How to Set Up Parental Controls on a Nintendo Wii U
Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team
1. Introduction
In This Guide
You'll Learn How To:
Understand what Parental Controls are.
Change what kind of content a restricted Wii U can access.
Understand the ESRB rating system.
Delete your settings.
Restore your Wii U if you forget your PIN.
Before We Begin:
Have access to your Wii U.
2. What Are Parental Controls
Parental Controls are a method you to customize or use preset options to control and restrict various settings on your Wii U.
You can choose to restrict the following Wii U features:
Game Rating: Restrict all usage (as well as purchase through the Nintendo eShop) of software exceeding the rating level of your choice.
Online Interaction in Games: Restrict the use of online features of software such as online play, conversation among users, and Miiverse posts.
Internet Browser: Prevent use of the Internet browser.
Wii U Shopping Services: Restrict the use of credit cards or the purchase of software through services such as the Nintendo eShop.
Miiverse: Restrict users from viewing or posting content.
As of Nov. 7th, 2017, the Miiverse service is no longer available.
Friend Registration: Prevent the registrations of friends.
Entertainment Excluding Games: Restrict the viewing of video content, both streaming and stored on physical media such as discs, and software with video playback functions.
Data Management: Restrict the deletion or moving of software or save data using Data Management.
Internet Settings: Restrict the addition, modification, or deletion of Internet settings.
3. ESRB Ratings
The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings provide guidance about video games and apps so that you can make informed choices about the ones you deem suitable for your family.
The ESRB is a single group, and only provides opinions on content. They are there to help give you an overview of the themes present in a game, not make decisions what is best for your child.
Parts of ESRB Ratings
Rating Categories suggest age appropriateness.
Content Descriptors indicate content that may have triggered a particular rating and/or may be of interest or concern.
Interactive Elements highlight interactive or online features of a product, including users' ability to interact with each other, the sharing of users' location with other users, if purchases of digital goods or services are offered, and/or if unrestricted internet access is provided.
You can find the ESRB ratings on the front of physical games, with the content descriptor on the back.
Box Front
A small logo will be printed on the front of the game box, or prominently in the online store for the game.
Rating Pending
Games, but usually just promotional material for games, that the ESRB hasn't rated yet.
Early Childhood
Games designed for a preschool audience. No content that parents would find objectionable.
Everyone
Games that the ESRB believes to be "generally suitable for all ages". There may be infrequent mild or cartoon violence.
Everyone 10+
Games that the ESRB believes is still acceptable to everyone, but may have more mild or cartoon violence, mild language, crude humor, or suggestive content.
Teen
Games the ESRB finds suitable for teenagers. Things such as a moderate amount of violence, some language or adult themes, and crude humor.
Mature
Games the ESRB believes is generally suitable for people 17 or over. Realistic violence, strong adult themes, language, and so forth.
Adults Only
Games the ESRB believes are only suitable for adults 18 and over. Adult themes throughout, graphic depictions of adult themes, violence, and gambling with real-world money.
Content Descriptor
On the back of the box, a more expanded list of information about the rating, and a small list of why the rating was given is shown.
The primary information is repeated, here, just like the logo on the front. To the right, further information detailing what, exactly, gave it that rating. This is so you can make a more informed decision for your child.
ESRB For further information, as well as to check the ratings before leaving home, you can always check the ESRB Website.
From the Wii U main menu, select Parental Controls.
Tap Next.
Tap Next.
Create the 4-digit PIN.
Enter the PIN again.
Select OK.
You'll need to select a secret question. This is in case you forget the PIN.
Type in your answer.
Tap OK to confirm your answer.
Select OK.
Another fail safe if you forget your PIN, is signing up an email address. You can select Next to type in your email address or select X No E-mail Address.
You're now ready to set your Parental Control Restrictions.
Using the Gamepad, select the Mii of the user you want to adjust the Parental Controls of.
You can adjust game ratings, online interactions, apps, and shopping. If a restricted user tries to access the item, they will need to input the saved PIN.
You can adjust these settings at any time using the PIN. You can also delete or reset all the settings at once by using the Delete All Settings button.
5. Adjust Parental Controls per User
From the Wii U main menu, select Parental Controls.
Tap Parental Controls Settings.
Tap OK.
Select the user whose restrictions you want to adjust by using the arrow button.
You can adjust game ratings.
Online Interactions in Games can be restricted entirely as can using the internet browser.
You can also restrict shopping.
Tap Miiverse to restrict the Miiverse app.
Restrict the ability to register friends.
Tapping Entertainment Excluding Games will block Netflix and associated apps. Data Management prevents users from deleting data on your Switch. Internet Settings blocks the browser on the Switch.
Tap Save when finished.
Tap Save again to confirm.
6. Adjust Parental Controls per Console
From the Wii U main menu, select Parental Controls.
Tap Parental Controls Settings.
Tap OK.
Tap Wii Menu Settings.
Adjusting the Wii Menu settings will set them for the console, not just users. Tap OK.
Tap Game Ratings to adjust the allowed games.
You can adjust game ratings.
Wii Shopping Services can be restricted entirely as can viewing unrated content like Netflix.
Tap Save when finished.
Tap Save again to confirm.
7. Delete Parental Controls
From the Wii U main menu, select Parental Controls.
Tap Next to input your PIN.
Tap Delete All Settings.
8. I Forgot My Parental Control Pin
Unfortunately if you have forgotten both your PIN and your secret question for Parental Controls, you'll need to prove your identity and the fact you're an adult to Nintendo.
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