YouTube Parental Controls: YouTube Kids vs Supervised Accounts, and the Settings Parents Can Change

Does this match what you see?

• Your child wants to use YouTube and you’re not sure which option to use.
• Your child is seeing videos you don’t think suit their age.
• You want to limit Shorts or set a bedtime.

iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)

Based on YouTube Help pages read directly from support.google.com. Ages can differ by country or region.

Why this happens: the possible causes

The three options YouTube offers families.

• The wrong option for your child’s ageCheck this first

  YouTube says supervised kid accounts are required for kids under 13, or the relevant age in their country.

• The content level needs changingPossible

  YouTube says parents can preview each level and change it at any time.

How to fix it, step by step

Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.

YouTube Kids or a supervised account?

• YouTube Kids is a separate app that YouTube calls safer and simpler, with a smaller selection of videos. Parents can handpick the exact videos their child sees. Screen time is set in the YouTube Kids app.
• Supervised kid accounts are parent-managed YouTube accounts. YouTube says they’re required for kids under 13 (or the relevant age), and come with limited features.
• Supervised teen accounts are voluntary, set up by parents or teens, and add digital well-being protections and parent-set content settings.

Controls inside the YouTube Kids app

For a YouTube Kids profile, YouTube says you can change controls in the YouTube Kids app itself: tap Settings, solve the multiplication problem (or enter your passcode), tap your child’s profile and enter your password.

• Content level: tap Edit settings and pick Preschool, Younger, Older or Approve content yourself. You can also change it in Family Center or Family Link, except Approve content yourself, which YouTube says can only be set in the YouTube Kids app.
• Approve content yourself: turn it on in Edit settings, tap the approval icon on the videos, channels or collections you allow, then Done. Edit the list any time under Manage; your child can’t search.
• Turn off Search: YouTube says this also clears your child’s watch and search history and resets Recommended and Watch it again.
• Clear history: in the profile’s settings, Clear history > OK (or in Family Center, which clears it on all linked devices).
• Pause watch history or search history so new activity doesn’t shape recommendations.
• Disable autoplay (in Family Center) so your child can’t turn Autoplay back on.
• Screen-time timer: in YouTube Kids Settings, tap Set Timer, choose the time, then Start timer. YouTube says when time’s up your child sees “Time’s up!” and the app locks. To end it early: Settings > Exit timer.
• Child uses a Google Account? In the Family Link app: your child > Controls > YouTube > YouTube Kids Settings, where you can change the content level, turn Search on or off, or remove access to YouTube Kids.

Parent code on a TV

YouTube says turning on a parent code in the YouTube app on your TV (Settings > Parent code, then set a 4-digit code) stops kids watching signed out, opening older household members’ accounts, or removing accounts from the TV. It only affects that TV, and it isn’t a password. To remove it: Settings > Parent code > off, and enter the code.

Block or share videos and channels on YouTube Kids

Block

• In YouTube Kids (signed in): on the home screen tap More next to a video > Block this video; or on the watch page tap More > Block > Block this video or Block entire channel. Enter the numbers shown or your passcode.
• From your parent account on YouTube: open the channel > More (on a computer: About tab > Report user) > Block channel for kids > Block next to your child > Done.
• YouTube says blocking a channel only blocks its uploads, not re-uploads on other channels. Content blocked while signed in becomes available again if you sign out of YouTube Kids.

Unblock

One channel: repeat the block steps and tap Unblock. Everything: Family Center (YouTube You > Settings > Family Center > your child) > Unblock videos, or in YouTube Kids Settings > your child’s profile > Unblock videos > Yes, unblock. YouTube warns this unblocks everything blocked in YouTube and YouTube Kids.

Share a video with your child

In the YouTube app, tap Share (or More) on a video or channel > With kids > Share next to your child > Done. It appears under Shared on their home screen. YouTube says you can’t share age-restricted videos, branded content, live videos (until they end), purchases, Shorts, or content you blocked. You need a linked parent account with a verified birthday (over 18).

Content levels by age

• YouTube Kids: Preschool (4 and under), Younger (5–8), Older (9–12).
• Supervised accounts: Older kids (generally 9+), Teens (generally 13+), Older teens (generally 16+).
• YouTube says teen accounts are placed automatically by age (13–15 in Teens, 16–17 in Older teens), and only linked parent accounts can change these settings.
• YouTube says age-restricted content isn’t available to users under 18, whatever the setting.

Conversation topics, based on your child’s interests, are only available to parents in the US, in English, according to YouTube.

How to know it worked

• Your child’s account uses the option and settings you chose.

Still not working? Your next steps

1. Managing your own viewing time? See YouTube take a break, bedtime and Shorts limit.
2. YouTube Kids app showing errors, looping on a TV, or you forgot the passcode? See YouTube Kids not working.
3. Restricted Mode can also filter videos. See YouTube Restricted Mode.

Frequently asked questions