Can Roku parental controls restrict access to certain apps

BenJ_Thoughts
Mon, 13 Apr 2026 09:31:59 +0000

Here’s my take on this.

Roku’s parental controls focus more on content filtering rather than outright blocking individual apps that are already installed. The main feature is the PIN, which is primarily used to prevent unauthorized purchases and to stop new channels (apps) from being added from the Channel Store.

For content, you can set a PIN to restrict playback based on TV and movie ratings (like G, PG, TV-14, etc.). This works well within certain channels like The Roku Channel, but it relies on the app itself to support Roku’s system. So, while you can’t use the PIN to stop someone from opening an app like YouTube, you can prevent them from adding new, unvetted channels or watching R-rated content on supported services.