Channels & viewing

[Azubi]

Is there a way to set a password for specific channels you have installed ? I am ok with my kids accessing PBS kids in the morning, for example , but not getting on YouTube whenever they desire .

[Rokrew]

Nope. Can't password protect YouTube. 

Best you could do is setup a YouTube kids account so they'd only have access to kids programming. 

Outside of hiding the remote, there's not much you can do to lock kids out of a Roku... unless you have a Roku TV. 

Long story about how to lock kids out of a Roku tv here:

Settings: TV Inputs

Add one that you're not using. 

We'll say HDMI 3 for example purposes. 

Click on Setup input. 

Now we're going to go to

Settings: 

System:

Power:

Power On:

Select HDMI 3. 

Now even if the kids don't have a remote, they can still turn on the tv....but this way it goes straight to a black HDMI screen with nothing there. 

[solomonp]

Hey Roku,

   Could we parents get some actual parent controls that are relevant?  Like a password protection option on youtube?   I know there is a big push from those that watch dirty stuff to have all these "guest" and "icognito" options as accessible and convenient as possible and I know they generate a lot of money for people with these habits and there is a big demand from them, but it would be so great if we could start protecting families and worrying more about what is right for our culture and the next generation than about what generates the most profits.  This one is a lay-up.   Protect families and kids.   Could you step up to the plate?  Youtube isn't.  They refuse to develop any disabling option for incognito despite literally millions of families asking for it.   For the reasons I mentioned above.  Money and justifying stuff we know is wrong.   We need one of the big players to have the courage to offer simple options for those that want to protect their kids a little more strongly, or even themselves.   An option to password protect all apps if the user so wishes.   So basic.   But takes so much courage in this cultural-generation.  Be the one!

[Rokrew]

My daughter is 7. I have the YouTube app on the RokuTv in her room set to kids mode. Problem solved. It doesn't let kids log out. You set the age appropriateness to the age of your child or your choice. It keeps out all the weird stuff. Idk, it works for me. The only issue I have is I can't block the inappropriate ads on the home screen. You used to be able to completely block them...and still can if you have an older version. You just press Home 5 times, up,right,down,left and up. You then set the one set of ads to disabled, and the other one to Demo 3. Too bad it no longer works. 

[seattle75]

Surprised this doesnt exist.  Seems like it would be a simple way to manage what content my kids can access.  Having to lock it down once they're in the app is ok in some situations but some channels its much better if they cant open it without a parent to ok it.  Youtube is the big one for us.

[Bendokan9000]

Very, very, frustrating I can’t password protect a channel on Roku. 

Removing my profile from the Roku is the only way I can do this. Which makes it of course, impossible to watch YouTube when I want. 

I am floored this isn’t avail. on Roku. I am actively shopping for an alternative ton Roku for this very reason. Sad - have been a Roku user for 15 years. 

[Rokrew]

Use PlayLet instead. It's a Roku app. 

[atc98092]

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@Bendokan9000 wrote:

I am floored this isn’t avail. on Roku. I am actively shopping for an alternative ton Roku for this very reason. Sad - have been a Roku user for 15 years. 

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Look at all the alternatives you like. I don't know of any streaming device that offers a way to require a PIN/password on a specific channel. It does appear to be something that would be of value to households with children, but I have no clue how easy it might be to actually implement the function.

[matwin]

Does Playlet let you set a password? Cant seem to find it in settings...

[atc98092]

There is no password for the Roku itself. Any individual app is controlled by its developer, who is not Roku except for a small number of them. You can add a PIN to your account, but that simply blocks access to installing apps and making purchases.