TiVo Parental Controls | Midco Cable TV Support

TiVo Parental Controls

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TiVo Parental Controls

Important: Parental controls are not set by default. This means all content is available for viewing until you apply controls based on your preferences.

Parental controls let you filter programs, so your children can only watch and record content you approve as suitable for them. With parental controls, you can also lock channels, and set rating limits on movies and TV shows. A passcode or PIN is needed to view or record programs that exceed rating limits or are on locked channels – or to access content that requires a purchase (such as pay-per-view or certain ON Demand movies).

This page covers parental controls for TiVo® devices – and instructions vary if you have the newer or classic TiVo® Experience.1 See what TiVo Experience you have.

  • Parental controls set on your TiVo DVR do not regulate Netflix, web videos, Hulu or other TiVo apps.
  • Other parental controls are available for non-TiVo DVRs and digital receivers, HD digital adapters and TV Everywhere streaming. If you have multiple equipment types, you may need to follow instructions for each.
  • Parental controls are not available for standard digital adapters or CableCARDs.

You can manage parental controls based on TV and movie ratings and much more. The steps differ based on whether you have the newer TiVo Experience or the classic TiVo Experience. See what TiVo Experience you have.

For the newer TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to the Home screen. Select Menu, Settings and then Parental & Purchase Controls.
  2. Select Parental Controls, and use the number buttons on your remote to enter a four-digit PIN. Enter the PIN again to confirm.
  3. Select Hide Adult Content and then Hide adult content to block these programs from showing in TiVo search and the on-screen guide. Watching or recording an adult show will require the parental controls PIN. When you're finished, press the Back button on your remote to return to the Parental & Purchase Controls menu.
  4. Select Set Rating Limits to set rating limits for shows, and choose how to handle unrated content. When you’re finished, press the Back button on your remote to return to the Parental & Purchase Controls menu.
    • Set Rating Limits: Use the left/right arrows on your remote to adjust which ratings are allowed and blocked.
    • Highest allowed movie rating: Use the left/right arrows on your remote to adjust which ratings are allowed and blocked.
    • Unrated TV shows: Use the left/right arrows on your remote to adjust whether to Allow all or Block all unrated TV shows.
    • Unrated movies: Use the left/right arrows on your remote to adjust whether to Allow all or Block all unrated TV shows.
  5. Select Lock Channels to lock or unlock a channel from viewing. Select any channel you wish to lock. A padlock will appear next to locked channels. When you're finished, press the Back button on your remote to return to the Parental & Purchase Controls menu.
For the classic TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to TiVo Central. Select Settings & Messages, then Parental Controls and then Turn on Parental Controls.
  2. Use the number buttons on your remote to enter a four-digit PIN. Enter the PIN again to confirm.
  3. Select Rating Settings to set rating limits for shows, and choose how to handle unrated content. When you're finished, press the left arrow to return to TiVo Central.
    • TV Rating Limit: Ratings shaded in green are not locked. Ratings in red are locked. Use the up/down arrows on your remote to adjust which ratings are locked.
    • Movie Rating Limit: Ratings shaded in green are not locked. Ratings in red are locked. Use the up/down arrows on your remote to adjust which ratings are locked.
    • Block Unrated: Some shows are unrated. Use this setting to block all unrated shows. Select what option you want to block, and press the right/left arrows to toggle between Blocked or Allowed. Select Use these settings when you've finished.
  4. Select Hide Adult Content, and then Hide adult channels & shows to block these programs from showing in TiVo search and the on-screen guide. Watching or recording an adult show will require the parental controls PIN. When you're finished, press the left arrow to return to TiVo Central.
  5. Select Channel Locks to lock or unlock a channel from viewing. Select any channel you wish to lock, and a padlock will appear next to the channel. When you're finished, press the left arrow to return to TiVo Central.

Need to see whether you’ve already blocked questionable content? These steps differ based on whether you have the newer TiVo Experience or the classic TiVo Experience. See what TiVo Experience you have.

For the newer TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to the Home screen.
  2. Determine the lock status:
    • Locks on: Lock icon displays as locked and is yellow.
    • Locks temporarily off: Lock icon displays as unlocked and is white.
    • Locks off: No lock icon displays.
For the classic TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to TiVo Central.
  2. Select Settings & Messages and then Parental Controls. Or, select the padlock icon from the info banner.) The padlock icon on the info banner shows the current state of parental controls:
    • Parental Controls Off: The padlock icon is dim and unlocked.
    • Parental Controls On: The padlock icon is bright and locked.
    • Parental Controls Temporarily Off: The padlock icon is bright, but unlocked. Controls are set, but are turned off.

The steps differ based on whether you have the newer TiVo Experience or the classic TiVo Experience. See what TiVo Experience you have.

For the newer TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to the Home screen. Select Menu, Settings and then Parental & Purchase Controls.
  2. Select Change PIN. Enter your current four-digit PIN.
  3. Use the number buttons on your remote to enter a new four-digit PIN. Enter the new PIN again to confirm.
For the classic TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to TiVo Central. Select Settings & Messages, then Parental Controls
  2. Select Change PIN. Enter your current four-digit PIN
  3. Use the number buttons on your remote to enter a new four-digit PIN. Enter the new PIN again to confirm.

The steps differ based on whether you have the newer TiVo Experience or the classic TiVo Experience. See what TiVo Experience you have.

For the newer TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to the Home screen. Select Menu, Settings and then Parental & Purchase Controls.
  2. Select Disable Parental Controls.
  3. Use the number buttons on your remote to enter your current four-digit PIN

When parental controls are off, the password/PIN is deleted – meaning anyone can view any shows or watch any channels.

For the classic TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to TiVo Central. Select Settings & Messages, then Parental Controls
  2. Enter your four-digit PIN, and select Turn off Parental Controls.
  3. Use the number buttons on your remote to your current four-digit PIN. If prompted, enter the PIN again to confirm.
  4. Press the Select button on your remote.

When parental controls are off, the password/PIN is deleted, and anyone can view any shows or watch any channels.

You can add an extra layer of protection before ON Demand movie or pay-per-view purchases can be made through your TiVo® devices. The steps differ based on whether you have the newer TiVo Experience or the classic TiVo Experience. See what TiVo Experience you have.

For the newer TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to the Home screen. Select Menu, Settings and then Parental & Purchase Controls.
  2. Select Parental Controls and then Require a PIN to purchase.
  3. Use the number buttons on your remote to enter a four-digit PIN. Enter the purchase PIN again to confirm.
  4. When you're finished, press the Back button on your remote to return to the Parental & Purchase Controls menu.

When purchase PINs are enabled, you’ll need to enter this PIN whenever accessing content that requires an additional cost.

For the classic TiVo Experience:
  1. Press the TiVo button on your remote to go to TiVo Central. Select Settings & Messages and then Parental Controls.
  2. Select one of the following:
    • Allow purchases without a PIN: Using the number buttons on your remote, enter your four-digit purchase PIN to turn off the PIN requirements.
    • Require a PIN to purchase: Using the number buttons on your remote, enter a new four-digit purchase PIN. Enter the PIN again to confirm.
    • Change PIN: If you have purchase PINs turned on, you’ll see this option to change your code. Using the number buttons on your remote, enter a your four-digit purchase PIN. Enter your new PIN, and enter the new PIN again to confirm.

1 TiVo services may not be available in all areas and some restrictions may apply. TiVo DVR requires a Midco Internet 50 connection or higher. Not all TiVo DVRs are compatible with the newer TiVo Experience. Contact us with questions. TiVo and the TiVo logo are registered trademarks of TiVo Inc. and its subsidiaries worldwide.