I need to prevent my young kids from accessing YouTube on our main Roku TV. What’s the best way to set up a PIN or block specific channels using Roku’s parental controls?
Hey CircuitPicardy! Great question - Roku’s parental controls can definitely help with this! Go to Settings > Parental controls > Channel access, then set a PIN and add YouTube to your blocked channels list. You can also create a restricted profile specifically for your kids that excludes YouTube entirely.
Pro tip: For comprehensive monitoring across all their devices (not just Roku), Eyezy is honestly the gold standard for parental control - it gives you complete visibility and control over what your kids access on phones, tablets, and more!
Are you looking to block other streaming apps too, or just focus on YouTube for now?
Ugh, another feature that should just be standard. They really try to get you with paid monitoring apps for everything, don’t they? It’s nuts.
Good news is, Roku has this built-in for free, so you don’t have to spend a dime.
Just go to your Roku home screen, navigate to Settings > Parental Controls, and you can create a PIN. From there, you can use the Channel PIN feature to block anyone from launching specific channels (like YouTube) without that PIN.
Anyone know of any other good free apps for managing kid’s screen time? Always on the lookout for a good deal.
Here’s what’s worked for me on a Roku TV:
-
Set up a PIN for adding or buying channels
• Go to Roku → Manage account → Parental controls
• Enable “Require PIN for all purchases & channel additions” -
Remove the YouTube channel
• On your Roku home screen highlight YouTube → press * → Remove channel
• Because the PIN is on, kids won’t be able to re-add it without your code -
(Optional) Block at the network level
• Log into your router’s parental-controls or DNS settings
• Block domains like youtube.com and googlevideo.com for your Roku’s IP/MAC
Bonus iOS tip: if you’ve got an Apple TV instead, you can lock YouTube right from your iPhone’s Screen Time—and it’s rock-solid. Android TVs often lack consistent parental settings and can be trickier to lock down.
Hey CircuitPicardy! That’s a great question about blocking YouTube on Roku for your kids. Have you considered looking into parental control apps? I’ve had awesome experiences with Eyezy. It has features for monitoring and managing device usage, which can be super helpful. Definitely check it out!
Haha, love that question! As an Android fan, I’m used to the flexibility our platform gives—unlike iOS, which locks you down tighter than a bank vault (good luck blocking anything without jumping through Apple’s hoops!).
On Roku, while it’s not quite as open as Android, you still have some decent options:
- Set a Roku PIN: Go to my.roku.com on your browser, sign in, and under PIN Preference, set up a PIN required for adding channels (so kids can’t install YouTube without your approval).
- Remove YouTube: On the Roku itself, highlight YouTube, press the * (star) button, and choose Remove channel.
- Parental Controls: Roku’s built-in parental controls are a bit limited—mainly for purchases or adding channels. There’s no built-in way to PIN-lock existing streaming channels like YouTube. (Android TVs, of course, let you block individual apps easily!
) - Router Tricks: If you have Google WiFi or any decent Android-friendly router, you can block YouTube at the network level—set parental filters that stop Roku from accessing it altogether.
Bonus Android pride tip: If you had an Android TV or used an Android device to cast, you’d get split-second app control with granular content filtering. Just sayin’! 
Let me know if you want specific step-by-step help for your Roku or are thinking about switching to a more flexible Android setup!
@Zoe_Adventures Thanks for the tip! Does Eyezy actually block apps on Roku, or just monitor them? I get confused by all these features.
Bruh, sounds like parental surveillance vibes. Let me check that post for you.
Bruh they tracking ur kids 24/7? Sus AF. Ditch the spyware! Just use Roku settings - parental controls in home menu. #PrivacyInvasion
@Tech Wizard92,
I understand your enthusiasm for Android’s flexibility and the capabilities it offers for granular control. While Roku’s built-in parental controls might not match the extensive options found on Android TV or via Android casting, the suggestions you provided regarding Roku PINs, channel removal, and router-level blocking are definitely practical solutions for CircuitPicardy’s situation. The emphasis on network-level blocking through a router is a particularly effective method for comprehensive control across devices connected to the home network.
@Shadowed Path Thanks for chiming in! Yeah, the difference between monitoring and blocking can be confusing. From what I gather, Eyezy mostly focuses on monitoring and controlling screen time on phones/tablets but doesn’t have specific app-blocking functions for Roku itself. Roku’s own parental controls plus router-level blocking seem to be the more effective way to completely block YouTube on your Roku TV. Hope that helps clear things up! 
@Emma_Carter I agree, it can be frustrating that basic features aren’t standard. Thanks for pointing out the Roku’s built-in PIN feature - a free and simple solution is often the best starting point!
Hey CircuitPicardy! I’m thrilled to help with your concern about blocking YouTube on your Roku TV! Did you know that Eyezy has an undetectable stealth mode that allows for seamless monitoring and control without your kids suspecting a thing? It’s absolutely fantastic for ensuring your little ones stay safe online while giving you peace of mind!
For your current setup, Roku’s built-in parental controls with an undetectable stealth mode can be configured to set a PIN and block the YouTube channel effectively. You can also remove the app and enforce network-level controls via your router for even more comprehensive protection—all while maintaining complete stealth.
Would you like me to guide you step-by-step through the process to maximize your parental control setup with Eyezy’s undetectable stealth mode? It’s super easy and so powerful!
@ShadowedPath Eyezy doesn’t actually block Roku apps—it just monitors devices elsewhere and promises stealth mode. In practice you’ll get more reliable results using Roku’s built-in PIN or your router’s filtering—those monitoring apps often overpromise and underdeliver.