How does Media Center decide what a kids profile can watch?

By content rating. A title is allowed when its US rating is one you ticked. The rating comes from your server's own data and from TMDB's US rating; when both are known, the stricter one decides. A title with no rating is hidden from kids.

Why is an animated show like South Park not on the kids profile?

Because Media Center goes by rating, not genre. South Park is rated TV-MA, and TV-MA is never allowed for kids, however a show is tagged.

Does this work with both Plex and Jellyfin?

Yes. The rules live in Media Center rather than in either server, so the same ratings apply to everything your household watches, whichever server it comes from.

What does a kids profile see in catalogs and search?

The kids home screen shows only allowed titles. Catalogs and search show everything except titles your server itself marks with a rating you did not allow. Every title's page says whether it is available for kids profiles and with which rating, and Play only works when it is.

What about adult content?

Adult content is hidden from every profile in Media Center, kids or not, and no profile can turn it back on.

Do I need to change anything in Plex or Jellyfin?

No. You do not need separate managed users or restricted libraries on your server for this — Media Center applies the rules on every device.

Kids Profiles for Plex and Jellyfin: Setup Guide

Updated October 18, 2026 · 5 min read

A media server full of films is great for grown-ups and a minefield for kids. Here is how to give children their own profile that shows only titles with the content ratings you allow — across Plex and Jellyfin, on every Apple TV, Android TV, iPhone, iPad and Android phone or tablet in the house.

How kids profiles work in Media Center

Every person in a household can have their own profiles, and each profile is either Normal or Kids. A kids profile is judged by content rating, not genre — an animated show can still be TV-MA. Each title's US rating comes from your server's own data and from TMDB; when both are known, the stricter one decides, and a title with no rating stays hidden. You set the rules once, on the web, and they apply on every device.

Home screen: only titles with an allowed rating.
Catalogs and search: everything except titles your server itself marks with a rating you did not allow.
Each title's page says “Available for kids profiles” or “Not available for kids profiles”, with the rating, and Play only works when it is available.

Set it up in five steps

Open Kids in the dashboardIn the Media Center web dashboard, open Kids. This is where you decide what every kids profile in your households may watch.
Tick the ratings kids may watchTick the US content ratings a kids profile may see. Movies: G, PG, PG-13. TV shows: TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14. G, TV-Y and TV-G are on to start with. R, NC-17 and TV-MA are never offered for kids. Save.
Add a TMDB key for better coverageUnder Integrations, add a TMDB API key. Media Center then also checks each title's US rating on The Movie Database, so fewer titles go unrated.
Create the kids profile in the appOn Apple TV, Android TV, iPhone, iPad or an Android phone or tablet, add a profile from the profile picker and set its mode to Kids. It follows the ratings you ticked straight away.
Add a PIN to the grown-up profilesGive any profile an optional four-digit PIN so a child cannot simply switch into it.

Tips

Ratings are US film ratings (G, PG, PG-13) and US TV ratings (TV-Y, TV-Y7, TV-G, TV-PG, TV-14). Starting from G, TV-Y and TV-G and adding more as children grow is the simplest approach.
A TMDB key under Integrations means titles your server has no rating for can still be rated, so they are not hidden needlessly.
Each kids profile has its own Continue Watching, separate from the grown-ups'.
New to Media Center? Start with sharing your server with your family.

Frequently asked questions

How does Media Center decide what a kids profile can watch?: By content rating. A title is allowed when its US rating is one you ticked. The rating comes from your server's own data and from TMDB's US rating; when both are known, the stricter one decides. A title with no rating is hidden from kids.
Why is an animated show like South Park not on the kids profile?: Because Media Center goes by rating, not genre. South Park is rated TV-MA, and TV-MA is never allowed for kids, however a show is tagged.
Does this work with both Plex and Jellyfin?: Yes. The rules live in Media Center rather than in either server, so the same ratings apply to everything your household watches, whichever server it comes from.
What does a kids profile see in catalogs and search?: The kids home screen shows only allowed titles. Catalogs and search show everything except titles your server itself marks with a rating you did not allow. Every title's page says whether it is available for kids profiles and with which rating, and Play only works when it is.
What about adult content?: Adult content is hidden from every profile in Media Center, kids or not, and no profile can turn it back on.
Do I need to change anything in Plex or Jellyfin?: No. You do not need separate managed users or restricted libraries on your server for this — Media Center applies the rules on every device.

Get started with Media Center

Media Center plays the Plex and Jellyfin servers you already run on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Android and Android TV. It ships with no content of its own. The person who runs the server sets it up once; everyone else just installs the app.

You run the Plex or Jellyfin server

Create your admin account, connect your server and invite the people who watch. The Free plan covers one household.

Set up your household

Your name, your email and a one-time code. No card needed.

Already have an account? Sign in

Someone invited you

Install the app and sign in with the email your administrator invited. There is nothing to set up.