A full subscription includes content for every age, from cartoons to late-night movies. If children use the TV, you will want some of that behind a lock. IBO Player Pro includes parental control features that let you protect certain groups or areas of the app with a PIN, so younger viewers can enjoy their channels without wandering into adult content.
This guide explains how parental controls generally work in the player, how to set them up and how to combine them with device-level controls. Features, labels and steps vary by version, so follow what your version shows on screen. The player locks and filters what your subscription provides; it does not add or remove content from the service itself.
What Parental Controls Can Do
- Lock specific channel groups, so a PIN is needed to open them.
- Protect adult or mature categories in live TV and on-demand sections.
- In some versions, protect settings or playlist management, so playlists cannot be changed without the PIN.
What they cannot do is judge every individual program. Locks work by group or section, so how well they work depends on how the content is organized.
Step 1: Find the Parental Control Settings
Open the player’s settings and look for a section named parental control, lock, PIN or similar. Its location differs between versions. If you cannot find it, check the developer’s official help pages for your version.
Step 2: Set or Change the PIN
- Choose the option to set or change the PIN.
- If the app asks for a current PIN and you have never set one, check the developer’s official help pages for guidance. Do not rely on codes posted by strangers online.
- Enter a new PIN that is easy for adults to remember but hard for children to guess. Avoid birthdays, 1234 or repeated digits.
- Confirm the PIN and save.
Write the PIN down and keep it with your login details, somewhere children cannot reach. Our guide to keeping login details safe has practical storage ideas.
Step 3: Choose What to Lock
In the parental control area, you will usually see a list of groups or categories with a lock option beside each. Select the groups you want to protect. Typical choices include adult categories, late-night movie groups and any group you would rather younger viewers skip.
Pair locks with a short favourites list for the children’s channels. Our guide to IBO Player Pro favourites, groups and EPG shows how to build one.
Step 4: Test the Locks
Leave the settings and try opening a locked group. The player should ask for the PIN. Try the on-demand sections too, and check that search results do not offer an easy way around the lock. If something you expected to be locked opens freely, return to the settings and review your selections.
Add Device-Level Protection
Player locks work best alongside the device’s own controls. Many TVs and streaming devices let you require a PIN for app installs or purchases, set up a kids profile, or restrict which apps a child can open. Labels and options vary by brand and model. Combining both layers stops a curious child from simply installing another app to get around the player’s lock.
Adjusting Locks as Children Grow
What suits a six-year-old will not suit a teenager. Review your locked groups once or twice a year. Older children may be ready for some groups that were locked before, while others should stay protected. Changing the PIN occasionally is also wise, especially if you suspect someone has watched you type it.
Check Locks After Updates
App updates and playlist reloads can occasionally change group names or reset some settings. After any update, take a minute to open a locked group and make sure the PIN is still requested. It is a quick habit that prevents surprises.
Talk About It
No lock replaces a conversation. Explaining which channels are theirs, and why some are locked, makes children less likely to treat the PIN as a puzzle. Our guide to favourites for the whole household includes ideas for giving kids a list they feel is their own.
If You Forget the PIN
Check the developer’s official help pages for your version first, since recovery options differ. Reinstalling the app may reset local settings in some cases, but it can also remove your playlists and favourites, so keep your login details handy before trying that. Our support team can help you add your subscription again afterwards.
Troubleshooting Parental Controls
A Locked Group Opens Without the PIN
Return to the parental control settings, confirm the lock is saved, and restart the app.
Locks Disappeared After a Playlist Reload
Group names can change when the playlist updates. Review your locks after reloading and reapply them if needed.
The App Keeps Asking for the PIN
That may be the intended behaviour for protected sections. If it happens everywhere, check whether settings or the whole playlist is locked. For other odd behaviour, see our IBO Player Pro troubleshooting guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I lock individual programs?
Usually not. Locks generally work by group or section rather than by program.
Do locks apply to every TV in the house?
No. Settings are stored on each device, so set up locks on every TV children use.
Is there a default PIN?
This varies by version. Check the developer’s official help pages rather than codes shared online.
Will locks remove content from my subscription?
No. They only restrict access inside the player on that device.
Peace of Mind on Family Nights
A few minutes setting up a PIN lets everyone enjoy the same TV with confidence. If you need help along the way, contact our support team.
