Android TV parental controls depend on your TV’s software: on Google TV, add a kids profile with its own apps, daily time limit and bedtime; on older Android TV, set a PIN-protected restricted profile or app lock. TCL, Hisense, Vitron and other sets sold in Kenya come in both versions.
Google TV kids profile
- On the home screen, select your profile picture > Add account > Add a kid.
- Pick an existing child account from your Google family group, or create a profile with just a name and age (no email needed).
- Choose which apps appear on the kid’s home screen.
- Follow the prompts to set controls:
- Daily screen time limit, by day of the week.
- Bedtime: start and end times when the TV locks.
- Content restrictions for film and TV ratings.
- Turn on Kids lock (in Settings > Accounts & Profiles > the child’s profile) so leaving the profile needs your PIN or password.
When time runs out, a parent can add bonus time with the PIN. Time limits for the TV are set on the TV itself, not in the Family Link phone app. Family Link manages the child’s Google account: Google Family Link guide.
Android TV PIN and app restrictions
Older Android TVs don’t have kids profiles. Options vary by brand:
- Restricted profile: Settings > Security & Restrictions > Create restricted profile, set a PIN and tick allowed apps. The Play Store is blocked inside it. If you forget this PIN, the only way out is a factory reset, so write it down.
- Parental controls / app lock: some sets (including newer TCL models) put a PIN lock under Settings > System > Parental Controls or in the TV’s Channel or Lock settings, where you can lock apps, block channels by rating or lock channel scanning.
- Missing parental controls? Kids profiles aren’t offered in every region or on every device, and some basic Android TV builds skip them. Update the TV’s software, then look under System, Security or Channels. If nothing is there, lock individual apps with their own PINs (Netflix and the DStv app, for example, have their own profile or PIN locks).
Most older Android TVs have no built-in daily time limit. Unplugging the TV at bedtime still works, and phone-side limits are covered in limiting screen time on Android.
YouTube on TV
- In a Google TV kids profile, add YouTube Kids from the app list, or set the child’s account to a supervised YouTube experience at g.co/YourFamily.
- On any TV, turn on Restricted Mode in the YouTube app’s settings (if offered). It filters but doesn’t catch everything, and it doesn’t limit watching time.
- Sign out of adult YouTube accounts on the TV.
For phones and tablets, see parental controls on Android.
Quick answers
On Google TV, add a kids profile from your profile picture. On older Android TV, create a restricted profile under Security & Restrictions, or use the PIN lock in System or Channels settings.
Kids profiles aren’t available in every region or on every TV, and some Android TV builds don’t include them. Update the software, check System, Security and Channels menus, or use PINs inside each app.
Google TV kids profiles have a daily limit and bedtime. Older Android TVs lack a built-in timer, so use app PINs, a sleep timer or switch off at the plug.
