Affiliate links on Android Authority may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Netflix rolls out new parental controls: here's how to use them
Netflix has a wealth of content on offer. From the toddler-friendly to shows and movies that will make most adults blush, there’s something for all age groups on the popular streaming service. This wide range also means parents have to be particularly careful about what their children are watching. Luckily, Netflix has made is quite easy to setup and control exactly what your kids have access to. Here’s how to set up Netflix parental controls.
How to set up Netflix parental controls:
- Add a PIN for individual profiles
- Block content based on maturity ratings
- Block specific titles
- Set up profile restrictions
- Keep track of viewing activity
- Turn off auto-play in kid’s profiles
Note: Setting up Netflix parental controls can only be done using a web browser. While account settings are available on the smartphone app, tapping on it also redirects you to the mobile web page.
1. Add a PIN to individual profiles
Netflix has now added a way for parents to set up a four-digit PIN for any profile. This has been designed for some added protection to keep children from watching anything on the service without their parent’s permission.
How to set up a PIN for an individual profile:
- Click on the menu icon (your profile image) at the top right corner of the page.
- Click on Account.
- Scroll down to the Profile and Parental Controls section.
- Find the profile you want to secure with a PIN and click on it.
- Scroll down to the Profile Lock section and click on it.
- You will need to enter the account password to access these settings.
- Click on the check box that indicates a PIN is required to access this profile.
- Type a four-digit PIN and click Save.
That’s it. The person with this profile, or the person that controls the Netflix account, will need to type in the PIN number every time to access this profile.
2. Make changes to a profile’s maturity rating
Netflix uses a maturity rating to classify its content. In broad strokes, these limits are: suitable for children, suitable for teens, and suitable for adults only. You can specify what content your kids have access to based on these ratings. Keep in mind that the rating system will differ based on your location. You can find out more about Netflix’s maturity rating system here.
How to make changes to a profile’s maturity rating on Netflix:
- Click on the menu icon (your profile image) at the top right corner of the page.
- Click on Account.
- Scroll down to the Profile and Parental Controls section.
- Find the profile that you want to make changes to its maturity level and click on it.
- You will need to enter the account password to access these settings.
- You can now click on the upper limit of the maturity rating for the profile.
- You can also simply click on the Kids Profile check box, which automatically changes the maturity rating down to PG or TV-PG levels.
3. Block specific titles
Even if the maturity rating deems a TV show or movie okay for children, you may have your own reasons for not allowing your kid to watch something. The good news is Netflix parental controls offer a simple way to block specific content.
How to block specific titles on Netflix
- Click on the menu icon (your profile image) at the top right corner of the page.
- Click on Account.
- Scroll down to the Profile and Parental Controls section.
- Find the profile that you want to make changes to its maturity level and click on it.
- You will need to enter the account password to access these settings.
- Scroll down to the section that reads Restrict Specific Titles.
- Start typing the name of the TV show or movie and a list should appear.
- Click on the name and it will be added to the restricted list.
- If you want to remove a name from a profile’s restricted list, just click on the “x” next to it.
4. Set up profile restrictions
You can create individual profiles for your children and set profile-specific restrictions.
How to set up profile restrictions on Netflix:
- When you first open the Netflix webpage, you will be greeted with the available profiles. You can click on Manage Profiles to get started.
- You can also access the same setting by going to Account, and scrolling down to the Profile and Parental Controls section.
- Click on Add Profile (the large plus icon) to create a new profile.
- Add a name, then click Kids to restrict content to what is okay for children under 12.
- You can also click Teens to restrict content to what is okay for children under 12.
The Kids profile that is set up automatically by Netflix comes with a 12 years or under restriction. You can go into the profile’s maturity rating section to the rating down even further for younger kids.
5. Keep track of viewing activity
Parents can also view the movies and TV shows on their kid’s Netflix profiles.
How to find viewing activity on Netflix
- Click on the menu icon (your profile image) on the top right corner of the page.
- Click on Account.
- Scroll down to the Profile and Parental Controls section and click on the profile you want to check out.
- Click on the “View” link in the Viewing Activity section.
You can now see what your kids are watching on Netflix.
6. Turn off auto-play in kids profiles
If you don’t want Netflix to automatically start streaming the next episode or movie on your children’s profile, here’s how to turn that off.
How to turn off auto-play in kid’s profiles
- Click on the menu icon (your profile image) on the top right corner of the page.
- Click on Account.
- Scroll down to the Profile and Parental Controls section and click on the profile you want to check out.
- Click on the “Change” Link in the Playback Settings section.
- Remove the check mark in the “Autoplay next episode in a series for all devices” box.
Looking for more useful Netflix how-tos and family-friendly content? We’ve got you covered!