If you share a Plex server with children or other family members, you can restrict content in Plex by age rating so that only appropriate movies and TV shows show up in their libraries. Plex does this through managed user accounts and restriction profiles, which filter what appears based on official content ratings like G, PG, TV-14, or MA. This guide walks you through setting it up correctly, whether you want a simple preset for younger kids or a more detailed custom restriction for teens.
Table of Contents
What you’ll need
- A Plex account with administrator access to the server (this is the account used to sign up or manage the household)
- Plex Home set up, or willingness to create it, so you can add managed users for children
- A Plex Pass subscription if you want to use advanced custom restrictions instead of the preset age profiles
- Access to the Plex web app, since some parental control settings are managed there
Understanding how Plex restriction profiles work
Plex applies age-based restrictions through managed user accounts, which sit under your main account inside Plex Home. Each managed user can be assigned one of several built-in restriction profiles, and these affect what appears in the “movie” and “TV” libraries on your server, as well as Video on Demand content. Live TV and channel content is not covered by these restrictions, so keep that in mind if live channels are part of your setup.
The preset profiles are cumulative, meaning each one includes everything allowed by the tier below it. They are:
| Profile | Ratings allowed |
|---|---|
| Younger Kid | TV-Y, G, TV-G, and equivalent ratings |
| Older Kid | Everything above, plus TV-PG, PG, and equivalent ratings |
| Teen | Everything above, plus TV-14, PG-13, and equivalent ratings |
| None | All content ratings, with no restriction applied |
Choosing “None” as the profile does not mean restrictions are impossible. If the account holder has an active Plex Pass, selecting “None” unlocks advanced restriction options that let you build a custom rule set based on specific labels and content ratings rather than one of the four presets.
One side effect worth knowing about: turning on restrictions removes the ability for that user to browse a library by folder view. Folder names cannot be selectively hidden, so Plex disables folder browsing entirely once restrictions are active.
Setting up a managed user with an age restriction
- Sign in to Plex using the administrator account, either through the web app or the desktop app.
- Open Plex Home from your account settings, and choose the option to add a new user if you have not already created one for the child or family member.
- Create a managed user account for that person rather than inviting them as a separate full account, since managed users are the ones that support restriction profiles.
- Once the managed user exists, open its settings and look for the restrictions or parental controls section tied to that profile.
- Select the restriction profile that matches the age group you want, choosing from Younger Kid, Older Kid, Teen, or None.
- If you selected None and have a Plex Pass, go into the advanced restriction settings to build a custom rule based on specific ratings or labels instead of relying on a preset.
- Save the changes, then sign in as (or ask the managed user to sign in as) that profile to confirm the correct content appears in their libraries.
Because these restrictions apply at the library level, it helps to first create and manage multiple Plex libraries if you want a cleaner separation between adult and family-friendly content sitting on the same server.
Restricting access to online media sources
Beyond content ratings, Plex also lets administrators control access to entire online media sources, such as streaming movies, shows, or Live TV channels supplied through Plex itself. This is separate from the ratings-based restriction profiles and works as an on/off switch per source.
- Open the Plex web app while signed in as the administrator account.
- Navigate to Account, then Online Media Sources.
- Find the media source you want to control and edit its setting.
- Choose Enabled to allow access for everyone, Disabled to block it for all accounts including the administrator, or Disabled for Managed Users to keep it available only to the admin account.
This is a useful extra layer if you want to block an entire content type for kids, such as Live TV, regardless of its individual rating.
Tips and troubleshooting
- Ratings are only as accurate as the metadata attached to your media, so poorly matched or unrecognised files may not sort correctly into a restricted profile. Correct file naming can help; see the guide on naming files for Plex recognition if content is not matching properly.
- Remember that restrictions do not apply to Live TV or channel content, so a locked-down profile can still technically see those feeds unless you disable the source entirely through Online Media Sources.
- If a managed user cannot see any content at all, double check that the assigned libraries actually contain items with ratings that fall within their profile’s allowed range.
- Refresh the library after making bulk metadata changes, since Plex needs to re-scan ratings information for restrictions to reflect accurately. The guide on how to refresh your Plex library after adding content covers this process.
- If you are setting this up for a friend’s children rather than your own household, they will need their own separate Plex account rather than a managed user under yours, since managed users are designed for people within your own Plex Home.
Frequently asked questions
Can I restrict content in Plex without a Plex Pass?
Yes. The four preset restriction profiles, Younger Kid, Older Kid, Teen, and None, are available without a subscription. A Plex Pass is only required if you want to build custom advanced restrictions based on specific ratings or labels instead of using a preset.
Do restriction profiles affect Live TV?
No. Restriction profiles only apply to content in movie and TV libraries on your server, along with Video on Demand content. Live TV and channel content is not filtered by these age-based restrictions, so use the Online Media Sources controls if you need to block Live TV separately.
Why can’t a restricted user browse by folder anymore?
Plex disables folder view once a restriction profile is applied, because folder names cannot be selectively hidden from view. This is expected behaviour and not a bug, so restricted users will need to browse by the standard library views instead.
What’s the difference between a managed user and a regular invited user?
A managed user sits within your Plex Home and does not need their own separate login or email, which makes it suited to children in your household. A regular invited user has their own independent Plex account. If you want to learn more about sharing access more broadly, see the guide on how to invite friends to your Plex server.
