DStv parental control is a very helpful feature for homes with children or teenagers. It allows parents to decide what can be watched freely and which programmes or channels should be restricted completely.
As long as your DStv subscription is active and paid for, you can take full control of what appears on your TV screen.
What DStv parental control does
Parental control on DStv works with a PIN, age ratings, and channel settings. Once it is turned on, the decoder checks the rating of every programme before it plays. If a show is above the level you have allowed, or if the channel itself has been blocked, the screen will display a warning message or request your PIN before access is granted.
This means children cannot accidentally open content that is not suitable for their age unless an adult enters the correct code.
How to activate parental control on a DStv decoder
Start by pressing the blue DStv button on your remote to open the main menu on your Explora or HD decoder. From there, scroll down to Settings and select Parental Control. Inside this section, you will see options such as age settings, channel blocking, and PIN management.
If this is your first time setting it up, the decoder will ask for a PIN. Enter the default code, which is usually 1234, if it has not been changed before.
Next, open the parental level or PG settings option and switch global blocking from Off to Personalize so your choices can take effect. Select the age level that best suits the youngest child in your home, such as Family, PG13, 16, or 18.
Once you are done, save your settings and exit the menu so the decoder can apply the new parental control rules.
Age restriction or channel blocking which is better?
There are two main ways to control what your kids can watch on DStv. The first is age restriction. This option works broadly by blocking any programme that carries a rating higher than the level you selected. For example, if your setting is PG13, any movie or show rated 16 or 18 will be locked and require a PIN to play.
The second method is channel blocking. This gives you more direct control by allowing you to lock entire channels. This is useful if there are specific channels you never want children to access, such as adult content channels or certain movie and reality TV stations.
You can find this option under Channel Blocking within the Parental Control menu. Simply select the channels you want to block and save your changes. Any attempt to open them will require the PIN. You can use both age restriction and channel blocking together for better protection.
How to reset a forgotten DStv parental control PIN
It is common for parents to forget their PIN, especially if it was set a long time ago or by someone else. Entering the wrong code too many times may cause the decoder to lock temporarily.
If this happens, one option is to perform a factory reset on the decoder. This often restores the parental control PIN to the default code of 1234. However, this method can also erase personal settings and force the decoder to rescan channels, so it should be used carefully.
Another option is to contact DStv customer support through their official call centres, social media pages, or self service platforms. After confirming your account details, they can guide you through resetting the PIN or update it for you. Once access is restored, it is important to change the PIN from the default code to something more secure.
Final note
Parental control only works properly when your DStv subscription is active. If your bouquet expires, channels will stop showing and your settings will not apply until you renew. To avoid interruptions, it is best to stay up to date with your subscription.
