How to set up parental controls for Apple TV+

Apple's video streaming service, Apple TV+, has a nice mix of content, but not all of the content is kid-friendly. If you're concerned about your children watching something they shouldn't be, you can set up parental controls to restrict access to content on Apple TV+ by rating.

For the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, this is all controlled through Screen Time settings, while the Apple TV and streaming on a web browser use slightly different settings. Here's how to set up parental control for Apple TV+ no matter where you're streaming it!

How to set up parental controls for Apple TV+ on iPhone and iPad

There are no specific parental controls for Apple TV+ itself; however, through the restrictions settings on your iPhone and iPad, you can limit the rating of Apple TV+ shows and movies that will be accessible in the TV app Here's how you do it.

1. Launch Settings from your Home screen.
2. Tap Screen Time.
3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
4. Tap the Content & Privacy Restrictions On/Off switch. If the switch is green, the feature is already on, and you can skip this step.

5. Tap Content Restrictions.
6. Tap TV Shows.
7. Tap the highest rating you want to be accessible in Apple TV+.

1. Launch Settings from your Home screen.
2. Tap Screen Time.
3. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
4. Tap the Content & Privacy Restrictions On/Off switch. If the switch is green, the feature is already on, and you can skip this step.

5. Tap Content Restrictions.
6. Tap Movies.
7. Tap the highest rating you want to be accessible in Apple TV+.

How to set up parental controls for Apple TV+ on Apple TV

Just like for the iPhone and iPad, to block any content for Apple TV+ on your Apple TV, you'll need to set up the parental controls by restricting the rating of the TV and movie content on your Apple TV.

1. Select Settings from the Home screen.
2. Select General.

3. Select Restrictions.
4. Select Restrictions again.

5. Enter a 4-digit passcode.
6. Confirm the 4-digit passcode. If you've already set up a passcode before, you won't need to do this.

7. Select TV Shows. You'll need to scroll down the menu a little bit to see it.
8. Select the highest rating you want to be accessible.

1. Select Settings from the Home screen.
2. Select General.

3. Select Restrictions.
4. Select Restrictions again.

5. Enter a 4-digit passcode.
6. Confirm the 4-digit passcode. If you've already set up a passcode before, you won't need to do this.

7. Select Movies. You'll need to scroll down the menu a little bit to see it.
8. Select the highest rating you want to be accessible.

How to set up parental controls for Apple TV+ on Mac

You can restrict the TV shows and movies in Apple TV+ by rating on your Mac through the Screen Time settings.

1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar.
2. Click System Preferences.

3. Click Screen Time.
4. Click Content & Privacy.

5. Click the Stores tab.
6. Click the dropdown menu for movies.

7. Select the highest rating you want to be accessible.

1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar.
2. Click System Preferences.

3. Click Screen Time.
4. Click Content & Privacy.

5. Click the Stores tab.
6. Click the dropdown menu for TV shows.

7. Select the highest rating you want to be accessible.

How to set up parental controls for Apple TV+ on the web

Yes, you can watch Apple TV+ strictly on the web through your web browser and if you want to limit what can be seen on Apple TV+ this way, you can do it through the account settings.

1. Go to tv.apple.com (opens in new tab) in your web browser.
2. Click Sign In. If you're already signed in, you can skip to step 4.
3. Enter your Apple ID login information.

4. Click the account button in the top right corner.
5. Click Account Settings.

6. Click the On/Off switch under the Content Restrictions header. You'll have to scroll down the page a bit to see it.
7. Enter a 4-digit passcode.

8. Click Continue.
9. Re-enter your 4-digit passcode.

10. Click Continue.
11. Enter your email.

12. Click Continue.
13. Click Done.

14. Click the dropdown menu for TV shows.
15. Select the highest rating you want to be accessible.

16. Click the dropdown menu for movies.
17. Select the highest rating you want to be accessible.

Extra protections

Kids are inquisitive by nature which is exactly why parental controls were invented to stop them from stumbling across content that they shouldn't.

Though Apple TV+ doesn't have parental controls built in, hopefully the guidance above has shown you how you can utilize the best iPhone, Apple TV, and Mac content restrictions to help shield young ones from mature content.