A YouTube supervised account is a child's account, for kids under 13 (or the relevant age in your country), that a parent manages. The parent picks a content setting that limits what the child can find and play on YouTube and YouTube Music, and YouTube switches off features like comments, uploads, live chat and personalised ads.
It sits between YouTube Kids and full YouTube. Your child gets the main YouTube app, with its much bigger library, but filtered to a level you choose and with the riskier features taken away.
Here's how to set one up, what each content level allows, and the limits worth knowing before you hand over the tablet.
How to set one up
YouTube gives four routes. The first is the quickest, because it doesn't need a Google Account for your child:
- Sign in to the YouTube app with your own Google Account.
- Go to Settings, then Family Center.
- Choose Add a kid account and follow the steps.
- Switch between your account and theirs from the Who's Watching page or Switch account in the You tab.
The catch with that route: YouTube says creating the account on a parent's device doesn't give your child access to YouTube Music. For that, they need their own Google Account linked to yours, and you can then set it up from the YouTube or YouTube Music app on their device, from families.youtube.com, or from the Family Link app under Controls, YouTube, then YouTube and YouTube Music.
The three content settings
| Setting | Generally aligns with | In short |
|---|---|---|
| Older kids | Content rated for viewers 9+ | For families moving on from YouTube Kids |
| Teens | Content rated for viewers 13+ | Everything in Older kids plus a broader range |
| Older teens | Content rated for viewers 16+ | Almost everything on YouTube except videos marked 18+ |
You can preview what's in each setting by tapping its name, and change it whenever you like. Teens aged 13 and over are placed into a setting that matches their age automatically.
What a supervised account can't do
YouTube lists the features that are turned off. The ones parents ask about most:
- Comments: supervised accounts can't post comments, and the Older kids setting can't read them.
- Creating: no channel, uploads, Shorts, live streams, posts, Stories, or public and unlisted playlists.
- Chatting: no live chat, handles or note writing.
- Fan features: no channel memberships, creator merchandise, Super Chat or Super Stickers, and no movies and TV shows.
- Other apps and tools: no YouTube Studio, YouTube TV, YouTube VR, incognito, casting to a TV or personalised ads.
- Live streams are only switched off on the Older kids setting.
YouTube also says certain ad categories are banned on these accounts, and personalised ads are off.
Controls you can change later
From your own account, go to your profile picture, Settings, Family Center, then Manage kids profiles and features for teens. From there you can change the content setting, block specific channels, clear your child's watch and search history, pause their watch history so new views don't shape recommendations, and disable autoplay, which your child can't turn back on.
Supervised account, YouTube Kids or Restricted Mode?
| Option | What you get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Kids | A separate app with a smaller selection, chosen by human review, expert playlists and algorithmic filtering | Younger children |
| Supervised account | The main YouTube app, filtered by a content setting the parent picks | Children ready for more than YouTube Kids |
| Restricted Mode | An optional filter that screens potentially adult content on any account | Shared devices, schools, libraries |
On ads, YouTube says certain ad categories are prohibited on supervised accounts and personalised ads are off. Videos where the creator has declared branded content or an endorsement can still be shown, as long as they follow the ad policy for content made for kids.
Limits and gaps
- It's only for personal accounts, not schools.
- In the EU, families who set up supervision before April 2021 aren't eligible.
- It works on most eligible smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, but not older Android TV devices.
- YouTube admits no automated filter is perfect, so you can report anything that slips through.
If your child is close to the age limit, my guide to how old you have to be to have YouTube covers what changes at 13. And clearing YouTube search history works the same way on your own account.
You can also review what your child has been watching. On their device, go to the My Activity page, select YouTube History, then Manage history, and scroll through. Parents in the US can also see conversation topics in Family Center, which YouTube says are updated regularly based on what the child watches.
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My verdict
If your child has outgrown YouTube Kids but isn't ready for open YouTube, set up a supervised account, start on Older kids, and turn off autoplay on day one. Set it up through a linked Google Account rather than on your own phone if they'll want YouTube Music too.
Frequently asked questions
What is a supervised account on YouTube?
A parent-managed account for a child under 13 (or the relevant age in their country), filtered to a content setting the parent chooses.
Can a supervised YouTube account comment?
No. Supervised accounts can't post comments, and the Older kids setting can't read them.
What's the difference between YouTube Kids and a supervised account?
YouTube Kids is a separate app with a smaller, curated library. A supervised account uses the main YouTube app with a content setting you choose.
Can a supervised account use YouTube Music?
Yes, if the child has their own Google Account linked to yours. An account made on a parent's device doesn't include YouTube Music.
How do I clear my child's YouTube history?
Sign in with your linked parent account, go to Settings, Family Center, Manage kids profiles and features for teens, choose your child and click Clear history.
Are supervised accounts available for schools?
No. YouTube says they're for personal accounts only. Schools using Google Workspace for Education have similar admin controls.
Can supervised accounts watch YouTube on a games console?
Yes. YouTube says they work on most eligible smart TVs, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, but not older Android TV devices.
Can my child turn autoplay back on?
No. If you switch on Disable autoplay in Family Center, YouTube says your child can't turn autoplay on.
