YouTube Kids is a standalone app from the house of Google designed especially for young kids. It’s different from the regular YouTube app in a way that you will mostly find kid’s content in the app along with useful parental control features. If you are new to the YouTube Kids app and wondering how to use it, we are here to help. Let’s learn how to use the YouTube Kids app.
Table of Contents
How to Log in to Google Account as Parent
If you missed signing into your Google account while setting up the YouTube Kids app for the first time, you can still do it later. Signing into a Google account unlocks benefits like the ability to create multiple profiles, use YouTube Premium, etc.
1. In the YouTube Kids app, tap on the Lock icon at the bottom.
2. Enter your passcode or solve a maths query.
3. Tap on Settings.
4. Tap on Sign in to customize YouTube Kids and follow the on-screen instructions to add a parent’s Google account.
Note: If you are not logged into a Google account, you will find most of the settings to customize the app under the Lock icon > Settings.
How to Check Previously Watched Videos
To check the watch history in the YouTube Kids app, tap on the Clock icon present in the list of icons on the home screen. You will see all the previously watched videos of that profile.
Tip: Know what is Incognito mode on YouTube.
How to Create a New Kids Profile
You can create up to 5 profiles on YouTube Kids. To set up a profile for your child in the YouTube Kids app, follow these steps:
1. Open the YouTube Kids app and tap on the Lock icon followed by Settings.
2. Scroll down and tap on Add New under the My Kids section. If you don’t see the My Kids section, make sure to log in to your Google account first in the YouTube Kids app.
3. Enter your Google account password.
4. Enter the kid’s name, age, and birth month and press the Next arrow.
5. Select the recommended content settings for the kid. You can choose from Ages 4 and under, Ages 5-8, and Ages 9-12, or you can manually approve the content. Press the Next icon. That’s it. You have successfully created a new profile.
Tip: Learn how to put parental controls on the YouTube app.
How to Switch Between Multiple Kids Profiles
To log in to a different kids’ profile, follow these steps:
1. Tap on the Account icon in the top-left corner of the app.
2. You will be greeted by all the profiles that you have created on your Google account. Tap on the profile that you want to switch to.
How to Rename a Kids Profile or Change Its Profile Picture
1. Switch to the kids’ profile that you want to rename as shown above.
2. On the home screen of the app, tap on the Account icon present in the top-left corner.
3. Press the Edit button under the profile.
4. Tap on the Pencil icon next to the name and enter the new name to rename the kid’s profile or select a picture from the list at the bottom to change the profile picture.
How to Change the Age and Content Settings of a Profile
1. In the YouTube Kids app, tap on the Lock icon at the bottom.
2. Select Settings.
3. Tap on the profile whose age you want to change.
4. Enter your Google account password to confirm you are a parent.
5. Tap on the Pencil icon next to the profile name.
6. Now you can rename the profile and change the age as well. Press the Checkmark icon at the top when done.
7. To change content settings, tap on Edit Settings in the Content Settings section.
8. Choose the preferred age group for videos.
Note: In case you are not signed into a Google account, tap on Content Settings directly after following steps 1 and 2.
How to Delete a Kids Profile
To remove a child’s profile from your Google account, follow these steps:
1. Follow steps 1-4 of the above method.
2. On the profile screen, tap on the three-dot icon at the top.
3. Select Delete this profile.
How to Set Up a Secret Code for a Profile
If your kids want a private profile so that their siblings cannot see their watch history or mess up their profile, you can set up a passcode for each profile.
To do so, follow these steps:
1. Sign in to the kids’ profile for which you want to create a secret code.
2. Then, tap on the Account icon at the top.
3. Press the Edit button under the active profile.
4. Tap on the Settings icon at the top-right corner.
5. Tap on Create in the Secret code section.
6. Enter the code that you want to use for the profile and hit the Next button. Enter the code again to confirm.
Tip: Check out the best YouTube alternatives for iPhone.
How to Remove a Kid’s Secret Code
Follow steps 1-4 of the above method and tap on Remove to delete the secret code from a profile. Or, tap on Change to change the code. This method will work if you are already signed into the profile.
However, in case your kid forgets the secret code that they created and cannot log in to the profile, you, as a parent can easily remove the code from their profile. For that, follow these steps:
1. Go to YouTube Kids app Settings by tapping on the Lock icon on the app’s home screen.
2. Tap on the profile whose code you want to remove.
3. Tap on Clear code under the Secret code section
How to Enable or Disable Sound Effects
To enable or disable sound and music effects in the YouTube Kids app, follow these steps. If you have multiple profiles for your kids, you have to separately enable or disable music effects in the app.
1. Switch to the desired profile.
2. Tap on the Account icon at the top.
3. Press the Edit button under the profile.
4. Enable or disable sound and music effects on the next screen.
How to Turn off Search
In the YouTube Kids app, you can turn off search so that your kid cannot search for new videos. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the YouTube Kids app Settings.
2. Tap on the profile for which you want to disable the search.
3. Turn off the toggle next to Allow searching. Now, if a kid wants to search for something, they will be asked to enter the Google account’s password.
How to Set Up Timer in YouTube Kids
The YouTube Kids app offers a native way to limit screen time. You can create a timer of up to 60 minutes after which the app will be locked.
1. Tap on the Lock icon in the app.
2. Select Timer from the list.
3. Using the slider, set the maximum time allowed to watch videos and press the Start timer button.
How to Block a Video
One of the cool things about the YouTube Kids app is that you can easily block an unwanted video from showing up on your kid’s feed.
To do so, tap on the three-dot icon on the video and select Block this video. Please note that if you have multiple profiles, you must block videos separately on each profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you use YouTube Kids on PC?
Yes, you can use YouTube Kids on PC as well. Just go to youtubekids.com in a browser on your computer.
2. Is YouTube Kids App free?
Yes, the app is free just like the regular app.
Cool Apps for Kids
In addition to the YouTube Kids app, check out other kids safe YouTube alternatives. Also, take a look at the best educational apps for kids.
