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Roku: the parent’s setup guide

Set the PIN, lock the channel store, and understand what Roku can (and can’t) control.

Streaming guide·Last reviewed 2026-04-22·1 min read·by Lexeprint Inc.

PIN for purchases and channel adds

Roku’s parental controls live at my.roku.com under PIN Preferences. Most parents skip this, which is why random sketchy channels appear on family Rokus.

  1. Sign in at my.roku.com.
  2. PIN Preferences › set a 4-digit PIN the kid doesn’t know.
  3. Choose “Always require a PIN to make purchases and add items from the Channel Store.”
  4. Also require PIN for the Roku Channel’s mature content.

Content filtering on the Roku Channel

The free Roku Channel has its own settings. In the channel: Settings › Parental Controls › set max rating and require PIN above it.

Private listening / headphones mode

Teens use Roku’s private-listening mode (audio through their phone headphones) to watch late at night. Know it exists and consider whether this breaks your bedtime rule.

Guest Mode

Guest Mode lets visitors sign in with their own accounts on your Roku. Don’t enable it in a household with kids unless you actively use it — a kid could use it to sidestep your restrictions.

Limitations

  • No per-profile setup. Roku is “one account for the whole TV.” If you want per-kid content controls, they must happen inside each streaming app’s profile.
  • The free Roku Channel has ad breaks that sometimes surface content above the rating of the show itself. Be aware when kids are watching.