How To Set Up Effective Parental Controls On YouTube

December 15th, 2023   |   Updated on November 4th, 2025

In today’s digital age, where around 500 hours of new videos are uploaded to YouTube every minute, ensuring your child’s safety on the platform is paramount.

Despite YouTube’s efforts, incidents like Logan Paul’s controversial vlog in 2017 highlight the need for additional measures.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through setting up robust parental controls on YouTube to protect your child from explicit content.

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Setting Up Parental Controls on the YouTube App

Enabling Restricted Mode

Follow these steps to activate Restricted Mode on your child’s YouTube app:

1. Open the YouTube App on your child’s phone and navigate to the User Profile.
2. Tap the cog icon at the top right corner of the screen.
3. Select “General” and toggle ON the Restricted Mode.
4. To set a break reminder for your child, tap on “Remind me to take a break” and specify the frequency.
5. Similarly, you can set a bedtime reminder by tapping on “Remind me when it’s bedtime” and choosing the start and end time.

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Setting Up Parental Controls on YouTube Web

1. Open YouTube on your desktop and go to your/child’s user icon at the top right corner.
2. Tap on “Restricted Mode” and toggle ON the switch to activate it.
3. To lock Restricted Mode on this browser, enter your email account’s password for confirmation.

Setting Up YouTube Kids on Desktop

YouTube Kids, designed for children under 13, provides a safer experience. Follow these steps to set it up on a desktop:

1. Visit YouTube Kids and click “I’m a Parent.”
2. Follow the instructions, log in with an existing Google account, and enter your child’s details.
3. Choose the age group and content preferences.
4. Opt for SafeSearch for enhanced safety.

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Setting Up YouTube Kids App

For Android and iOS devices:

1. Open YouTube Kids app and tap “I’m a Parent.”
2. Follow the steps, sign in with your Google account, and set up your child’s profile.
3. Set a timer to control usage by tapping on the Lock and User icon.

Creating A Supervised Account on YouTube

For children under 13:

1. Download Family Link on your child’s device and create a Google account.
2. Use Family Link to set up parental controls for YouTube, managing their account remotely.

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