On Apple TV 4K, open Settings > General > Restrictions, turn on Restrictions, and create a four-digit passcode. Then choose the limits you want. Apple TV device restrictions, Apple TV app profile controls, and controls for other streaming apps or the web have different scopes, so you may need to configure more than one layer.
Turn on device restrictions on Apple TV 4K
- Open Settings > General > Restrictions. You can also press and hold the TV button on the remote to open Control Center, then select Restrictions.
- Turn on Restrictions and enter a four-digit passcode. Verify it when prompted. Apple says the restriction options become available after the passcode is verified; you will need the code to change or override them.
- Choose the controls that fit your household. Apple lists limits for purchases and rentals, content and apps by rating or explicit language, some Game Center activity, and selected settings such as AirPlay, TV Provider, and Location.
When content is restricted, the passcode is required to access it. If you know the current passcode, you can change it in Restrictions using Change Passcode. You can also turn Restrictions off temporarily; Apple says your previous choices remain if you turn them on again.
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Menu availability and wording may vary by Apple TV model, region, or software version. Apple notes that not all features and content are available in every country or region or on every Apple TV hardware model. Apple Support: Set up parental controls on Apple TV 4K.
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Choose the right control layer
| Where to set it | What it controls | Best used for |
|---|---|---|
| Settings > General > Restrictions | Device-level purchase and rental limits, rated or explicit content and apps, selected Game Center activity, and some system settings. | Restrictions that should apply at the Apple TV device level. |
| Settings > Apps > TV > select a profile > Restrictions | Movie and TV show ratings for the selected Apple TV app profile; an optional four-digit code to switch profiles. | Limiting what a particular Apple TV app profile can watch or protecting its watch history, recommendations, and watchlist from other people using the device. |
| Apple TV app managed or Kid profile | Age-related categories and whether purchases and rentals are allowed for that profile. | Setting up a child’s profile in the Apple TV app. A managing Apple Account profile can create up to five managed profiles. |
| Parental controls on tv.apple.com | Apple TV content accessed on the web. | Web viewing; these controls do not configure other devices. |
These are separate settings rather than one control that follows a child everywhere. Apple’s web controls apply to the web, while Apple TV app profile restrictions apply to the chosen profile. Apple Support: Restrict access to content in the Apple TV app and Apple Support: Set up parental controls for Apple TV on the web.
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Set limits for an Apple TV app profile
- Open Settings > Apps > TV.
- Select the profile you want to configure, then choose Restrictions.
- Set the movie and TV show ratings that profile can access.
- To require a code when someone switches to that profile, turn on Require 4-Digit Code. This protects the profile’s watch history, recommendations, and watchlist when profiles are switched; it is distinct from the device-level Restrictions passcode.
For a child, Apple supports creating a Kid profile and choosing recommended or custom restrictions, including age-appropriate categories and whether purchases and rentals are allowed. Apple Support: Restrict access to content in the Apple TV app.
Check third-party streaming apps separately
Device restrictions do not necessarily govern every app installed from the App Store. Apple warns that “Restrictions may not apply to apps you download from the App Store.” If a child can still play content in another streaming app, look for parental controls in that app and check its settings under Settings > Apps. Apple’s device-level controls should not be treated as a universal block across every service.
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Use purchase controls alongside Family Sharing
Apple’s Apple TV guidance also points to Family Sharing for limiting family purchases and enabling Ask to Buy. This is an adjacent purchase-approval layer, not a replacement for checking content settings on Apple TV or in individual apps. Screen Time guidance for a child’s iPhone or iPad applies to those devices; it does not replace Apple TV settings. Apple Support: Set up parental controls on Apple TV 4K and Apple Support: Use Screen Time to manage your child’s iPhone or iPad.
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If a setting or menu is missing
- Restrictions is not shown: Check the Apple TV model and region. Apple documents the route for Apple TV 4K and warns that feature availability varies by region and hardware model; a later tvOS version may also use different wording.
- Content still plays in another app: Check that app’s own parental controls and app-specific settings under Settings > Apps. App Store apps may not follow device restrictions.
- You need to change the device passcode: If you know it, use Change Passcode in Restrictions. Apple’s cited setup guidance does not establish a forgotten-passcode recovery method, so do not assume a reset route without checking current Apple guidance for your exact model and software.
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