I want to restrict certain movies on Netflix for my kids. Can a parental control app block specific titles, or are there built-in settings I should use instead?
Yes, you totally can! So Netflix does have its own parental controls built in, but they work more like content rating filters rather than letting you block specific titles. Here is what you do inside Netflix:
- Go to your account settings
- Click on the profile you want to restrict
- Set the maturity rating (like Little Kids, Older Kids, Teens, or Adults)
- You can also set a PIN so your kid cannot change it
But if you want to go further and block Netflix altogether during bedtime or school hours, that is where a third party parental control app comes in. Apps like Bark, Circle, or even your router settings can block Netflix as an app on specific devices. Some even let you set schedules so Netflix is only available on weekends. Hope that helps!
How to Actually Block Netflix Content for Your Kids: A Full Guide
Why Netflix’s Built-In Controls Are Not Always Enough
Netflix does offer parental controls, but they are pretty basic when you think about it. You can filter by age rating, lock a profile with a PIN, and hide specific titles from suggestions. That said, the moment your child figures out your Netflix PIN or jumps onto a different profile, those controls go right out the window.
This is why a lot of parents end up looking at third party solutions that give them a wider view of what their kids are doing online, not just on Netflix.
What Netflix Lets You Do
Here is a quick breakdown of what Netflix’s built in tools actually offer:
- Maturity Ratings Filter: Set a maximum content rating per profile (G, PG, PG-13, TV-14, etc.)
- Profile PIN: Lock a profile so kids cannot access adult profiles
- Hide Titles: Remove specific shows or movies from appearing in a profile
- Viewing History: Review what has been watched
These are decent starting points, but they are not foolproof. Kids are smart and they often find workarounds.
Where Parental Control Apps Come In
A parental control app works on the device level or network level, which gives you way more power. Here is what they can typically do that Netflix cannot:
App Blocking
You can block Netflix entirely during certain hours, like school time or after 9pm. So even if your child knows your PIN, they simply cannot open the app.
Screen Time Limits
Set daily limits on how long Netflix can be used. Once the limit is hit, the app locks.
Real-Time Alerts
Some apps notify you the moment your child tries to open a blocked app or access restricted content.
Content Category Filtering
More advanced apps can filter by content type across the web, not just Netflix.
Step by Step: Setting Up Netflix Parental Controls
- Log into your Netflix account on a browser
- Click your profile icon in the top right and go to Account
- Under Profile and Parental Controls, select your child’s profile
- Click Change next to Viewing Restrictions
- Enter your Netflix password
- Choose the maturity level that fits your child’s age
- Save your changes and set a Profile Lock PIN
Then pair this with a parental control app on the device for a more complete solution. The combination of both works much better than either alone.
Great question and something a lot of parents deal with. One thing I will add that nobody mentions much is the router approach. If you have a decent home router, many of them (like those using Google Wifi or Eero) have family settings built in. You can literally pause internet for a specific device at night or block categories of content.
So even if your kid picks up a tablet and opens Netflix, the router just cuts off internet access for that device after 9pm. No app needed on the device itself. Works silently in the background. Pair that with Netflix’s own PIN system and you have a pretty solid setup without spending money on a subscription service.
Okay so I went through this exact situation with my daughter last year. She was 11 and somehow watched three seasons of a show that was definitely rated MA before I noticed. My mistake was relying only on Netflix’s parental controls.
What worked for us in the end was using Xnspy. It is a parental monitoring app that lets you see app activity on your child’s phone or tablet. The great thing is it does not just block things blindly. It actually shows you what apps are being used and for how long. So I could see that Netflix was being opened at midnight and take action from there.
You can also set app blocking schedules through it, which means Netflix simply does not open during school hours or bedtime. My daughter stopped even trying after a couple of weeks because she knew it just would not work. It gave me actual peace of mind without making her feel like she was living in a prison. Definitely worth looking into if you want something that goes beyond the basics.
Something worth knowing: Netflix separates parental controls by profile, not by device. So if your kid is logging into your adult profile on the smart TV, the restrictions on their kid profile mean nothing.
