Samsung Tizen · Privacy & Security

Restrict content by rating and lock down apps for kids

Parental Control settings let you PIN-lock specific channels, block content above a chosen age rating, and restrict access to certain apps, helping create a safer viewing setup for children using the TV unsupervised.

What you should know

  • Go to Settings > General > System Manager > Parental Control and set a 4-digit PIN if one hasn't been created yet.
  • Enable content rating locks to block programs above a chosen TV or movie rating from playing without the PIN.
  • Use Settings > Broadcasting > Channel Lock to block specific channels individually.
  • Restrict individual Smart Hub apps by locking them under Apps management, and consider disabling app installs entirely for a child profile if the TV supports Family/Multi-user profiles.

If the parental PIN is forgotten, restoring access typically requires a full factory reset under Settings > General > Reset, which also erases other TV settings and app data.

Why it matters

Streaming apps and live broadcast content are both accessible from the same home screen, so relying on a single streaming app's built-in kid mode isn't enough — TV-level Parental Control is the only setting that covers every input and app consistently.

Best practices

  • Choose a PIN that's different from the Samsung Account password and share it only with other adults in the household.
  • Review and update the content rating threshold periodically as children get older rather than leaving a very restrictive default in place indefinitely.
  • Pair TV-level Parental Control with each individual streaming app's own kid profile for layered protection.

Common problems and fixes

Forgot the Parental Control PIN
Contact Samsung Support to verify ownership, or perform a factory reset under Settings > General > Reset as a last resort — this clears the PIN along with other settings.
A blocked app still opens for a child
Confirm the restriction was applied to that specific app under Apps management, since Channel Lock and content rating locks only cover broadcast and rated content, not every third-party app.

Tips and tricks

  • Some Samsung TV models support separate user profiles under Settings > General > System Manager > User, which can pair with Parental Control for a more tailored kid-safe home screen.

Frequently asked questions

Do Parental Controls block streaming app content too, or only live TV?

Channel Lock only covers broadcast channels, but content rating locks and app-level restrictions extend coverage to many Smart Hub apps as well, depending on the app's own rating support.