How To Enable Roku’s Parental Controls

This guide will show you how to use Roku’s parental controls to manage channels, block inappropriate content, and set ratings-based restrictions for a secure viewing experience.

Ryan L. Clancy, Author

Jordan Stevens, Editor

Last updated Sep 18, 2024

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

In this article

How to put parental controls on Roku
Set up a parental control PIN
The best third-party parental control software
FAQs
Bottom line

How to put parental controls on Roku

With no consolidated parental controls, securing the Roku involves a variety of different methods. The good news: Roku offers a PIN-based security system that applies to the Roku Channel and live television.

However, for streaming apps, you’ll need to adjust those controls separately. Unfortunately, Roku can’t manage other platforms directly.

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:

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

How to change a PIN:

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

Your parental control PIN is not the same as the PIN for your Roku account.

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:

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

In addition to removing channels, Roku offers the ability to hide items from the home screen. Roku’s Movie Store or TV Store is now 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 for greater focus on the apps and channels that your family uses the most, making the interface more streamlined and user friendly.

Hide items from your home screen:

Press the Home button on your remote.
Select Settings.
Choose Home Screen.
Select Vudu.
Select Hide.

Set ratings-based restrictions

Roku’s parental controls also let you control content by age ratings. In the parental controls menu, Roku gives you the option to filter content based on its 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 have restricted certain content, it’s not hidden when browsing or searching for content on the Roku Channel. However, the content cannot be played unless you enter your PIN.

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 offers the ability to hide streaming TV channels altogether.

Hide streaming TV channels:

Press the Home button on your remote.
Select Settings > TV inputs.
Select Live TV > Hide streaming TV Channels.
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 when it comes to movies or shows without standardized ratings.

The best third-party parental control software

If you want even more control over what your child views on the Roku, you can opt for a third-party app, which will give you even more protection outside of your Roku device. The best parental control software offers advanced features like web filtering, device tracking, and even antivirus.

We like Bark for its unlimited activity screening, plan variety, and parental alerts. It even has social media monitoring.

4.0

Editorial Rating

On Bark Premium's website

Parental Controls

Bark Premium

Robust parental controls to track, monitor, and limit device usage
Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
Screens content across 19 categories
Activity can only be viewed if it’s triggered

FAQs

Can I set time limits on Roku?

Roku doesn’t include built-in “time limits” for its devices. However, some streaming apps may offer time restrictions. If a preferred streaming app does offer a time limit parental control, it would need to be set up in that app itself.

Can I set Roku to turn off at a certain time?

Roku does offer a sleep timer setting that automatically turns off your Roku TV after a designated period of time. It also remembers to power off your television as well, so you can fall asleep worry free.

Does Roku have a Kids section?

Yes, the Roku Channel has a Kids and Family section. This area is curated for family-friendly content.

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.

4.0

Editorial Rating

On Bark Premium's website

Parental Controls

Bark Premium

Robust parental controls to track, monitor, and limit device usage
Machine learning catches the latest slang and keywords
Screens content across 19 categories
Activity can only be viewed if it’s triggered

Author Details

Ryan L. Clancy

About the Author

Ryan Clancy is a freelance writer and blogger. With 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience, he's passionate about all things engineering and tech. He loves bringing engineering (especially mechanical) down to a level that everyone can understand.