Prime Video

The controls are good, but two things trip parents up: viewing restrictions apply only to the device you set them on, and downloads from your profile stay visible in a kids profile.

Menu names shift between software versions and between phone makers. If a name here does not match what you see, look for something close by rather than assuming the setting is gone.

1. 1

   Create the Account PIN

   This one PIN sits above everything. It locks purchases, overrides any profile PIN, and controls who can add or remove profiles.

   Your Profiles → Edit profile → Account PIN and locks

   1. Go to Your Profiles, then Edit profile, and pick the account holder's profile.
   2. Choose Manage next to Account PIN and locks.
   3. Enter your Amazon details.
   4. Choose Create next to Prime Video Account PIN, set it, and continue.

   Creating the PIN is not the same as switching restrictions on. On Android in particular they are two separate actions, so do the next steps as well.

   Who holds this: You set this from your own account, and your child cannot change it back.

2. 2

   Make them a kids profile

   A kids profile only shows titles rated 12 and under, filters search, and blocks purchases outright.

   Profile icon → Add new

   1. Hover over your profile icon and choose Add new, or use Edit profiles on mobile.
   2. Name it and set it up as a kids profile.
   3. You can have up to six profiles in total.

   Be aware of one real hole: downloads made on an adult profile, including an 18-rated film, stay accessible from the kids profile.

   Who holds this: You set this from your own account, and your child cannot change it back.

3. 3

   Set viewing restrictions, then repeat on every device

   This is the trap. Prime Video's own help pages say it plainly: viewing restrictions only apply to the device that set them up. The settings screen does not look like that.

   Account & Settings → Permissions

   1. On a computer, go to Account & Settings, then Permissions.
   2. Choose the age restriction and tick the devices you want it to apply to.
   3. Save.
   4. Now do the same on the TV, the tablet and any phone they watch on.

   Recommended by age

   Under 7	Kids (All) or Older Kids (7+)
   7–11	Kids (All) or Older Kids (7+)
   11–12	Older Kids (7+)
   13–15	Teens (13+)
   16–17	Young Adults (16+), or agree it together

   Only content at or below that level plays on the devices you ticked.

   The five levels are Kids (All), Older Kids (7+), Teens (13+), Young Adults (16+) and Adults (18+). They map to local ratings, so in the UK and Ireland they line up with U, PG, 12, 15 and 18.

   Who holds this: You set this from your own account, and your child cannot change it back.

4. 4

   Lock purchases

   Rentals and purchases are one tap from the same screen they watch on.

   Account & Settings → Permissions → purchase restrictions

   1. From the same Permissions screen, turn on purchase restrictions.
   2. On Android this lives under Settings, then Parental Controls, then Purchase Restrictions.

   Buying or renting now needs your Account PIN.

   Purchase restrictions do apply to every profile and every device, unlike viewing restrictions.

   Who holds this: You set this from your own account, and your child cannot change it back.

5. 5

   Lock your own profile and stop new ones

   Otherwise your child watches from your profile instead of theirs.

   Your Profiles → Edit profile → Profile / Account PIN and locks

   1. Go to Your Profiles, Edit profile, then your own profile.
   2. Choose Manage next to Profile / Account PIN and locks, enter your password and PIN.
   3. Switch Profile lock on and save.
   4. On the same screen, switch Creation and removal lock on.

   Who holds this: You set this from your own account, and your child cannot change it back.

6. 6

   If you watch on a Fire TV, set that separately

   Fire TV has its own parental controls, and nothing in Prime Video's settings covers them.

   1. On the Fire TV device itself, open Settings, then Preferences, then Parental Controls.
   2. Turn them on and set a PIN.

   Amazon states this outright: Fire TV parental controls have to be managed on the device.

7. 7

   Add a device-level backstop

   These settings only cover this one service. A device-level control catches the app they download next.

   1. Set up Screen Time, Family Link, Microsoft Family Safety or your console's own controls.
   2. Require your approval for new app downloads.

   SafeStart has a separate guide for each of these. Pick your device on the home screen.

Menus move. If something on screen does not match these steps, check the official link above.