Amazon Prime Video has a big, mixed library, so Prime Video parental controls are important for families. The system uses a PIN plus viewing restrictions and Kids profiles. Here’s how to set it all up.
Step 1: Set a Prime Video PIN
In your Account & Settings → Parental Controls, set a 4-digit Prime Video PIN. This PIN is the key that unlocks restricted content and purchases, so keep it private.
Step 2: Choose viewing restrictions
Under viewing restrictions, pick an age-rating level — typically General, Family, Teen or Mature — and choose which devices it applies to. Titles above your chosen level then require the PIN to play, so children can’t open mature content on their own.
Step 3: Create a Kids profile
Add a profile, enter a name and tick Kid’s profile. Kids profiles only show content suitable for younger viewers (generally age 12 and under), with a simplified, child-friendly interface.
Step 4: Lock profile switching and purchases
- Set a Profile PIN so a child can’t switch from their Kids profile to an adult one.
- Enable PIN on Purchase so your PIN is required before anyone can buy or rent a title — preventing surprise charges.
Prime Video controls at a glance
| Control | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Prime Video PIN | Unlocks restricted content and purchases |
| Viewing restrictions | Sets an age-rating limit by device |
| Kids profile | Shows only kid-friendly titles |
| PIN on Purchase | Stops accidental or unwanted buying |
A tip on devices
Prime Video lets you apply restrictions per device, which is handy but easy to overlook — make sure you tick the devices your child actually uses (TV, tablet, phone) so the limits aren’t accidentally left off one of them.
Setting controls on different devices
Prime Video runs on almost everything — Fire TV, smart TVs, games consoles, phones, tablets and the web — and one quirk catches many parents out: viewing restrictions are applied per device. When you set a restriction level, make sure you tick every device your child actually uses, or the limit may simply not apply on, say, the living-room Fire TV. It’s worth doing a quick test on each device by trying to open a mature title and checking that the PIN prompt appears.
What Prime Video’s controls can’t do
Prime Video’s parental controls are solid for blocking mature titles and purchases, but they have limits. They filter by age rating rather than letting you hide one specific show while allowing others at the same level, and a determined older child who knows the PIN can bypass them. For younger children who need a fully walled-garden experience, Amazon’s separate Amazon Kids+ subscription offers a more curated, kid-only library. Pairing Prime Video’s controls with device-level screen-time settings gives you the strongest setup.
Troubleshooting common issues
If restrictions aren’t working, the usual culprits are a device that wasn’t selected when you set the limit, or a profile that isn’t actually the Kids profile. If you’ve forgotten your PIN, you can reset it from your Amazon account settings using your account password. After any change, allow a minute and restart the app so the new settings sync.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Prime Video have Kids profiles?
Yes — you can create a Kid’s profile that only shows content suitable for younger viewers in a simplified interface.
How do I stop my child buying movies on Prime Video?
Enable PIN on Purchase so your 4-digit PIN is required before any rental or purchase goes through.
What age levels can I set?
Prime Video typically offers General, Family, Teen and Mature viewing-restriction levels, applied to the devices you choose.
Can my child switch out of the Kids profile?
Not if you set a Profile PIN — it’s then required to move from a Kids profile to an adult one.
Helpful resources
See Amazon’s official Prime Video parental controls help.