How to Set Up Plex for Kids on an iPad

Plex can work well for children on an iPad when you choose the available libraries, set an appropriate rating profile, and check the experience from their account. You can use Plex’s own app with a managed user, or use Canopy for a simpler family-focused player. Here’s how to set up both approaches with your existing Plex library.

Before you start

Have your Plex Media Server running with the movies and shows you want available. Start with the iPad on the same network as the server and confirm that an approved video plays. Canopy connects to your existing server and doesn’t supply or host movies. Canopy setup support

For the managed-user setup below, you need to administer the server yourself. Access a friend has shared with your account cannot be passed on to your managed users. Plex Home access rules

1 Create a managed user in Plex

Sign in to Plex Web with the account that manages your server. Open Settings > Plex Home and create a managed account. Give it a name, choose a rating profile, and select the libraries it can access.

A managed user doesn’t need a separate email address or password. It cannot sign in independently: you first sign the app in with a full Plex Home member’s account, then switch to the managed user. Plex managed-account instructions

2 Choose libraries and ratings

Select specific libraries rather than “All Libraries” so a new library won’t automatically become available later. A separate children’s library is a practical option if you prefer choosing each title yourself. Plex Home setup example

Plex offers these preset profiles:

• Younger Kid: TV-Y, G, TV-G, and equivalent ratings
• Older Kid: the younger profile’s ratings, plus TV-PG, PG, and equivalents
• Teen: the lower profiles’ ratings, plus TV-14, PG-13, and equivalents

These presets apply to movie and TV libraries and Plex’s on-demand video. They do not cover Live TV. Choose the profile that fits your household and review the actual titles before handing over the iPad. Plex parental controls

Free accounts can use library selection and preset profiles. Custom restrictions using selected ratings or labels require the server administrator to have Plex Pass. Plex library restrictions

3 Review Plex online sources

To make the Plex app focus on your own library, open Account > Online Media Sources in Plex Web as the administrator. Set unwanted sources to Disabled for Managed Users. That leaves them available to the administrator while removing managed-user access. Review Movies & Shows, Live TV, and Discover rather than relying on rating filters alone. Plex online-media controls, Discover example

4 Protect unrestricted Plex profiles

In Settings > Plex Home, choose Set PIN beside your account. Other adults with full accounts must set their own PINs. Protect any profile that gives access beyond the child’s selection. Plex PIN setup

In the iPad Plex app, leave Automatically Sign In off on a shared device. Plex says this setting can bypass the selected user’s PIN. Sign in, switch to the child’s managed user, and test switching back to an adult profile. Plex mobile settings, user switching

5 Choose the iPad viewing experience

Use the Plex app if its interface already works for your family. Local playback of your own media on the same network is free. You don’t need a separate kids app to use managed users and rating presets. Plex free and paid features

Choose Canopy if you want a family-focused interface with large playback controls, rating filters, PIN-protected parental settings, daily screen-time limits, Continue Watching, and offline downloads. It also supports Plex managed users.

Install Canopy, follow the Plex sign-in prompts, and connect to your existing server. Review the libraries and ratings you approve, enable the parental PIN, and check the resulting selection before your child watches. Canopy features, setup support

Canopy costs US$4.99 as a one-time purchase, with prices varying by region. Plex Pass is not required. It supports iPhone and iPad on iOS/iPadOS 16.4 or later, and Apple TV on tvOS 17 or later. Current App Store listing

6 Do a quick handover check

From the child’s viewing setup:

• Play an approved movie and a TV episode
• Search for a title you intend to exclude
• Check that unrestricted libraries are absent
• Try opening parental settings or switching to an adult profile
• Close and reopen the app to check which profile appears
• If you plan to travel, test a downloaded video with Wi-Fi off

Plex and Canopy PINs control access within their apps. For a session limited to one iPad app, use Apple’s Guided Access under Settings > Accessibility > Guided Access. Apple Guided Access instructions

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Plex Pass for a kids profile

No. A free Plex account can create managed users. Library selection and preset rating profiles are available without Plex Pass; custom rating and label restrictions need it. Plex Home, restriction options

Can kids watch away from home

For remote video playback in Plex’s iPad app, either the server administrator needs Plex Pass or the watching account needs Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass. Remote Access must also be working. Test your intended setup before leaving. Plex remote-playback requirements

Why can Canopy not find my server

Check that the server is running and the iPad is on the same network. For access away from home, check the server’s Remote Access setup. If it still fails, try signing out and back in. Canopy troubleshooting