accounts available on this page should already be selected. If the installer warns about stopping supervision, go back and check your selection instead of confirming automatically.
- If you use network management, check which parent accounts are allowed access. Keeping supervision does not retain network access if you clear its option.
- Finish installation. Read the final messages, especially any account names that could not be configured.
Installation describes each installer page.
When updating an existing installation, settings, time used and logs are retained for previously supervised accounts. A new version does not reset the child’s day to zero. If the installer reports that settings were replaced with defaults, set the rules again for the named accounts.
Update the panel on another computer
On a computer used only by the parent for network management, run the same newer installer and select only Install the parent’s panel on this computer.
If children are supervised on this computer too, follow the previous section and keep supervision enabled. Do not turn it into a panel-only computer.
After updating, reopen the panel. Select each managed computer; if Windows asks, enter the credentials of the parent’s account selected for network access.
Check versions and rules
Go through every computer and child account:
- The bottom of the panel shows the expected new version.
- Children who should remain supervised appear in the list and show Supervised.
- Limits, allowed hours, corrections and the final action match the previous settings.
- The panel reads usage and reports no data-saving or permissions errors.
- Network management works, if you use it.
If the panel reads a different program version from the child’s computer, it shows a message containing both numbers. Check which computer still needs updating. The absence of this message does not replace a connection check — if the panel cannot read the other computer, it may not know its version.
In the child’s account, check the icon, time left and warnings. Run the short sign-out test in First setup, then restore the intended settings. Do this on every computer where supervision was updated.
If the update fails
Keep the full error text. If the installer says no limits are running on the computer, treat it as unsupervised until repaired. If it names only some accounts, check each of them separately.
Fix the cause given in the message and run the installer again. Do not clear supervision or child accounts just to let the installer continue. Uninstalling and repair describes the procedure and how to check the result.