Best Fortnite settings for a 13-year-old
Age-appropriate Fortnite settings for UK 13-year-olds: Epic parental controls, voice to friends only, spend cap, mature islands off and the scam talk.
Fortnite is rated PEGI 12 and is widely played by 13-year-olds. At 13, the safe shape is: Epic parental controls PIN-protected, voice and text chat with friends and teammates only, a low monthly V-Bucks cap, mature Creative islands off and 2FA on the Epic account.
Review the settings each term and after every major Fortnite season change.
Step-by-step
Confirm correct date of birth on the Epic account
epicgames.com → Account → Personal → Date of Birth. Tip: Under-18 protections only apply if Epic knows the user is under 18.
Set parental controls and a PIN
Fortnite → Settings → Parental Controls → set a 6-digit PIN parent-only.
Restrict voice and text chat to Friends and team
Parental Controls → Voice chat and Text chat → Friends and team only. Tip: At 13 there is no benefit to strangers in voice chat.
Set monthly V-Bucks cap
Parental Controls → Spend management → cap of GBP 10 per month to start. Tip: Most Fortnite scams target free or high-cap spenders.
Block mature Creative islands and turn on language filter
Parental Controls → Mature islands → Off. Filter mature language → On.
Two-factor authentication on the Epic account
epicgames.com → Password & Security → Two-Factor Authentication.
Agree the scam and the voice rules
Tell them: no "free V-Bucks" site or YouTuber giveaway is ever real, no stranger in voice chat is ever a real friend, and they can come to you with anything without losing the game.
What not to do
- Do not give a 13-year-old an adult account just because it is easier.
- Do not rely on the app's default settings; review them together.
- Do not demand all passwords with no warning; agree access rules first.
- Do not punish honesty, or your teen will stop telling you when things go wrong.
Red flags to watch for
- Secrecy about who they are talking to, or hiding the screen when you walk in.
- A new "friend" who is noticeably older or pushes for private chat off the app.
- Late-night activity spikes, especially DMs or video calls after midnight.
- Requests to move the conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord DMs or Snapchat.
- Gifts, V-Bucks, Robux, gift cards or money offered in exchange for photos or calls.
- Sexualised language, requests for images, or pressure to keep secrets from parents.
Frequently Asked Questions
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.