Netflix lets you hide titles from your account in two ways: removing them from your viewing history so they stop appearing in recommendations, or using parental controls to prevent them from playing at all
The method you choose depends on why you want to block something. If you want to stop a show from cluttering your recommendations, you can remove it from your history. If you're trying to prevent someone else on your account—usually a child—from watching certain content, you'll use the parental controls feature, which requires a PIN to override.
Both options work on any device where you watch Netflix: phones, tablets, computers, or smart TVs. The steps differ slightly depending on which device you're using and which method you pick.
Key Takeaways
- Removing a title from your history stops it from showing up in recommendations but does not prevent anyone from watching it if they search for it.
- Parental controls let you block entire maturity ratings or specific titles, but require a PIN to watch blocked content.
- You can set different maturity levels for different profiles on the same account, so children can have stricter limits than adults.
- Removing a show from history takes seconds on any device, while setting up parental controls requires you to visit Netflix's account settings on a web browser.
Removing a title from your viewing history
This method hides a show or movie from your recommendations and removes it from the "Continue Watching" row. It does not prevent anyone from watching the title if they search for it directly.
On a phone or tablet, open Netflix, go to your profile menu (usually a circle icon in the top corner), and select "Account" or "Settings." Look for "Viewing activity" or "My activity." Find the title you want to remove, and tap the X or trash icon next to it. On a computer, visit your account settings at netflix.com, scroll to "Viewing activity," find the title, and click the X button.
Once you remove a title, it disappears from your history immediately. Netflix will stop recommending similar content based on that title, though recommendations based on other shows you've watched will continue.
Using parental controls to block content
Parental controls prevent a profile from playing content above a certain maturity rating or block specific titles entirely. Anyone trying to watch blocked content will need to enter a PIN you set up.
To set up parental controls, go to netflix.com on a computer or web browser (not the app). Sign in and go to "Account." Under "Parental controls," select the profile you want to restrict. Enter your Netflix password to confirm. You can then set a maturity rating limit—for example, blocking everything above PG or TV-14—or search for specific titles to block individually.
After you set the PIN, anyone on that profile who tries to play blocked content will see a prompt asking for the PIN. The PIN is separate from your Netflix password, so you can give someone access to the account without giving them the ability to change parental control settings.
Setting different restrictions for different profiles
If multiple people watch Netflix on your account, you can set different maturity limits for each profile. This is useful if children and adults share the same account.
Create a separate profile for each person or group (children, teens, adults). Then set parental controls on the child profile to block content above a certain rating—for example, TV-Y7 for young children or TV-14 for teens. Adult profiles can have no restrictions. Each profile's restrictions are independent, so changing one profile's settings does not affect the others.
When someone switches to their profile, they only see content appropriate for that profile's maturity level. If they try to play something blocked, they'll need the PIN.
Blocking specific titles instead of ratings
If you want to allow most content but block just a few specific shows or movies, you can do that without setting a maturity rating limit.
Go to your account settings on netflix.com, select the profile, and enter your password. Instead of choosing a maturity rating, search for individual titles in the parental controls section and add them to a blocked list. This way, the profile can watch anything except the titles you've specifically blocked.
This approach works well if you want to block one controversial movie but let someone watch everything else rated PG-13 or below. You can add or remove titles from the blocked list anytime.
What happens when someone tries to watch blocked content
When a profile tries to play something blocked by parental controls, Netflix pauses the video and shows a message asking for the PIN. The person watching has a limited number of attempts to enter the correct PIN before Netflix locks them out temporarily.
If someone enters the PIN correctly, the blocked title plays, but the restriction remains in place for future attempts. Entering the PIN once does not unlock the content permanently—they'll need to enter it again the next time they try to watch something blocked.
Removing parental controls or changing the PIN
If you want to remove parental controls entirely or change the PIN, go back to your account settings on netflix.com. Select the profile, enter your Netflix password, and either set a new PIN or turn off parental controls completely. You'll need your Netflix password to make these changes, so someone without that password cannot disable the restrictions.
If you forget your PIN, you can reset it using your Netflix password. Go to account settings, select the profile with parental controls, and choose the option to reset the PIN. Netflix will ask you to confirm your account password before allowing the reset.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does removing a show from my history prevent others from watching it?
No. Removing a title from your viewing history only stops it from appearing in recommendations and the "Continue Watching" section. Anyone on your account can still search for and watch that title. To actually prevent someone from watching something, use parental controls instead.
Can I block a show on one profile but not another?
Yes. Parental controls are set per profile, so you can block content on a child's profile while leaving an adult profile unrestricted. Each profile has its own maturity rating limit and blocked titles list.
What if someone knows my PIN?
Change it. Go to your account settings on netflix.com, select the profile with parental controls, and set a new PIN. You'll need your Netflix password to make this change. Choose a PIN that others on your account are unlikely to guess.
Can I block content by genre instead of by rating or title?
No. Netflix parental controls work by maturity rating or by blocking specific titles. You cannot block entire genres like "horror" or "action." If you want to block multiple titles, you'll need to add them individually to the blocked list.
Do parental controls work on all devices?
Parental controls work on any device where Netflix plays, including phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs. The restrictions apply to the profile, not the device, so blocked content stays blocked no matter which device someone uses to watch.