Frequently asked questions

Answers to common questions about WhitelistVideo parental controls for YouTube.

General questions

What is WhitelistVideo and how does it work?

WhitelistVideo is a parental control app for YouTube that blocks all videos by default and lets parents approve (whitelist) specific channels. Your child can only watch videos from channels you've approved—everything else stays blocked automatically.

How is WhitelistVideo different from YouTube Kids?

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What devices and browsers does WhitelistVideo support?

Child device protection:

• Windows/Mac computers with Chrome or Edge (browser extension + desktop installer)
• Chromebooks with Chrome (browser extension)
• iPhone/iPad — iOS Child App (opens in a new tab)
• Android phones/tablets — Android Child App (opens in a new tab)
• Android TV — TV App on Google Play (opens in a new tab) (Curated Feed mode)

Parent management:

• Android — Parent App on Google Play (opens in a new tab)
• Any device — Web dashboard at app.whitelist.video (opens in a new tab)

Can I use WhitelistVideo on a school-issued Chromebook?

School-issued Chromebooks are managed by the school's IT department and typically don't allow installing extensions.

If you want WhitelistVideo on your child's school Chromebook: Contact us at support@whitelist.video and we can work with your school to provide WhitelistVideo for all students. Many schools are interested in YouTube filtering tools to keep students focused and safe.

When will Safari browser be supported?

For Mac computers, we recommend using Chrome or Edge, which support the enterprise policies used by the WhitelistVideo installer.

Safari does not use the Chrome/Edge extension policies. On a Mac, block Safari and any other browser with Screen Time, then test from the child's account. Don't block youtube.com itself: the extension needs it.

For iPhones and iPads, use the WhitelistVideo iOS app from the App Store instead — no browser extension needed.

Our recommendation: Keep the child on a Standard account, install protection from a parent administrator account, and use Chrome or Edge. The installer protects those browsers; Screen Time can restrict alternative browser apps.

Does WhitelistVideo work on Microsoft Edge?

Yes. Microsoft Edge is built on Chromium, so the WhitelistVideo installer can enforce its extension policies in Edge. Keep the child on a Standard account so they cannot change administrator-protected settings.

What languages does WhitelistVideo support?

Both the Parent Dashboard app and the website are available in 7 languages:

• English
• Spanish (Español)
• Portuguese (Português)
• French (Français)
• German (Deutsch)
• Chinese (中文)
• Japanese (日本語)

To change your language in the app:

1. Open the Parent Dashboard app
2. Go to Settings
3. Tap Language
4. Choose your preferred language

The interface will update immediately. All notifications, messages, and the messaging bot (Telegram & WhatsApp) will respond in your selected language.

On the website: Use the language selector in the footer to switch languages.

Can I manage WhitelistVideo from WhatsApp or Telegram?

Yes! Our AI messaging bot gives you complete control from a chat conversation. Connect it from Settings > Connect Telegram or Settings > Connect WhatsApp.

What you can do:

• Add, remove, or list approved channels
• Create, edit, or delete child profiles
• Manage devices — rename, deactivate, remove, or pair new ones
• Add or reduce child slots on your subscription
• Manage playlists and content categories
• Block/unblock channels and keywords
• Adjust safety levels (strict, moderate, relaxed)
• Enable/disable Auto-pilot and YouTube Shorts blocking
• View activity summaries (24h, 7d, 30d)
• Approve or deny channel requests with one tap
• Manage your subscription and billing

The bot understands natural language in 7 languages — just message it like you'd text a friend: "add Khan Academy for my son" or "block gaming channels for my daughter."

Works on both WhatsApp and Telegram with identical features. See Messaging Bot for full details.

Is there a free test period for WhitelistVideo?

Yes. Every new account gets a free 2-hour test period so you can confirm WhitelistVideo works on your child's device — no credit card required. The timer starts when you activate the first device, not when you sign up.

What plans does WhitelistVideo offer?

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What features are included in WhitelistVideo Premium?

