My kids keep finding shows on Netflix that I would rather they not watch. I know Netflix has some parental settings but I cannot figure out how to block specific titles rather than just setting an age rating. Anyone know how to actually do this step by step?
Yes, Netflix does let you block specific titles and it is not that hard once you know where to look. Here is the step by step:
On a browser (easiest way to do this):
- Go to netflix.com and log in
- Click your profile icon at the top right
- Go to Account
- Scroll down to Profile and Parental Controls
- Click on your child’s profile
- You will see a section called Title Restrictions, this is what you want
- Search for the show you want to block and click the lock icon next to it
- Save the changes
That show will now be completely invisible on your child’s profile. They will not see it in search, not in recommendations, nowhere. It just disappears from their view.
A couple of things worth knowing:
- This only works on profiles set up as Kids profiles OR profiles with a PIN lock. If your child is on your main profile, the title restriction still applies but they could theoretically switch profiles.
- You can block as many titles as you want. There is no limit.
- The blocking applies across all devices, TV, tablet, phone. Whatever profile they log into will have the same restrictions everywhere.
The PIN part is important though. Set a profile PIN so your child cannot just switch to your profile and watch whatever they want from there. Go to Account, then Profile Lock, and set a PIN for your main profile. 
Wait I never knew about the Title Restrictions thing?? I have been using Netflix for years and had no idea that feature existed. I always thought it was just the rating filter (like set it to PG and that is all you can do).
Tried it just now actually. Searched for a show my nephew always tries to watch and locked it. Took about 45 seconds. Genuinely surprised that worked so easily. 
One thing I want to add for people reading this: the rating filter and title restrictions work together, not as alternatives. So you can set the profile to only show content rated TV-Y and TV-G AND also specifically block individual titles that might fall within that rating but you still do not want your kid watching.
The rating system alone has gaps. Some shows technically get a lower rating but still have content that is not great for young kids. The title block fills that gap for specific things you know about.
Also for anyone on mobile: you cannot do this from the Netflix app. You need to go to a browser, either on your phone browser or on a computer. The Account settings where Title Restrictions live are not accessible through the app itself. Caught me off guard the first time I tried.
Since this question keeps coming up in different forms, let me do a full rundown of every parental tool Netflix offers so people can see the whole picture in one place.
The Kids Profile
The simplest starting point. When you set up a profile as a Kids profile during account setup or profile editing, Netflix automatically restricts that profile to content rated for children (roughly equivalent to G and PG). The interface also changes to a more child-friendly layout.
How to create or convert to a Kids profile:
- Go to Manage Profiles from the main screen
- Click Add Profile or click Edit on an existing one
- Check the box that says Kid? or toggle the Kids Profile option
- Save
This is a blunt instrument. It blocks everything above a certain rating but does not let you fine-tune within that.
Maturity Rating Filters
For profiles that are NOT set as Kids profiles, you can manually set a maturity level:
- Log into netflix.com
- Go to Account, then Manage Profiles
- Click the profile you want to edit
- Under Viewing Restrictions, set the maturity level (Little Kids, Older Kids, Teens, Adults)
This gives you slightly more range than the Kids profile toggle.
Title Restrictions (The Most Useful Feature)
As Fluxorix already covered, this lets you block specific titles regardless of their rating. This is the feature most parents do not know about and it is genuinely the most useful one.
Worth adding: title restrictions also block trailers and thumbnails. The show will not appear anywhere on that profile. Netflix does a clean job of removing it from the entire interface, not just making it unplayable.
Profile Lock with PIN
Set a 4-digit PIN on profiles you do not want your child accessing. This stops them from just switching to your profile to bypass the restrictions on theirs.
Go to Account, then Profile Lock, enter your Netflix password to confirm, and set a PIN.
What Netflix Cannot Do
Netflix cannot block content within a show (like skipping certain episodes), cannot restrict based on themes beyond the rating category, and cannot send you alerts about what your child is watching. For that level of detail you would need a third-party screen time app.
Quick Summary
| Feature | What It Does | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Kids Profile | Blanket age filter + child UI | Manage Profiles |
| Maturity Rating | Adjustable age filter | Account > Manage Profiles |
| Title Restrictions | Block specific shows or movies | Account > Profile and Parental Controls |
| Profile Lock PIN | Stops profile switching | Account > Profile Lock |
All four together give you a solid setup.
Okay jumping in with a completely different angle here… I am 16 and I can tell you what actually gets around Netflix restrictions from a teenager’s perspective, since that might help parents plug the gaps 
The profile switching thing is the biggest one. If the parent profile does not have a PIN, kids absolutely know they can just switch profiles. Every teenager I know does this. You set the restrictions on the kid’s profile, kid just taps the parent’s profile icon, done.
The fix for this is so simple though: PIN on the parent profile. That one step closes the most common workaround.
The second thing: Netflix on a family TV does not always prompt for a profile switch PIN if the household is used to just clicking through. So the PIN needs to be something that is actually asked for, not just set and never used. Test it on the TV specifically because sometimes auto-login settings bypass it.
Third: downloads. If a show is downloaded to a device before you block it, the downloaded version can still be watched. The title restriction stops future watching and stops it from appearing, but it does not delete already-downloaded content. If you block something, also check their downloaded titles in the app (go to Downloads in the menu) and delete anything from there.
Not trying to help kids outsmart parents here lol, just being practical about what actually needs to be addressed. 