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Roku does not provide one setting that locks every installed streaming app. To stop new apps being added, require a Roku account PIN; to get rid of an app already on the Home screen, remove it. For children, Roku TV’s built-in parental controls restrict Live TV programs, while The Roku Channel, Howdy, and other streaming services have separate limits.
Choose what you need to restrict
| Goal | Control | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Stop someone adding apps | Require a Roku account PIN for app additions | Apps added through your Roku account; not a universal lock on launching installed apps |
| Remove an app already installed | Remove app from the Home screen | The app is removed from Roku devices linked to the same account |
| Restrict programs by rating | Roku TV parental controls | Live TV input, including antenna programming and streaming TV channels in the Live TV Channel Guide |
| Restrict shows in a streaming service | That service’s own parental controls, where available | That provider’s service; Roku’s rating controls do not apply across third-party services |
| Offer children a limited set of apps | Kid & Teen Mode | Participating apps approved for the mode; not a universal app blocker |
Require a PIN before apps can be added
Roku’s account PIN is a four-digit code. You can require it for adding apps through the Roku account, and choose other purchase protections in the same account settings. This blocks additions that require account authorization; it does not remove apps already installed or establish that an installed app cannot be opened. Roku says account PIN and parental-control settings do not take effect in Guest Mode. See Roku’s account PIN and parental-control instructions.
- Sign in to your account at my.roku.com.
- Open the account PIN or parental-control settings.
- Under settings for subscriptions, purchases, and app additions, choose the option requiring a PIN to add apps. Select any other purchase protections you want.
- Save the settings.
The Roku account PIN is separate from the Roku TV parental-control PIN. They may use the same digits, but setting one does not automatically set the other. Roku explains the distinction between these controls.
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- Press Home on the Roku remote.
- Highlight the app on the Home screen.
- Press Star to open its options menu.
- Select Remove app and confirm.
Roku also documents removing apps through the Roku mobile app. Removing an app affects Roku devices linked to the same account. It is not the same as canceling a subscription: if Remove app is unavailable, an active subscription or current billing cycle may be involved. Check the subscription and manage it or turn off auto-renew as appropriate. See Roku’s app-removal instructions and its subscription-management guidance.
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Restrict Live TV programs with Roku TV parental controls
On the TV, go to Home > Settings > Parental controls. The first setup asks you to create a four-digit TV parental-control PIN. If the tuner has not been set up, scan for channels first.
Roku describes controls for TV and movie ratings, content descriptors, Canadian English and French ratings, and an option to block unrated programs. When a program is blocked, its video is obscured and audio muted until the PIN is entered. These limits apply to the Live TV input, including antenna programming and streaming TV channels in the Live TV Channel Guide; they do not block apps from the Roku Home screen. Roku’s Live TV parental-control guide has the setup details.
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Set limits for streaming apps and channels
The Roku Channel and Howdy
Roku’s device-based rating controls can require a PIN for content in The Roku Channel and Howdy at selected ratings. They do not cover other streaming services, or those services’ websites and mobile apps. Roku’s support page, updated September 9, 2026, states that these parental controls apply only to The Roku Channel and Howdy on a Roku device. Read Roku’s parental-control details.
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Other streaming services
Use the parental controls available in each service, or contact its provider for instructions. Roku’s account PIN and Live TV rating controls are not universal restrictions for third-party apps.
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Kid & Teen Mode
Kid & Teen Mode offers a restricted experience in which a parent can approve apps, but only participating apps are available. Roku says it cannot control the experience inside third-party apps. Roku Pay purchases and subscriptions are restricted in the mode, but purchases made directly through a provider may still be possible. Availability and participating apps can vary. Check Roku’s Kid & Teen Mode information.
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