The fix is simple but easy to miss. Go into your Netflix account settings and set a Profile Lock so your main profile requires a PIN to access. Then make sure the kid’s profile has the viewing restrictions set. That way even if they try to switch profiles on the TV, they hit a wall.
Also check if your TV itself has child lock features. Samsung and LG smart TVs both have parental controls at the OS level that can restrict specific apps entirely.
Blocking Netflix Content With Parental Control Apps: What Actually Works
The Problem Most Parents Face
You set up Netflix parental controls, feel good about it, and then a week later your kid has somehow watched something completely inappropriate. Sound familiar? This happens because Netflix’s native tools only go so far. They filter by rating, but they do not monitor, they do not alert you, and they do not work across different profiles or devices unless you set everything up perfectly.
Understanding the Two Layers of Protection
Think of content safety in two layers.
Layer 1: Inside Netflix
This is what Netflix gives you natively:
- Maturity rating filters per profile
- PIN protection for switching profiles or changing settings
- The ability to hide specific titles from a profile
- Viewing history you can check manually
These work fine as a first line of defense, but they rely on your child only using their own profile and not knowing your PIN.
Layer 2: At the Device or Network Level
This is where parental control apps or router settings take over. At this layer, you are not just managing what Netflix shows. You are managing whether Netflix can even run on a given device at a given time.
Apps in this category can:
- Block the Netflix app during specific hours
- Cut off internet to a device entirely at bedtime
- Alert you when someone tries to access a blocked app
- Give you usage reports so you can see patterns over time
Recommended Setup for Most Families
Step 1: Lock Down Netflix Profiles
Go to Netflix account settings and do the following:
- Set a maturity rating on your child’s profile (stick to G or PG for young kids)
- Enable Profile Lock so your main profile needs a PIN
- Turn off autoplay on the kids profile to reduce binge watching
Step 2: Add a Device Level App
Install a parental control app on the device your child uses. Look for one that offers:
- App blocking by schedule
- Screen time daily limits
- Activity reporting
Step 3: Set Your Router Parental Controls
Many modern routers let you set a schedule for internet access per device. Even if your child gets past the app, the router blocks the connection.
Final Tip
Talk to your child about why these rules exist. Kids who understand the reasoning tend to push back a lot less than kids who just see a locked screen with no explanation. The tech side is important but the conversation matters too.
Not to derail but I want to point out something about Amazon Fire tablets since a lot of families use those for kids. Amazon has a whole kids mode called Amazon Kids Plus that basically replaces the entire interface with a child safe version. Netflix is not included in it by default.
So if you are looking for a cheap hardware solution for younger kids, handing them a Fire tablet in Kids Mode means they physically cannot access Netflix unless you specifically allow it. Might be an easier option for families with very young children rather than trying to configure parental apps on top of regular devices.
Jumping in because I tried like four different approaches before finding what worked for my family.
First I tried just using Netflix’s own controls. My son found my PIN within a day by watching me type it in. Then I tried blocking Netflix on our router but he just used mobile data on his phone. Then I tried a free parental control app that kept crashing.
What finally worked was Xnspy. It runs in the background on his phone and tablet, and I can see his entire app usage. More importantly I can block Netflix on a schedule so it only works from 4pm to 7pm on weekdays. Outside those hours the app just does not open.
The best part is I get a weekly summary of what he has been doing. No more guessing or checking history manually. It is all there. I know some people feel weird about monitoring apps but when your 10 year old is watching mature content at midnight you kind of do not have another choice 
One thing I will say is that blocking apps completely can sometimes backfire with older kids. If they feel too restricted they will find a workaround, whether that is using a friend’s device, using mobile data, or making a new Netflix account.
For teens especially, a mix of soft limits plus open conversations tends to work better long term. Set the Netflix controls, yes, but also sit down and explain what is age appropriate and why. A lot of kids respond better to that than to just hitting a wall every time they try to do something.
