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How to use parental control for TV and broadband
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Take control of what your family watches and browses with our simple, built-in parental controls for your TV and broadband
By Virgin Media Edit
- Published
- 22 April 2026
Keeping your family safe online or in front of the TV shouldn’t feel like a full-time job. After all, kids have a knack for stumbling across things you’d rather they didn’t.
That’s where Virgin Media’s parental controls come in. Built into your broadband and TV at no extra cost, they’re useful tools that give you simple, flexible ways to manage what’s watched and when. So, you can relax knowing your household is protected.
Fully customisable and easy to set up, change or even switch off (when the time is right), they’re TV and online tools made for families that need them. Find out how to set them up, along with some helpful links to learn more.
Setting up parental controls on Virgin Media broadband
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Virgin Media Essential Security is always on guard, picking up scam websites and warning you before they can do any harm. All Virgin Media customers with a broadband package can get Essential Security cover. It’s built into our broadband network at no extra cost, so you don’t need to lift a finger when it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Alongside content filtering and data protection, Essential Security also has parental controls at your fingertips for all devices that use your home network. It slots straight into your home life, so you and the kids can enjoy all the stuff you love on the internet in a safer, healthier way.
You can customise or change your settings by clicking on the Categories, Sites or Timer filters in the Account Settings section of My Virgin Media online or in the My Virgin Media app.
From here, you can select the level of protection you need.
1. Categories allow you to block or accept additional site categories – such as gambling, weapons, alcohol and tobacco, social media and more. When you activate parental controls, these website categories will always be blocked: Pornography, Child Abuse, Violence, Crime, Hate, Drugs, Hacking, Suicide and Self-harm, Address Hiding.
2. Sites allow you to tell us which websites you want to accept as an exception to a blocked site category. You can also use this to block specific websites you feel are unsuitable.
3. Timer puts you in control of when you want Essential Security to be active. Set the date and time you wish to deactivate it. Any category or site restrictions will be suspended within that time frame.
When you choose to block a site, or when your timer reactivates your block settings, you may have to restart your device before the site or category is blocked. You can find out more about Essential Security in our FAQs.
Just head to your My Virgin Media account either online or through the app to customise what to block and when. If you want, you can also turn off parental controls here.
Setting up parental controls on Virgin TV
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Flicking through TV channels after a certain time poses the risk that your family may see or hear something they shouldn’t. While you can try to ensure that doesn’t happen when you’re in the room, it’s impossible to always watch your kids.
All our TV boxes – our V6, TiVo®, Virgin TV 360 and our Stream boxes – have parental controls with a four-digit PIN code (automatically set as 1234 when first setting up the TV box, so make sure you change it) that restricts access to the following:
Programmes rated 12, before 8pm.
Programmes rated 15, before 9pm.
Programmes rated 18, before 10pm.
Channels and Apps you’ve chosen to lock.
Any adult channels.
Recordings from after the watershed, if being viewed before 9pm.
It’s easy to change or reset your Virgin TV PIN within the Help & Settings or the Settings menu (depending on your box) and then Parental Controls. You can also customise your TV parental controls, allowing you to change your purchasing controls or even lock or unlock channels and apps.
Many of our TV apps, like BBC iPlayer, Netflix and YouTube, also have their own parental controls PIN for programming and purchases or a Restricted Mode, which can be accessed or switched on or off within each app’s settings or by logging into the app through your phone or computer.
You can find out more about how to set up parental controls on your Virgin TV in our FAQs.
TV and broadband with built-in parental controls
Protecting your family online or restricting programmes and channels is easier when your broadband and TV come with built-in safety. Every Virgin Media package includes Essential Security at no extra cost, while our TV boxes feature extensive and fully customisable parental controls.
Not with us yet? Choose the broadband and TV package that best suits you.
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Virgin Media services are only available in eligible Virgin Media network areas. All of the products on this page are subject to survey, network capacity and a credit check.
Virgin Media Advanced Security: New Virgin Media Advanced Security customers only. Registration required. One subscription per Virgin Media customer. Not available on BlackBerry. Unlimited devices, after the first 15 devices will need to be registered via F-Secure. £3.50 per month or annual subscription for £35 after trial period. See here for full details.
