- \n
- What is a Vizio TV?<\/a><\/li>\n
- Does It Have Parental Controls? How Can That Help?<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to Set Up Parental Controls on Vizio?<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to Block Apps?<\/a><\/li>\n
- How to Turn Off Parental Controls on Vizio TV?<\/a><\/li>\n
- Alternative Ways to Keep Your Child Safe Online<\/a><\/li>\n
- Vizio TV: Basic But Sufficient Parental Controls<\/a><\/li>\n
- FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
What is a Vizio TV?<\/h2>\n
![\"parental](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_1324076201.jpg\")
Eric Broder Van Dyke\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
Vizio is a California-based company that makes and sells smart TV sets and soundbars, and also owns a streaming service. The company\u2019s streaming app is called WatchFree+, and it\u2019s pre-installed on all Vizio smart television products. You can also enjoy other apps like YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, but you\u2019ll need to have premium subscriptions to access some of them.<\/p>\n
You can pick from many different models and series of Vizio smart TVs. They range from 43\u201d and 70\u201d to fit everyone\u2019s preference.<\/p>\n
WatchFree+ has over 260 channels in news, comedy, game shows, movies, sports, and other categories. Some notable mentions include NBC News Now, Game Show Central, The Design Network, Vevo music channels, NFL Channel, and True History. The library has over 6,000 video titles, including movies and TV shows like The Walking Dead, Scream, Godzilla, and The IT Crowd.<\/p>\n
Does It Have Parental Controls? How Can That Help?<\/h2>\n
All Vizio devices come with parental controls. These settings are integrated, so you don\u2019t have to think about installing extra software. Turning on parental control settings ensures you can pick which channels and content require a PIN code.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy for a parent to adjust this with the remote controller. Channel access can be controlled by your preference, and a PIN will be necessary every time someone tries to watch the channel you picked to be restricted.<\/p>\n
You can also restrict access to programs based on the rating. It remains a question if there\u2019s no smarter way for this to be done, but at the moment, you need to trust the ratings given by the administrators.<\/p>\n
Understanding Vizio\u2019s Content Restrictions<\/h3>\n
It\u2019s important to understand how Vizio\u2019s built-in parental controls function. These controls work for OTA (over-the-air) channels, which are terrestrial TV channels received with an antenna. The restrictions are based on the program ratings provided for this type of content. That means you can easily restrict access to certain channels or programs based on their designated content ratings.<\/p>\n
A key limitation is that these built-in controls do not work for built-in SmartCast apps like YouTube, Netflix, or other streaming services. For these apps, you must set up content restrictions directly within each individual app\u2019s settings menu.<\/p>\n
How to Set Up Parental Controls on Vizio?<\/h2>\n
![\"parental](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2035734803.jpg\")
Proxima Studio\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
Setting parental controls on a Vizio TV is simple, but the steps depend on your device. It\u2019s why the best path is to check the instructions that came with the product.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ll review the usual steps in the sections below!<\/p>\n
1. Use Your Remote to Enter Settings<\/h3>\n
Turn on your Vizio TV and grab the remote controller. Check out the layout and find the Menu button. Press it, and you\u2019ll see the main navigation appearing. Your next task is to scroll down to the parental control section by using the arrow buttons on the remote.<\/p>\n
2. Pick Parental Controls and Set a New Password<\/h3>\n
Once you mark the Parental Controls menu, access it and insert the default password. On most devices, the standard password is \u201c0000.\u201d It\u2019s always a four-digit numeric code, and you can find it in the instructions.<\/p>\n
We strongly suggest changing the default password to reduce the risk of your child figuring it out. You will find the Change PIN option in the settings. Click OK and insert the new PIN.<\/p>\n
Here are some tips to create a strong PIN:<\/p>\n
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- Don\u2019t use simple strings like \u201c1234\u201d<\/li>\n
- Never enter your child\u2019s birthdate or something they could easily figure out<\/li>\n
- It\u2019s best to pick a random number and change the code every few months<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Enter the same passwords in the New and Confirm PIN fields, and don\u2019t forget to remember the code. The PIN is now turned on, and you can adjust the channels and program ratings to place access limitations and require this passphrase to watch.<\/p>\n
