Review YouTube’s safety and viewing settings

Choose the right account type, review content controls and set limits for viewing and the Shorts feed.

YouTube has different controls for Kids, supervised kid accounts, supervised teens and standard accounts. Some controls follow the account; Restricted Mode needs checking in each browser or device. Start with the account actually used on each screen.

Official Google walkthrough of supervised experiences. The exact tap-paths for every setting are written out below.

Step-by-step

1 · Turn off Autoplay (30 seconds)

Autoplay starts another video automatically. Check the toggle on each viewing device.

Official video · YouTube
YouTube family controls overview
Publisher’s overview video. Use the written guidance and current official support links for settings; the video may show older menus.
Open official source

1Phone/tablet app: start any video → the row of icons at the top of the player → tap the Autoplay toggle so it reads Off.
2Computer: youtube.com → play a video → under the player, toggle 'Autoplay' off.
3Smart TV / console / Fire Stick: Settings → Autoplay → Off. This is a separate switch from the phone.
4Check it stuck: close the app, reopen, play a video and let it end — it should stop, not roll on.

2 · Set the right account type and content level

Choose an experience that fits the child. The content-setting labels describe available content, not permission to create an unsupervised account.

Official video · YouTube
Choose a supervised experience
Publisher’s overview video. Use the written guidance and current official support links for settings; the video may show older menus.
Open official source

1Consider YouTube Kids for younger children, with its age settings and search controls.
2Eligible under-13s can use a parent-managed supervised kid account on regular YouTube. Current content labels are Older kids, Teens and Older teens; choose cautiously.
3For teenagers, review the separate Family Center supervision options.
4Supervised kid accounts restrict features such as posting comments and uploads. Some content levels allow reading comments.
5Check the correct account is signed in on each device.

3 · Review, clear and pause history

History influences recommendations. Review it with your child; clearing it is a choice, not a safety filter.

Official video · YouTube
Review viewing controls
Publisher’s overview video. Use the written guidance and current official support links for settings; the video may show older menus.
Open official source

1Open YouTube’s history controls with your child.
2Discuss what they watch before choosing whether to clear, pause or auto-delete history.
3Pausing history changes recommendation signals. It does not make remaining videos safe.

4 · Deal with Shorts

YouTube now offers a daily Shorts feed limit, including zero. A personal reminder differs from a parent-set supervised limit.

Official video · YouTube
Use YouTube wellbeing controls
Publisher’s overview video. Use the written guidance and current official support links for settings; the video may show older menus.
Open official source

1For a linked supervised account, open Family Center → the child → Time management → Shorts feed limit.
2Select a limit, including zero where available. Google says the supervised limit prevents further feed scrolling until the next day.
3On a standard account: You → Settings → Time management → Shorts feed limit. This reminder can be dismissed or ignored.
4Check the setting on the account and device actually used. A feed limit is not a promise that every short video is blocked everywhere.

5 · Clean subscriptions and retrain recommendations

Official video · YouTube
Manage what appears on YouTube
Publisher’s overview video. Use the written guidance and current official support links for settings; the video may show older menus.
Open official source

1Review subscriptions together and remove unwanted channels.
2Use Not interested or Don’t recommend channel where offered.
3Revisit recommendations together; these controls do not guarantee what appears next.

6 · Restricted Mode — on every device and browser

Restricted Mode filters potentially mature content on supported accounts. Supervised kid accounts use their own content settings instead.

Official video · YouTube
Review content controls
Publisher’s overview video. Use the written guidance and current official support links for settings; the video may show older menus.
Open official source

1Follow YouTube’s Restricted Mode instructions for each browser, phone or TV where the option is available.
2Check whether a parent, school or network administrator manages the setting.
3Do not assume a home-network filter also covers mobile data.
4Filters may miss content or block suitable material; keep discussing what appears.

7 · Repeat where they actually watch

Check the account and available controls on every viewing device.

Official video · YouTube
Check every viewing device
Publisher’s overview video. Use the written guidance and current official support links for settings; the video may show older menus.
Open official source

1Review the family TV and streaming devices.
2Check games consoles and tablets.
3Check school-managed devices with the school rather than changing administrative controls.
4An adult account may have different settings from the child’s account; check which is signed in.

What you can control

Account and content settings

Kids, supervised kid and teen experiences offer different controls.

Shorts feed limits

Parent-set supervised limits differ from dismissible standard-account reminders.

History and recommendations

Review what influences the feed together.

Restricted Mode

Check availability and settings per device; it is not a guarantee.

Official tutorials & videos

Everything below links directly to Apple, Google, Meta, TikTok, Snap or Discord — no third-party blogs.

Things to keep in mind

No control guarantees that every video will be suitable.
Check Google’s current documentation after app updates.
Account-specific protections may not apply when another account is used.