For younger kids though, yeah go full lockdown mode. They are not old enough to reason through it yet 
Just to give a practical answer to the original question: yes you can block movies on Netflix but not super specifically using most parental control apps. Most apps block Netflix as a whole app, or by content category, not by individual movie title.
The only native way to block a specific movie or show inside Netflix is through the viewing restrictions in account settings, which lets you hide individual titles from a profile. You go to your account, select the profile, and there should be an option to hide titles. It takes them off the kid’s Netflix completely.
So to summarize: use Netflix’s own hiding feature for specific titles, use Netflix’s maturity filter for general content, and use a parental app to manage when and how long Netflix can be used.
Adding a practical tip here. If your kids watch Netflix on a game console like a PS5 or Xbox, both have their own parental controls built into the system settings. You can set a spending limit, restrict apps by rating, and even require a PIN to launch specific apps including Netflix.
So for console households, you do not even necessarily need a third party app. Just go into the family settings of the console and lock it down from there. Xbox Family Safety app is actually pretty solid and it is free. Gives you screen time reports and lets you approve or deny app access from your own phone.
Complete Parental Control Strategy for Netflix
Why This Question Comes Up So Often
Every parent I know has had at least one moment where they realized their kid watched something they should not have. It is not a failure of parenting. It is just that kids are curious and streaming platforms make content incredibly easy to access. The autoplay feature alone can take a child from a cartoon to something completely inappropriate in a few episodes.
So the question of how to actually block or filter Netflix content is one that matters to millions of families.
Netflix Native Options: Quick Summary
Netflix has improved its parental controls over the years. Here is what you have access to right now:
- Kids Profile: A completely separate profile that only shows age appropriate content. No way to browse outside the curated kids section.
- Maturity Rating Lock: For profiles that are not in Kids Mode, you can set a rating ceiling (G, PG, PG-13, R, etc.)
- PIN Lock: Prevents kids from changing their profile settings or accessing other profiles
- Title Blocking: You can manually hide specific shows or movies from a profile
- Viewing History: Check what has been watched and when
Adding a Parental Control App on Top
Netflix controls work on what Netflix shows. A parental control app works on the device itself. These are two different things and you really want both.
Here is what a good parental control app adds:
Scheduled App Access
Netflix is only available during allowed hours. Outside of that, the app does not respond.
Daily Time Caps
Set a limit like 1 hour of Netflix per day. When the timer runs out, the app locks until the next day.
Usage Reports
See exactly when Netflix was opened, for how long, and what device it was on.
Remote Management
Manage everything from your own phone. If your kid is at a grandparent’s house, you can still adjust their access remotely.
Platform Specific Tips
iOS (iPhone and iPad)
Use Screen Time under Settings. You can set app limits for Netflix and restrict explicit content. Works without any third party app.
Android
Google Family Link is the built in solution. Works well for younger kids on Android devices.
Smart TVs
Most smart TVs have parental PINs built into the TV settings, not just inside apps. Enable this at the TV level for an extra layer.
Game Consoles
Xbox Family Safety and PlayStation Family Management both have app controls. Very underrated options.
The Bottom Line
No single tool is perfect on its own. The most effective approach combines Netflix’s own profile and rating controls with a device level parental app and an honest conversation with your child about what content is appropriate for their age. The tech handles enforcement. The conversation handles understanding.
Something a lot of guides skip over: make sure you are checking ALL the devices in your home, not just your child’s phone or tablet.
My nephew figured out that none of the restrictions applied to the old laptop sitting in the spare room. He would just use that one when he wanted to watch something he knew we would not approve of. Once we put parental controls on every device in the house including the guest devices, the issue basically stopped.
Also change your Netflix password and do not let kids see you type it. Sounds obvious but it is easy to forget.
Great thread. One more thing worth mentioning: if your child has their own email address, they might just create their own Netflix account with a free trial. Happened with my cousin’s kid.
The fix is to monitor what apps are installed on the device and what accounts are active. Some parental apps will alert you when a new app is downloaded or a new account is set up, which makes catching this kind of workaround a lot easier. Keep an eye on the app store purchase history too since it shows everything installed even if it was later deleted.