3. Check If Everything Works<\/h3>\n
We suggest confirming that everything works by trying to watch some of the channels you planned to lock. If the system requires a PIN, you\u2019ve managed to finish the PIN setup correctly.<\/p>\n
If you have any issues, you can always use the CH+ and CH- buttons on your remote to perform a factory reset and switch back to the default PIN code and adjustments.<\/p>\n
Manage Vizio\u2019s WatchFree+ Service<\/h3>\n
The free WatchFree+ service, which is a key feature of Vizio smart TVs, has its own separate content filtering. You can enable content filtering by age categories (Family, Teen, Adult) to help manage what content is available.<\/p>\n
To access these settings, you\u2019ll need to use the VIZIO App. The filtering management service is available through the app by going to the Account Tab, then the WatchFree+ section.<\/p>\n
How to Block Apps?<\/h2>\n
![\"vizio](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/07\/shutterstock_2105064566-1.jpg\")
Tero Vesalainen\/Shutterstock.com<\/p><\/div>\n
Another feature of parental controls on Vizio Smart TV devices is that you can block applications like YouTube on the system. This requires a different approach, which means you\u2019ll need to create a limited profile for your child.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s how you can do that as a parent:<\/p>\n
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- Use your remote control<\/span> to enter Settings, and then access Security & Restrictions.<\/li>\n
- Pick the option to make a restricted profile. It will require entering a PIN code.<\/li>\n
- Once you finish setting the profile, choose the options your kid can access. Pick the app lock and mark the \u201cX\u201d button to ensure it\u2019s inaccessible with that profile.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
You can also delete an application by using your main profile. Navigate between the apps, and then press the yellow shortcut option. Delete the app and confirm your decision to complete the process.<\/p>\n
How to Turn Off Parental Controls on Vizio TV?<\/h2>\n
There\u2019s no option that turns off parental controls, but you can eliminate the need to use the PIN code to access any channels:<\/p>\n
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- Grab your remote control <\/span>and enter the parental control menu found in the navigation.<\/li>\n
- After inserting the PIN, if necessary, make sure to choose that no content requires a code to access it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
It\u2019s also possible to revert to your TV\u2019s factory defaults. Depending on the device, you have two options to do this:<\/p>\n
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- Press the Input and Volume Down buttons and hold them for a few seconds. Follow the instructions on the screen to release only the first button and keep holding the other until you see the TV enter a factory reset process.<\/li>\n
- Press and hold the CH- and CH+ buttons for ten seconds to enter the factory reset. Enter the main menu and choose System. Find \u201cReset & Admin\u201d and choose factory reset from that menu. Some devices require turning off your router to execute this step.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Alternative Ways to Keep Your Child Safe Online<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2024\/08\/Banner-Kids360-EN-3-1024x683.png\")
<\/a>The Kids360 app<\/p><\/div>\n
<\/div>\nVizio TV does allow some control over what your children can access, but the options available are quite basic. Parents shouldn\u2019t neglect that these settings can be combined with other tools that ensure their kids stay off screens, including TVs and mobile phones.<\/p>\n
Kids360<\/a> is a unique tool that can help ensure your child doesn\u2019t spend too much screen <\/span>time on their mobile device. The app is available for iOS and Android devices, and it allows setting daily restrictions on accessing different apps. That includes social media, games, and apps to watch videos like the YouTube app. Considering that there\u2019s a Vizio mobile app that allows launching content from the streaming service on TV, you can also limit access to that utility.<\/p>\n
Thanks to the app lock feature, you can easily prevent your kid from even opening unwanted apps. You can set timetables for using the smartphone and set certain tasks for your kid to complete to increase their daily limits.<\/p>\n
- After inserting the PIN, if necessary, make sure to choose that no content requires a code to access it.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
- Use your remote control<\/span> to enter Settings, and then access Security & Restrictions.<\/li>\n
- Does It Have Parental Controls? How Can That Help?<\/a><\/li>\n
![\"how](\"https:\/\/cdn-blog.findmykids.org\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2046900029.jpg\")