Enable Kid and Teen Mode

Roku Kid & Teen Mode is a specialized mode intended for use by children and teens under 18 years old (“kids”). It provides greater parental choice within a child and teen friendly experience by limiting access to certain features, apps, and content. Roku account holders are responsible for setting up Kid & Teen Mode permissions for kids in their household and in so doing must confirm that they are the parent or guardian of the user who will be accessing content via Kid & Teen Mode. Roku account holders are also responsible for ensuring that Kid & Teen Mode is used by kids in their household if they want their kids to interact with Roku within the child and teen-friendly experience in Kid & Teen Mode.

How is Kid & Teen Mode different from the default?


  • Limited features: Users cannot access search, browse, guest mode, or voice functionality in Kid & Teen Mode.

  • Restricted content: Parents must select which apps are available to users in Kid & Teen Mode. Only apps which have decided to participate in Kid & Teen Mode are available. Parents must have those apps installed on their own account and must approve those apps to be used in Kid & Teen Mode. Parents can also choose whether to allow users in Kid & Teen Mode to access HDMI inputs.

  • Sleep timer: The sleep timer turns the TV off after a set period.

  • Rating limits: If these apps are available in your country, parents can choose content ratings limits that will apply to content controlled by Roku and viewed in Kid & Teen Mode.

  • Subscriptions and purchases via Roku Pay are restricted: Purchases and subscriptions using Roku Pay are blocked in Kid & Teen Mode. However, users may still be able to make purchases directly within apps provided by other app providers using a different payment method.

  • No access to broadcast TV: TV via antenna isn't accessible while using Kid & Teen Mode.

  • No casting: Users in Kid & Teen Mode will not have access to AirPlay or other casting features.

  • Limited settings: Users in Kid & Teen Mode can only access Network, Accessibility, and System > About, and Time > Sleep timer.

Before you start


You will need to set up a Roku PIN if you don't have one to use Kid & Teen Mode. You can turn off the PIN requirement to exit Kid & Teen Mode afterward.

  • Navigate to my.roku.com

  • Go to PIN

  • Choose Create a PIN

  • Enter a 4-digit PIN

  • For more on changing your PIN visit go.roku.com/pinhelp

Set up Kid & Teen Mode


  • Press Home Home button on your Roku remote

  • Navigate to Settings

  • Select Kid & Teen Mode

  • Choose App Access and select which apps you want to allow in Kid & Teen Mode. You will need to enter your PIN and confirm that you are the parent or guardian for the kid(s) using Kid & Teen Mode to make this selection.

  • Allow input access - Choose whether to allow your child to switch to HDMI inputs or not. You may need to enter your PIN and confirm that you are the parent or guardian for the kid(s) using Kid & Teen Mode to make this selection.

  • When finished select Enter Kid & Teen Mode to enter the feature

  • PIN protection is on by default, which means that the user cannot exit Kid & Teen Mode without providing the account holder's PIN. The account holder can switch this off at any time, which allows exiting Kid and Teen Mode without a PIN.

Allow more apps or enable switch inputs in Kid & Teen Mode


You need to download an app on your Roku device before it can be used in Kid & Teen Mode. Not all apps are available for Kid & Teen Mode.

  • Press Home Home button on your Roku remote

  • Scroll and select Settings > Kid & Teen Mode

  • Select App access or Allow TV inputs

  • Select the apps you want, or choose to enable the user to switch HDMI inputs. You will need to enter your PIN and confirm that you are the parent/guardian of the kid(s) using Kid & Teen Mode to make this selection.

Set a sleep timer in Kid & Teen Mode


You can use a sleep timer to turn your Roku TV off automatically after a set amount of time while your child is in Kid & Teen Mode. This is only available on Roku TVs, not on Roku streaming players.

  • From inside Kid & Teen Mode, press Home on your Roku remote

  • Select Settings

  • Select System > Time > Sleep timer

  • Choose a duration

Reset PIN


If in Kid & Teen Mode

  • Use the directional pad to select Exit Kid & Teen Mode

  • Choose I forgot my PIN

  • Scan the QR code to reset your PIN on my.roku.com

  • Select I'm ready to enter my PIN when you have created a new PIN

You can also reset your PIN by visiting my.roku.com and navigating to PIN.

Advertising and Privacy


Are ads shown in Kid & Teen Mode?

Yes, but there are no personalized ads shown by Roku within Kid & Teen Mode. All ads run by Roku within Kid & Teen Mode are limited to ads permitted by applicable law. However, Roku does not control apps provided by other app providers, so cannot control the experience within those apps (including ads). Please set up your own preferences within each app before adding it to Kid & Teen Mode.

Will Roku tell other Apps that the user is in Kid & Teen Mode?

Yes. When a third party app is launched from within Kid & Teen Mode, we will send a signal to app providers to let them know that the user is accessing from Kid & Teen Mode and is therefore inferred to be a kid. However, Roku does not control apps provided by other app providers, so cannot control the experience within those apps. Please set up your own preferences within each app before adding it to Kid & Teen Mode.

Troubleshooting


Why am I no longer able to cast to my Roku TV or player?

Roku devices aren't discoverable via Bluetooth while in Kid & Teen Mode. Exit Kid & Teen Mode to screen cast to your Roku device.

Can I choose which content ratings are allowed in Kid & Teen Mode?

Yes, where available in your country. Kid & Teen Mode has its own Rating limits setting that controls the maximum TV and movie ratings kids and teens can watch in The Roku Channel and Roku subscriptions (such as Howdy) during Kid & Teen Mode.

To set it up:

  • In Settings > Kid & Teen Mode > App access, add The Roku Channel and/or Kids & Family on The Roku Channel. (The Rating limits setting stays disabled until you add at least one of these.)

  • Go to Settings > Kid & Teen Mode > Rating limits.

  • Choose the maximum allowed rating. Until you set a limit, only content rated G, TV-G, and TV-Y is available.

This setting applies only to The Roku Channel and Roku subscriptions and does not apply to other apps.

Where are my Continue Watching and Save List in The Roku Channel Kids & Family app (only available in certain countries)?

Where available in your country, after you enable Kid & Teen Mode, allow the Roku Channel Kids & Family app. Within the app, navigate to the Continue Watching and Save List. However, any content in Kid & Teen Mode will be filtered to the content ratings you have chosen for Kid & Teen Mode.

Why can't I allow some of my apps when I try adding them to Kid & Teen Mode?

Not all apps are currently available in Kid & Teen Mode. 

Does Kid & Teen Mode prevent in-app purchases?

While a device is in Kid & Teen Mode, your children will be unable to enroll in subscriptions and make purchases using Roku Pay. However, Roku cannot control the experience within apps provided by other app providers, and not all apps use Roku Pay for subscription management and in-app purchases. Check that you have set up your own preferences within each app before adding it to Kid & Teen Mode.

Can't exit Kid & Teen Mode? Check your Internet connection

Exiting Kid & Teen Mode requires a network connection. Learn how to troubleshoot your connection to the Internet.

Which apps can I choose from in Kid & Teen Mode?

Below is a list of some of the popular apps available in Kid & Teen Mode. App availability in Kid & Teen Mode depends on whether app partners choose to participate, so available apps may change over time.

  • Netflix
  • Fandango at Home
  • TRC Kids & Family
  • HappyKids – Kids TV Shows and Movies
  • PBS Kids
  • CoComelon
  • Blippi
  • Ryan and Friends
  • Little Baby Bum
  • Kid City
  • Kidoodle

Last updated on 9/2/2026 6:14:24 PM


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