- What parental controls on YouTube are
- Four ways to set up a supervised YouTube account for a child
- Choosing a YouTube content setting for your child
- Other YouTube parental controls to switch on
- Setting up YouTube supervision for a teen
- Restricted Mode and age checks are different tools
- Parental controls on YouTube for a business owner who is also a parent
- If YouTube parental controls aren't working
- Frequently asked questions
To set up parental controls on YouTube, open the YouTube app, go to Settings, then Family Center, and add a supervised kid account. Choose a content setting (Explore, Explore more or Most of YouTube); you can change it at any time.
If you've got children in the house, YouTube is probably on at some point in the day. It's also where they learn, laugh and wander into things you'd rather they didn't. As someone who works online and knows how quickly a recommendations feed can drift, I like tools that give parents a say. YouTube's answer is supervised accounts and Family Center. Here's how the help pages say to set them up, and what you can then control.
What parental controls on YouTube are
YouTube's parental controls come through supervised experiences. For younger children, the help centre calls these supervised kid accounts, intended for children under 13, or the relevant age in their country or region. A parent decides when the child is ready, then picks a content setting that limits the videos and music the child can reach. Teens have a separate, shared-consent version.
Four ways to set up a supervised YouTube account for a child
YouTube's help pages list four routes, so pick the one that matches the devices you have.
From the YouTube app on your own device
- Sign in to YouTube with your Google Account.
- Open Family Center under Settings.
- Choose the option to add a kid account and follow the steps.
The child doesn't need a Google Account for this route. YouTube notes it doesn't give access to YouTube Music.
From your child's own device
Create a Google Account for your child first. Then sign in to YouTube or YouTube Music on their device, select GET STARTED, and enter your own Google Account password to give permission.
From families.youtube.com or the Family Link app
On the web, sign in with the Google Account you use as the parent manager at families.youtube.com and select a child from your family group. In the Family Link app, select your child, then Controls, then YouTube, then YouTube & YouTube Music, and follow the prompts. Both routes need a Google Account for the child to exist already.
Choosing a YouTube content setting for your child
When you set up the account you choose a content setting. According to YouTube's help pages there are three levels, and you can preview what each includes by tapping its name:
| Content setting | What YouTube's help pages say |
|---|---|
| Explore | Aimed at families moving on from YouTube Kids, with a broad range of videos that generally aligns with ratings for viewers 9 and over |
| Explore more | Everything in Explore plus a broader range that generally aligns with ratings for viewers 13 and over |
| Most of YouTube | Almost everything except videos marked 18 and over and others that may not suit supervised viewers |
You can change the setting at any time. In the YouTube app, go to You, Settings, Family Center, pick your child's profile and select EDIT next to Content Settings. In Family Link, open your child, then Controls, Content restrictions, YouTube.
Other YouTube parental controls to switch on
- Block channels. Sign in with your linked parent account and block specific channels you don't want your child to watch.
- Disable autoplay. Turn on Disable autoplay in your child's Family Center profile, and your child can't turn it back on while it's enabled.
- Pause watch history and pause search history, so new viewing doesn't shape their recommendations.
- Clear history. In Family Center select Clear history, then CLEAR.
- Set a daily Shorts limit. In Family Center, select your child's account, then Time management. When the limit is reached, Shorts scrolling stops for the rest of the day and resets the next morning.
If your main worry is autoplay on your own account, my guide to turning off autoplay on YouTube shows the standard steps.
Setting up YouTube supervision for a teen
Teens work differently, because both sides have to agree. YouTube's help pages explain that either the parent or the teen can send the invite, and the other accepts. On a computer, sign in, click your profile picture, then Settings. Scroll to Family Center and click Manage kids profiles and features for teens.
- Parent: click Invite a teen, then Create invite. The teen scans the QR code or opens the link.
- Teen: click Invite a parent, then Create invite. The parent scans the QR code or opens the link.
Either person can turn supervision off at any time from the same page by selecting the linked account and choosing Turn off supervision features. YouTube also says supervision doesn't turn off automatically when a teen turns 18, so it's worth reviewing every so often.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Restricted Mode and age checks are different tools
People often wonder whether Restricted Mode is the same thing. It isn't. It's a filter you can switch on for an account or browser, whereas supervised accounts are a family setup with a parent in charge. My explainer on turning off Restricted Mode on YouTube shows how that setting behaves. Adults who are asked for proof of age can read how to verify your age on YouTube.
Parental controls on YouTube for a business owner who is also a parent
Many of the people reading my site run a business from the kitchen table. A practical tip: keep your work account and your child's profile completely separate, so your recommendations don't fill up with cartoons and theirs don't fill up with marketing tutorials. A supervised profile on a shared tablet keeps that tidy.
If YouTube parental controls aren't working
- Check which account is active on the device. Controls apply to the supervised account.
- Update the YouTube app, since older versions can show different menus. Menus vary by app version.
- Make sure you're signed in with the linked parent account when you change settings.
- Remember the controls help, but they don't replace talking with your child about what they watch.
- Use the in-app feedback or the help centre if a setting won't save.
No filter is perfect. If your child sees something upsetting, report the video inside YouTube and talk it through together. If you ever believe a child is in danger, contact the police.
If you want the full set, start at the YouTube Help: 30 Guides to Channels, Subscribers, Monetisation, Thumbnails and Fixes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I set up parental controls on YouTube?
Open the YouTube app, go to Settings, then Family Center, and add a kid account. Then choose a content setting such as Explore, Explore more or Most of YouTube.
Does my child need a Google Account for a supervised YouTube account?
Not if you set it up from the YouTube app on your own device. The other routes need a Google Account for your child first.
Can I change the YouTube content setting later?
Yes. YouTube's help pages say you can change the content setting at any time in Family Center or Family Link.
Can I block a channel on my child's YouTube?
Yes. Sign in with your linked parent account and block the specific channels you don't want your child to watch.
Does YouTube teen supervision end when they turn 18?
No. YouTube says supervision doesn't turn off automatically, but either the parent or the teen can turn it off at any time.
