How to adjust parental controls and viewing restrictions

Disney Plus lets you set age restrictions on individual profiles so that certain content won't play unless someone enters a PIN. You change these restrictions in your account settings, not in the app itself — the setting controls what that profile can see across all devices.

The process is the same whether you're loosening restrictions for a teenager who's outgrown them or tightening them for a younger child. You'll need access to the account owner's email and password, because Disney Plus treats profile restrictions as a security feature.

Key Takeaways

  • Age restrictions on Disney Plus are set per profile, not per device, so changing them affects what that profile sees everywhere.
  • You access parental controls through Account Settings on the Disney Plus website or through the app's settings menu, not through the profile itself.
  • Disney Plus uses four content rating levels: G, PG, PG-13, and R, plus a separate setting for unrated content.
  • Changing restrictions requires the account owner's password, so a child cannot bypass the setting by switching devices.
  • If you forget the PIN you set, you'll need to reset it through your account settings using your email address.

Steps to change restrictions on the Disney Plus website

Log into Disney Plus on a web browser using the account owner's email and password. Click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select "Account" from the dropdown menu. You'll see a list of all profiles on that account — find the one you want to change and click the pencil icon next to its name.

A profile editing window will open. Look for the "Parental Controls" section, which shows the current rating limit (G, PG, PG-13, R, or Unrated). Click on the dropdown to see all four options. Select the new rating level you want — for example, if a profile is currently set to PG and you want to allow PG-13 content, click PG-13. Disney Plus will ask you to enter your account password to confirm the change, then save it when ready.

The new restriction takes effect right away. If the profile is currently watching something, they may need to stop and restart the app to see the updated content library.

How to change restrictions in the Disney Plus app

Open Disney Plus and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner (on mobile) or top right (on some streaming devices). Select "Account" or "Settings" — the exact wording varies by device. Scroll down to find "Parental Controls" or "Profile Restrictions."

Tap the profile you want to change, then select the content rating level from the options shown. You'll be asked to enter the account password. After you confirm, the change saves and applies to that profile across all devices where Disney Plus is installed.

Some devices, like older smart TVs or streaming boxes, may not let you change parental controls directly in the app. If you don't see the option, use the website method instead — the change will sync to your device within a few minutes.

Understanding Disney Plus content rating levels

G includes only general audiences content — mostly children's shows and movies with no violence, language, or adult themes. This is the most restrictive setting.

PG adds shows and movies that may have mild language, mild violence, or brief scary moments. Most Disney animated films and family comedies fall here.

PG-13 includes content with moderate language, moderate violence, some sexual references, and more intense scenes. This covers most Marvel movies, Star Wars films, and teen-oriented shows.

R is the least restrictive and includes all content on Disney Plus, including movies and shows with strong language, violence, sexual content, and adult themes. This is appropriate only for adult profiles.

There's also a separate toggle for Unrated content — material that hasn't been assigned an official rating. If you turn this off, profiles won't see unrated titles even if their rating level would normally allow them.

Setting up a PIN to protect parental controls

A PIN prevents anyone using that profile from changing the restrictions without your password. Go to Account Settings on the website, find Parental Controls, and look for the option to "Set PIN" or "Create PIN." Disney Plus will ask you to enter a four-digit number twice to confirm it.

Once you set a PIN, anyone trying to change the rating level or access restricted content will need to enter that PIN. Write the PIN down somewhere safe — if you forget it, you'll need to reset it through your account settings using your email address, which takes a few minutes.

The PIN is separate from your account password. Even if a child knows your Disney Plus password, they can't change parental controls without the PIN.

What happens when a profile hits a content restriction

If someone on a restricted profile tries to play something above their rating limit, Disney Plus shows a message saying the content is restricted and asks for the PIN. Entering the PIN doesn't permanently unlock that content — it just lets them watch that one title. The restriction stays in place for everything else.

If you want to let a profile watch R-rated content regularly without entering a PIN every time, you'll need to raise their rating level permanently through Account Settings. There's no middle ground — you either restrict the rating or you don't.

Troubleshooting common restriction problems

If a profile can see content you thought was restricted, make sure you're looking at the right profile. Disney Plus lets you create multiple profiles on one account, and each one has its own settings. Check that you changed the restriction on the correct profile name.

If the change isn't showing up after you saved it, try signing out of the app completely and signing back in. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to show updated restrictions. On streaming devices, you may need to restart the device itself.

If you set a PIN and now can't remember it, go to Account Settings on the website, find Parental Controls, and look for "Reset PIN" or "Forgot PIN." You'll need to enter your account password, and Disney Plus will let you create a new PIN. This process takes effect when ready.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a child change their own age restriction if they know the account password?

No. Even with the account password, changing a profile's rating level requires the parental control PIN. The password alone is not enough. This is why setting a PIN is important if you want restrictions to actually stick.

Do age restrictions sync across all devices?

Yes. A profile's rating level is tied to the profile itself, not to any individual device. If you change a restriction on your phone, it applies to that profile on your TV, tablet, and any other device where Disney Plus is installed. The change may take a few minutes to sync.

What if I want different restrictions for different family members?

Create a separate profile for each person. Each profile can have its own rating level and PIN. This way, one child can be restricted to PG while a teenager sees PG-13 content, all on the same account.

Can I temporarily unlock content without changing the rating level?

When someone tries to play restricted content, entering the PIN lets them watch that one title. But the restriction stays in place for everything else. If you want them to regularly watch content above their rating, you'll need to raise their rating level permanently.

What does "Unrated" content mean, and should I turn it off?

Unrated content is material that hasn't been assigned an official G, PG, PG-13, or R rating. Turning off the Unrated toggle hides these titles from a profile. Most Disney Plus content is rated, so turning this off won't hide much, but it's useful if you want to be extra cautious about what a young child sees.