Roku Parental Controls: A Step-by-Step Guide to Ensuring Safe Streaming for Children

Discover how to set up and manage Roku Parental Controls with the below comprehensive guide, which describes all the steps needed to secure your child from profanity and block inappropriate content. Learn step-by-step instructions to create a PIN, restrict content ratings, block channels, and ensure a safe streaming experience for your children. Take control with Roku Parental Controls.

Many streaming devices provide live shows and on-demand movies to a worldwide audience. Streaming devices like Roku have revolutionized how we consume entertainment; whether a film from the 1980s, a newly released Movie, or live sports, we have access to all.

However, with much content available within seconds, parents must establish appropriate parental controls, specify screen limits and cell phone rules for kids, and safeguard their children’s viewing experience. Parents must also establish house rules for teenagers that they must comply with every day.

How to Set up Roku Parental Controls

The below comprehensive guide from our Software Head and Tech Journalist, Parvinder Singh, will walk you through the step-by-step process of setting up parental controls on Roku, allowing you to monitor and manage the content your children can access.

Step 1: Accessing Roku Settings

1. Connect your Roku device to your TV and power it on.
2. Use the Roku remote to navigate to the home screen.
3. Scroll to the left and select “Settings” from the menu.

Step 2: Create a Roku PIN

1. In the Settings menu, scroll down and select “Parental Controls.”
2. Choose “Set PIN” and enter a four-digit PIN of your choice.
3. Confirm the PIN to complete the setup process.
4. Make sure to choose a PIN that is unique and not easily guessable.

Step 3: Enable Content Rating Restrictions

1. Within the “Parental Controls” menu, select “Content Rating Restrictions.”
2. Enter your newly created PIN when prompted.
3. Choose the appropriate content rating level for your child’s age.

• G: General audiences
• PG: Parental guidance suggested
• PG-13: Parents strongly cautioned
• R: Restricted content for adults
• NC-17: No one 17 and under admitted

Select “Save” to apply the content rating restrictions.

Step 4: Remove or Block Channels

1. Using the Roku remote or Roku Mobile app, choose the channel app you want to remove.
2. Press the Options button (*) on your Roku remote.
   
   
3. Choose Remove Channel and confirm it to remove or block the channel.
   
   

Step 5: Enable Purchase PIN and In-App Controls

1. In the “Parental Controls” menu, select “Purchase PIN” to restrict unauthorized purchases.
2. Enter your PIN and select “Require PIN for purchases.”
3. Choose “Always” to ensure a PIN is required for every purchase.
4. Save your settings to apply the purchase PIN.
5. Select “In-App Purchases” within the “Parental Controls” menu to control in-app purchases.
6. Enter your PIN, then select “Require PIN for in-app purchases.”
7. Save your settings to prevent unauthorized in-app purchases.

Step 6: Restrict Content from Roku Channel Store

1. On the home screen, navigate to the Roku Channel Store.
2. Locate the desired channel and select it.
3. Choose “Add Channel” and enter your PIN when prompted.
4. If you wish to restrict access to the channel, select “Yes” when asked, “Do you want to require a PIN to add this channel?”
5. Confirm your PIN to complete the process.

Conclusion

By following this step-by-step guide, you can establish robust parental controls on your Roku device for your children and teenagers. Proper parental control setup allows you to regulate the content your children can access and ensure a safe streaming experience. 

Parents should also know that regular communication about responsible viewing habits with their children is essential to complement these controls. 

By following all the steps mentioned above and other parental control-related guides written by our team, you can create a positive and secure digital environment for our young viewers.