On Wednesday 16th March 2022, Disney+ subscribers in the United States is set to get a massive overhaul of its parental controls.  This is being done to keep Disney+ suitable for audiences of all ages and to keep the family-friendly experience parents expect from the app.

When opening Disney+ for the first time on or after March 16, all subscribers in the U.S. will be prompted to update their Parental Controls. This includes the option to select content ratings restrictions for each profile as well as to add a PIN to lock profiles. Those that choose to keep their settings the same will continue to enjoy Disney+ as they always have within a TV-14 content rating environment, with the option to make changes at any time under Profile settings.

This will allow adults to watch more mature content such as the Marvel series “Daredevil” and there will be more general entertainment content to arrive on Disney+ in the US in the future.

The new parental controls update in the US, will bring Disney+ inline with the international settings, that were added to Disney+ in February 2021, when Disney+ was updated with new parental controls, which saw pin controls added to profiles and the ability to change user profiles content to only offer content suitable for the viewer.

Last year, when Star was added to Disney+, users received a message advising them of the change.  When Disney+ updates its parental controls in the US, we should expect a similar message, advising subscribers of the change.

Up until now, Disney+ in the US has had limited access to mature content, so many parents are unaware of the parental controls.

Ahead of the parental control update, you can get prepared for the change.  If you don’t have any children in your household, then you don’t need to worry but, if you have children in your house I’d recommend making sure they have their own profiles and applying a pin number to your adult profile.

Another option to creating profiles for everyone, is to create a “family” profile, which you can set to whatever level of content you deem appropriate for your family.

The upcoming parental control options bring Disney+ in line with all of the other major streaming services like Netflix, HBO Max, Peacock, Paramount+ and Amazon Prime, that offer content for all ages, which Disney+ will be starting to offer in the US, to align with how Disney+ operates internationally.

Here’s a video guide to the new parental controls from last year:

Here are some details on how to change your profile settings:

Content ratings

Users can set content ratings for each profile*. Once set, shows and movies rated higher than the profile’s content rating will not be shown while browsing or searching Disney+.

To adjust a profile’s content ratings, follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to your profiles and select Edit profiles
2. Select the profile you’d like to edit
3. Under Parental Controls, select Content rating
4. Enter your password
5. Choose the content rating you’d like to set and Save

Once set, shows and movies rated higher than a profile’s content rating will not be shown while browsing or searching Disney+.

*Content ratings are not supported on a Kid’s profile.

Kid’s profile

A Kid’s profile offers an easy-to-navigate Disney+ interface that only features content suitable for all viewers. You can also enable the kid-proof exit feature to ensure young viewers aren’t navigating to other profiles without completing an exit challenge.

Profile PIN

Set a 4-digit Profile PIN to restrict others from accessing your profile on Disney+.You can manage your PIN at any time from the Edit profile screen.

To set up or manage your PIN, follow the steps below:

1. Navigate to your profiles and select Edit Profiles
2. Select your profile
3. Select Profile PIN under Parental Controls
4. Enter your password and select Continue
5. Enter, change, or remove your PIN and select Save

If you can’t remember your PIN, select the Forgot your PIN? option when you’re prompted to enter it — once you verify your account by entering your password your PIN can be reset.

Robust parental controls ensure that Disney+ remains a suitable viewing experience for everyone in the family. Subscribers can set access limits on mature content and create PIN protected profiles, alongside the already existing Kid Profiles, to give parents and guardians peace of mind.

Roger Palmer

Roger has been a Disney fan since he was a kid and this interest has grown over the years. He has visited Disney Parks around the globe and has a vast collection of Disney movies and collectibles. He is the owner of What's On Disney Plus & DisKingdom. Email: Roger@WhatsOnDisneyPlus.com Twitter: Twitter.com/RogPalmerUK Facebook: Facebook.com/rogpalmeruk

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