Can I stop my child from accessing my profile on the BBC iPlayer mobile/tablet app?

Yes, you can! 

As well as protecting your children from programmes that may not be suitable, the parental guidance lock can be used to prevent your child from accessing other profiles on the BBC iPlayer app.

How do I set up parental guidance?

Make sure you're signed in on an adult's profile, then:

  1. Select Menu >  Settings > Parental Controls
     
  2. Select PIN Settings. This will prompt you to create a PIN and secret answer.
     
  3. Choose a secret question and a secret answer. Your secret question and answer will be used in case you forget your four-digit PIN.
     
  4. Tap on Activate to set up the PIN.


Screenshot of the Parental Guidance creation screen on the iPlayer app

How do I turn the lock on for profile switching?

Once the lock has been set up within the adult profile, it can then be switched on within the same settings screen.

  1. Tap Menu > Settings > Parental Controls
     
  2. Tap Profile Switching Lock to toggle on the Profile Switching Lock. The Parental Guidance Lock can also be switched on here.


Screenshot of the Settings menu on the app with the Parental Guidance options highlighted

Now, when a child profile is switched to an adult profile, the app will require the PIN to be entered. 

Image of the PIN screen that's shown when switching from a child to an adult profile

How do I turn off the lock?

1. Tap Menu > Settings > Parental Controls
2. Enter your four-digit PIN
3. Toggle off the Profile Switching Lock (the Parental Guidance Lock can also be switched off here)


How can I change the PIN or password?

1. Tap Menu > Settings > Parental Controls
2. Tap on PIN Settings
3. Enter your four-digit PIN
4. Make the changes you'd like to make to the PIN and/or secret question
5. Tap Save


What if I forget my PIN or secret answer?

If you forget your PIN, you can use your secret question to gain access to the parental guidance lock settings in the app.

  1. Tap Menu > Settings > Parental Controls 
  2. Tap on PIN Settings
  3. When prompted for the PIN, tap Forgot PIN?
  4. You'll be asked for the answer to your secret question

If you forget your secret answer, tap on 'Forgotten answer?' for instructions on what to do next.

You can change the lock settings via one of the following methods, depending on the device:

Android or Amazon Fire
    - Go to your device Settings > Apps > BBC iPlayer and select Storage and Clear storage or Clear data. This will reset your parental guidance lock, so you can set up a new PIN and secret question/answer. 

iOS
    - You'll need to remove and then reinstall the BBC iPlayer app via the Apple App Store in order to reset the parental guidance lock. 

With both methods, you will lose any downloaded content in the app.
 

Will the lock work on my downloads?

Yes, guidance information is displayed for all programmes in the app, whether streamed on-demand or downloaded. 

What are the terms and conditions for using the Parental Guidance and Profile Switcher lock?

If you permit a child to use your device, you are solely responsible for determining whether the BBC content is appropriate for that child to view. The BBC parental guidance lock provides a way to help you control how guidance-labelled BBC content may be played on your device. If you turn on the Parental Guidance Lock, the app will not be able to access guidance-labelled content unless you type in your PIN. If you turn on the Profile Switching Lock, a child profile can't be switched to an adult profile without entering the PIN.