How To Enable Roku’s Parental Controls (2026)

Roku itself offers controls for live TV and The Roku Channel, while third-party apps like Netflix and Disney+ have their own parental controls. 

Without consolidated parental controls, securing Roku requires multiple methods. The good news: Roku offers a PIN-based security system that applies to the Roku Channel and live television. But for streaming apps, you’ll need to adjust those controls separately. Unfortunately, Roku can’t manage other platforms directly.

Whether you need to limit access to specific channels or restrict access to certain content, we’re here to guide you. This article has step-by-step instructions to help you set up your Roku parental controls effectively. 

How to put parental controls on Roku

To get started with Roku parental controls, you'll first need to set up your parental control PIN. Then, you can hide or delete channels, set ratings-based restrictions, and set up parental controls for live TV. 

Before you set up parental controls on Roku, keep in mind that Roku doesn't offer individual profiles. This means parental control settings will apply to all users. However, parental controls don't apply to Roku Guest Mode, so that's an option for parents who want to stream without restrictions. 

1. Set up a parental control PIN

Setting up a PIN on Roku is an easy way to add security. The PIN allows you to prevent purchases and lock age-inappropriate content behind a password. This gives you greater control over what’s accessible.

A PIN can also stop new channels from being added, and you can change or delete your PIN at any time.

How to set up a PIN:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Select Settings.
3. Go to Parental Controls.
4. Enter and confirm your 4-digit PIN.

How to change a PIN:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Select Settings.
3. Go to Parental Controls.
4. Enter your 4-digit PIN.
5. Select Change PIN.
6. Enter and confirm your new 4-digit PIN.

2. Hide or delete channels

Once you’ve set up a PIN, you can take control further by hiding or deleting channels. This feature is useful for parents who want to curate a space for their children.

However, hiding or removing channels doesn’t mean you’ll see increased internet speeds. It does mean that your child won’t stumble across content not meant for them.

Delete a channel:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Navigate to the channel you want to remove.
3. Press the * button.
4. Select Remove Channel and confirm.

In addition to removing channels, Roku lets you hide items from the home screen. Roku’s Movie Store or TV Store is now built on the Vudu channel and might feature titles that aren’t appropriate for kids. By hiding these sections, you remove the risk of your child accessing that content.

Additionally, hiding content allows greater focus on the apps and channels your family uses most, making the interface more streamlined and user-friendly.

Hide items from your home screen:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Select Settings.
3. Choose Home Screen.
4. Select Movie Store, TV Store, and/or News Feed.
5. Select Hide.

3. Set ratings-based restrictions

Roku’s parental controls also let you control content by age ratings. In the parental controls menu, Roku lets you filter content by rating. For example, if you have the filter set to G-rated content, any G, TV-Y, or TV-G content can be watched through the Roku Channel without a PIN.

You can also block content rated PG-13, R, and NC-17. This ensures that kids can only watch shows appropriate for their age. If you don’t want access to unrated content, Roku also offers an option to “block all unrated content” to simplify streaming.

It’s important to keep in mind that even if you restrict certain content, it’s not hidden when browsing or searching on the Roku Channel. However, the content cannot be played unless you enter your PIN.

4. Set up parental controls for Live TV

If you’re using the Live TV input with your Roku device, you can set limits based on the TV rating system. This allows you to block certain channels or restrict shows that are not suitable for younger audiences.

You can also limit which channels can be accessed from the Live TV Channel Guide to only those from your HDTV antenna. Roku also lets you hide streaming TV channels altogether.

Hide streaming TV channels:

1. Press the Home button on your remote.
2. Select Settings > TV inputs.
3. Select Live TV > Hide streaming TV Channels.
4. Select Hide All.

It’s important to note that parental control settings for live TV are not supported in all countries. If you're outside the United States or Canada, Roku’s parental controls for Live TV may not function as expected.

If the content isn’t rated according to U.S. or Canadian standards, viewers in other regions may encounter challenges in using these controls as intended. This is particularly true for movies or shows without standardized ratings.

The best Roku parental control apps

If you want even more control over what your child views on Roku, you can opt for a third-party app that provides additional protection beyond your Roku device. Roku doesn't offer native screen time restrictions. The best parental control software offers advanced screen time management, web filtering, device tracking, and even antivirus protection.

Bottom line

Roku’s parental controls offer useful tools for managing content. By setting up a PIN, hiding or deleting channels, and limiting content based on ratings, you can create a secure environment. While Roku doesn’t have universal settings, these options give you control over what matters most.

In addition to the Roku parental controls app, your child’s online safety could benefit from some of the best parental control apps on the market. Whether it's live TV or apps, you can adjust settings to fit your family’s needs.

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