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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallYouTube is retiring the separate YouTube Kids app icon on affected TV platforms, but YouTube Kids itself is not shutting down. On supported televisions, streaming devices, and game consoles, families access the Kids experience by choosing a child’s profile inside the regular YouTube app. The profile step matters: the main YouTube app is the doorway, not a sign that the child has been moved into a standard adult account.
What is changing—and what is not
The change concerns the dedicated YouTube Kids TV app: its separate icon is being removed on affected platforms, with the child experience accessed through the main YouTube app instead. YouTube announced the transition in February 2024, initially describing July 2024 as the move date. The company’s announcement covered smart TVs, streaming devices, and game consoles.
This is not evidence that YouTube Kids has been discontinued on phones, tablets, or the web, or that child profiles and parental settings have disappeared. In a January 2026 overview, YouTube continued to describe YouTube Kids as a curated experience for children ages 0–12, distinct from supervised YouTube experiences intended for older children. YouTube says the Kids environment is designed without public comments or private messaging. YouTube’s family-product overview
When did the TV app change?
There is no single date established here for every manufacturer, model, operating system, and region. YouTube announced the change on February 23, 2024 and gave July 2024 as the initial timing. Sony later published a device-specific notice saying affected users should use the main YouTube app after August 25, 2025. That date applies to the Sony notice, not necessarily to every TV or streaming device. Sony’s support notice
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How to open YouTube Kids on a TV
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Launch the regular YouTube app on the television, streaming device, or game console.
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At Who’s watching?, select the child’s YouTube Kids profile.
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If that screen does not appear, open the left-side navigation menu and select the profile picture at the top.
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Choose the child’s profile. If it is not available, check that a YouTube Kids profile has been created and is associated with the account being used on the TV.
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Check that the child is in the Kids experience before handing over the remote, rather than in a parent’s standard YouTube profile.
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YouTube’s TV app help page explains profile selection and parent-code controls; Sony also provides model-specific implementation instructions.
How to reduce the chance of switching into an adult account
The intended child-profile route does not mean a child automatically gets every feature or account in the main YouTube app. But because the app contains household profiles, parents should check the available routes into adult or signed-out viewing rather than assuming the app icon alone provides a barrier.
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Turn on the parent code in the TV YouTube app. YouTube says it can help prevent children from watching while signed out or accessing household accounts meant for older viewers. It is separate from the Google Account password.
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Do not leave an adult profile selected when the child takes the remote.
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Check whether guest or signed-out viewing is available on the device and whether the parent code restricts it.
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Test profile switching yourself, including what happens when the child presses Back or opens the side menu.
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Use the child profile and the TV’s available safeguards together; a general TV lock may not control profile access inside YouTube.
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The exact controls can vary by device and app version. See YouTube’s TV app help for the parent-code setting.
If the child profile is missing
A missing profile can mean the app needs an update, the device is not supported, the viewer is signed out, or the child profile is not set up for that account. Manufacturers can also implement the transition differently, and older devices may no longer support the current YouTube app. Try these checks in order:
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Confirm that the TV or streaming device is connected to the internet.
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Install available updates for the YouTube app and the device’s operating system or firmware.
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Sign in to the relevant parent account, then close and reopen YouTube.
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Open the profile selector from the left navigation menu and check whether the child profile appears there.
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Check the parent’s Google or YouTube family settings to confirm that the child profile exists and is linked as expected.
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Restart the TV or streaming device. If the platform offers it, reinstall the YouTube app.
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Look up the exact model and operating system on the manufacturer’s support page, or check YouTube’s TV help information for location and device availability.
Reinstalling YouTube is not a way to restore the old standalone Kids icon: the announced direction is access through the main YouTube app. If the hardware cannot run the current YouTube app, a supported streaming device may be an option; check compatibility for the exact device before buying one. YouTube lists supported categories and platforms on its device page. A new device will not fix a profile or account-setup problem, and most families should try the existing app first.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is this like Netflix?
Only in the broad sense that both services can use profiles and parental controls. Netflix is not involved in YouTube’s change, and YouTube has not said it made the change to imitate Netflix. YouTube describes its transition as a simpler way to enter the Kids experience without navigating to a separate TV app icon.
The products are not interchangeable. YouTube Kids is a curated child-oriented video experience; Netflix offers a subscription streaming catalog with kids profiles and controls such as maturity settings, title blocking, profile PINs, and viewing-history tools. Netflix’s April 2026 announcement also describes Netflix Playground as a separate smartphone and tablet games app included with memberships—not a replacement for YouTube Kids or a TV app. Netflix’s announcement
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YouTube’s stated rationale is simpler access: viewers can select a child profile in the app they already use instead of opening a separate TV app. Fewer separate apps to maintain and easier household profile switching are plausible product advantages, but YouTube’s announcement does not establish those as additional official reasons. The practical trade-off is that families must pay attention to the active profile and available access controls in the shared YouTube app.
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