The YouTube Kids app is a separate app from YouTube, built for children, with a smaller selection of videos and controls for parents. You pick one of three age settings (Preschool, Younger or Older) or hand-pick every video yourself, and the settings sit behind a parent lock your child can't easily open.
You don't need to create a Google Account for your child to use it. The thing to know before you hand it over is that YouTube says its systems filter the videos but nobody has manually reviewed all of them, so the setting you choose matters more than the app's name suggests.
YouTube Kids, a supervised account or a teen account?
YouTube now offers three different setups for families, and they aren't the same thing. Here's how YouTube's own family help page lays them out:
| YouTube Kids app | Supervised kid account | Supervised teen account | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The basics | A separate, simpler app for kids | A parent-managed account on the main YouTube app | A voluntary supervised account for teens |
| Who it's for | Kids whose parents want to hand-pick what they watch | Kids under 13 whose parents think they're ready for YouTube | Teens over 13 who'd like parental supervision |
| Content settings | Preschool, Younger, Older or Approve content yourself | Older kids, Teens or Older teens | Set automatically by age, adjustable by a linked parent |
| Screen time | Set inside the YouTube Kids app | Managed in Family Center, including a Shorts feed limit | Managed in Family Center |
| Google Account for the child? | Not required | Not required | Not required |
If your child is ready for more of YouTube than the Kids app offers, I've covered the next step in how a YouTube supervised account works.
The three age settings in the YouTube Kids app
| Setting | Designed for | What YouTube says it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Preschool | Kids 4 and under | Videos that promote creativity, learning and exploration; search results limited to content for kids 4 and under |
| Younger | Kids 5 to 8 | Songs, cartoons, crafts and more; search results limited to content for kids 8 and under |
| Older | Kids 9 to 12 | More music videos, gaming, science and more; search results limited to content for kids 12 and under |
| Approve content yourself | Any age | Only the exact videos you hand-pick |
For each of the three age settings, YouTube says its systems work hard to exclude unsuitable videos but it can't manually review everything, and you may find something it missed. If you do, you can block it or report it.
Approve content yourself is the only setting where you decide every single video. YouTube's help page says to use the YouTube Kids app itself to choose it.
How to set up the YouTube Kids app
- Download the YouTube Kids app on your child's device, or use the YouTube Kids web experience.
- Sign in with your own Google Account as the parent.
- Create a profile for your child, or choose their own Google Account if you've made one through Family Link.
- Pick a content setting: Preschool, Younger, Older or Approve content yourself.
- Decide whether to leave Search on or turn it off.
Profile or Google Account for your child?
A YouTube Kids profile lives inside your Google Account and only works on YouTube Kids. Your child's viewing doesn't affect your own YouTube history or recommendations. YouTube recommends a profile if your child only uses YouTube Kids, and a Google Account for kids under 13, managed with Family Link, if they also use things like Search, Chrome or Gmail. Both options are only available in certain countries.
Getting into the parent settings
Every setting sits behind the Lock in the corner of the screen. Tap it, then either solve the multiplication problem or enter a custom passcode you've set. A child old enough to do the sum can get in, so setting your own passcode is the stronger choice. Some device settings, like Cast and Custom Passcode, can be changed without picking your child's profile.
You can also manage the same settings from your own YouTube account (Settings, then Family Center) or from the Family Link app.
The settings worth changing first
- Turn off Search. Your child can't search, and they're limited to videos and channels verified by YouTube Kids. Turning Search off also clears their watch and search history and resets Recommended and Watch it again.
- Disable autoplay. Done from Family Center in your YouTube account. Once it's on, your child can't switch autoplay back on.
- Set a timer. YouTube says screen time limits for the Kids app are set directly inside the YouTube Kids app.
- Pause watch history. New videos they watch stop being used to recommend other videos.
- Block videos and channels. If your child also has a supervised YouTube account, blocking a video on YouTube Kids blocks it there too.
One extra: anything you share with your child from YouTube also becomes available to them in YouTube Kids, on top of their content setting. If you have YouTube Premium, YouTube says you and your child can watch YouTube Kids without paid ads.
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What happens when your child turns 13
When a child with a Google Account turns 13 (or the age that applies in your country), they can stay parent-managed or move to managing their own Google Account. If they move, YouTube says they can't use YouTube Kids with that account any more, they get the full YouTube app with uploading, commenting and live streaming, and videos and channels you'd blocked may become available to them.
Before your child gets there, it's worth reading how to set up parental controls on YouTube and, for Shorts in particular, the YouTube Shorts feed limit you can set in Family Center.
My verdict
For under-9s, the YouTube Kids app is the right starting point, but I wouldn't leave it on the default and walk away. Set your own passcode, turn Search off for the youngest, and if you want certainty, use Approve content yourself. It takes longer to set up, and it's the only setting where nothing reaches your child that you haven't seen first.
Frequently asked questions
Does my child need a Google Account for YouTube Kids?
No. You can create a YouTube Kids profile inside your own Google Account instead. YouTube recommends a Google Account for kids, managed with Family Link, only if your child also uses other Google products.
What age is YouTube Kids for?
YouTube's content settings cover kids 4 and under (Preschool), 5 to 8 (Younger) and 9 to 12 (Older). There's also an Approve content yourself setting where you choose every video.
Is YouTube Kids safe?
It's safer than the main YouTube app, but YouTube says it can't manually review every video, so you may find something it missed. Turning off Search or using Approve content yourself gives you the most control.
How do I get into the parent settings on YouTube Kids?
Tap the Lock in the corner of the screen, then solve the multiplication problem or enter your custom passcode.
Can my child use YouTube Kids after they turn 13?
Not with their own Google Account if they move to managing it themselves. YouTube says they can't use YouTube Kids with that account any more and get the full YouTube app instead.
