Parental Controls let you filter programs suitable for your children, ensuring they can watch and record only the content you approve. Parental Controls also let you lock channels and set rating limits on movies and television shows. A passcode is required to view or record programs that exceed rating limits or are on locked channels.
Important notes about Parental Controls
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Parental Controls prevent anyone who does not have the passcode from watching or record a program that exceeds the limits you set; however, it does not prevent them from deleting a recording.
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Parental Controls does not regulate web videos, or other TiVo apps.
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TV Rating Limit: You can block television shows rated TV-Y through TV-MA.
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Movie Rating Limit: You can block television shows rated G through NC-17.
Using Parental Controls on TiVo EDGE, TiVo BOLT, TiVo Roamio, and TiVo Premiere Series DVRs
To access Parental Controls:
Devices on TiVo Experience 3 (software version: 20.x or earlier):
| TiVo Series | Menu path from TiVo Central |
|---|
TiVo BOLT
TiVo Roamio
TiVo Premiere with HDUI | Settings & Messages > Parental Controls |
TiVo Premiere with SDUI
Series 3 and earlier DVRs | Settings & Messages > Settings > Parental Controls |
Devices on TiVo Experience 4 (software version: 21.x)
| TiVo Series | Menu path from HOME |
|---|
TiVo EDGE
TiVo BOLT
TiVo Roamio
TiVo Premiere with HDUI | Menu > Settings > Parental Controls |
Parental Control Options:
| Option | Functionality |
| Temporarily turn off Parental Controls | Temporarily turns off Parental Controls. Parental Controls will automatically re-lock if the remote is not used within four hours, or if the TiVo DVR is put in Standby mode. |
| Rating Settings | Allows you to establish the TV and movie ratings you wish to restrict and/or allow. The rating settings options are listed in this section:
When a setting is in red, it is blocked. When a setting is in green, it is not blocked.
TV Rating Limit: You can block television shows rated TV-Y through TV-MA. To select your settings, use the Up/Down Arrows on your TiVo remote.
Movie Rating Limit: You can block television shows rated G through NC-17. To select your settings, use the Up/Down Arrows on your TiVo remote. Parents can also block AO, or Adult Only movies.
Block by TV Content:
- D – Suggestive Language: TV-PG through TV-14
- L – Language: TV-PG through TV-MA
- S – Sexual Content: TV-PG through TV-MA
- V – Violence: TV-PG through TV-MA
- FV – Fantasy Violence: TV-Y7
To select your settings, use the Up/Down Arrows on your TiVo remote.
Block Unrated: You can allow or block unrated TV Programs and movies. To select your settings, use the Up/Down Arrows on your TiVo remote.
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| Channel Locks | Locks individual channels or all channels. |
| Change Pin | Changes and/or resets the 4-digit Parental Control pin. |
| Turn off Parental Controls | Disables Parental Controls entirely. |
| Hide Adult Content | Blocks all adult programming as well as hide the titles and guide data of adult programming. This feature is ON by default if Parental controls are ON, and OFF by default if Parental Controls are OFF. |
To Access Hide Adult Content Menu:
Devices on TiVo Experience 3 (software version: 20.x or earlier):
| TiVo Series | Menu path from TiVo Central |
|---|
TiVo BOLT
TiVo Roamio
TiVo Premiere with HDUI | Settings & Messages > Parental Controls > Hide Adult Content |
TiVo Premiere with SDUI
Series 3 and earlier DVRs | Settings & Messages > Settings > Parental Controls > Hide Adult Content |
Devices from TiVo Experience 4 (Software version: 21.x.):
| TiVo Series | Menu path from HOME |
|---|
TiVo EDGE
TiVo BOLT
TiVo Roamio
TiVo Premiere with HDUI | Menu > Settings > Parental Controls > Hide Adult Content |
Using Parental Controls Series2, and Series3
Parental Controls only work on programs in Now Playing and on channels that pass through the TiVo box. Programs that go directly from their source to the television without passing through the TiVo box will not be affected by Parental Controls.
| Software Versions | Menu path from TiVo Central |
|---|
| Software versions 3.0-3.2: | Messages & Setup > My Preferences > Parental Controls |
| Software version 4.0 and later: | Messages & Setup > Settings > Preferences > Parental Controls |
| Software version 5.0 and later: | Messages & Settings > Settings > Parental Controls |
While you are watching a program, you can also press the Right Arrow until you see the large channel banner, use the Up Arrow and Down Arrow to highlight the padlock icon on the channel banner, then press Select.
Parental Controls can be:
You can choose whether Parental Controls will automatically re-lock after being temporarily disabled. There are two settings if the TiVo DVR loses power for any reason, the Parental Controls will automatically re-lock when the power is restored.
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On: The padlock icon is locked and bright. When attempting to record, view or delete a program that exceeds Parental Controls, a screen with a Parental Controls message will prompt you to enter a password. After you enter the correct password, Parental Controls are temporarily disabled.
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Temporarily Disabled: The padlock icon is open and bright. Any program or channel can be viewed, but a password is required to change Parental Controls settings.
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Off: The padlock icon is open and dim. Anyone can view any program or watch any channel without entering a password. No password is required to change Parental Controls settings. Parental Controls are off when the TiVo box is first set up. If Parental Controls are turned on and then turned off, the password will be deleted. A new password will need to be selected if Parental Controls are turned back on.
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Auto Re-lock ON: If Parental Controls are temporarily disabled, they will automatically re-lock if the remote control has not been used in four hours, or if the TiVo box is put into standby mode.
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Auto Re-lock OFF: Parental Controls will not automatically re-lock; they will remain disabled until you turn them back on, or until the TiVo box is put into standby mode.