Premium includes everything in Basic, plus:

• Auto-pilot Screening (automatic video safety checking)
• Up to 100 approved channels per child (vs 30 on Basic)
• Up to 10 whitelisted playlists per child
• Up to 50 whitelisted websites per child (vs 20 on Basic)
• Category filtering
• Insights and reporting (7 / 30 days)
• YouTube search-query alerts
• Co-parent / partner access (2 parents)
• All future features

All paid plans (Basic, Premium, Lifetime) include:

• Whitelist-only YouTube on every supported device, with the channel request system for kids
• YouTube Shorts blocked by default, with a dashboard toggle to allow them
• Player controls (Hide Comments, Block Downloads, best-effort YouTube ad blocking)
• Channel and keyword blocklists (limited time)
• WhatsApp / Telegram notifications and control (28 actions)
• Access to the WhitelistVideo Parents Community
• Real-time parent alerts and email support

Setup questions

How long does it take to set up WhitelistVideo?

Most parents complete setup in 5-10 minutes:

1. Set up your child's profile via the onboarding wizard at whitelist.video/get-started (opens in a new tab) (2 minutes)
2. Create your parent account (1 minute)
3. Install the extension on your child's device (1 minute)
4. Activate protection with the setup code (1 minute)

Do I need to install an app on my phone to use WhitelistVideo?

You have options! For the best experience, download the Parent App from Google Play (opens in a new tab) (Android) or the Parent App from the App Store (opens in a new tab) (iPhone and iPad). You can also use the web dashboard at app.whitelist.video (opens in a new tab) in any browser.

Can I manage multiple children with one WhitelistVideo account?

Yes. Create a separate profile for each child. Each profile has its own approved channel list.

Can I use WhitelistVideo on multiple computers for the same child?

Yes. You can connect multiple computers to the same child profile. They'll all share the same approved channels.

Protection & security questions

Can my child bypass or disable WhitelistVideo?

Without Advanced Protection, tech-savvy children might:

• Disable the extension
• Use a different browser
• Use incognito mode

On Windows/Mac: give each child a separate Standard account, install the extension in Chrome or Edge, and run the desktop installer from whitelist.video/download as administrator (it locks the extension and blocks Incognito, Guest mode and new profiles). Block other browsers in Microsoft Family Safety or Mac Screen Time. Don't block youtube.com.

On iOS: Allow WhitelistVideo's Screen Time access, block the YouTube app (the app's picker in 1.4.8; newer versions ask you to delete it), let the YouTube access check pass, and set the parent PIN. Recommended: Deleting Apps: Don't Allow on your iPhone. Never block youtube.com in Screen Time; there's no need to block Safari, because WhitelistVideo blocks youtube.com in Safari and other browsers whenever it isn't on screen. A child Apple ID gives the strongest authorization.

On Android: In Family Link, block the YouTube, YouTube Music and YouTube Kids apps, block every browser except Chrome (Family Link's web filter only works in Chrome), and block youtube.com in Chrome (Google Chrome → Manage sites → Blocked; the app is unaffected). Set the parent PIN in the WhitelistVideo app.

On Chromebook: In Family Link, block Guest mode and Incognito, require app approval, and turn off Family Link's own YouTube restrictions. If your child uninstalls the extension, you're alerted by email. To make it impossible to uninstall, buy a Google Workspace subscription (about US $5 per month; check Google's pricing for your region) and force-install the extension from the Google Admin console. Don't block youtube.com.

On Android TV: Set a parent PIN on the profile in the YouTube app and disable the YouTube app if the TV allows it (Settings → Apps → YouTube → Disable).

Optional everywhere: block google.com (Google results play video snippets) and set DuckDuckGo (privacy-focused) as the default search engine.

Does WhitelistVideo protect YouTube in other apps?

WhitelistVideo provides YouTube protection across all major platforms:

• Desktop (Chrome/Edge): The browser extension filters YouTube content in real time. The installer protects Chrome and Edge; use Family Safety on Windows or Screen Time on Mac to block other browsers.
• iOS (iPhone/iPad): The child app filters approved YouTube content. After Screen Time access is approved, WhitelistVideo blocks youtube.com in Safari and other browsers whenever it isn't on screen. Never block youtube.com in Screen Time, so approved videos can play inside WhitelistVideo.
• Android: The Android child app provides a filtered YouTube player.
• Android TV: The TV app provides a curated feed of approved content.

Can my child use multiple devices at the same time?

Yes. One child profile protects every device they use. For example, your child can have the iOS app on their iPad, the Android TV app on the television, and the Chrome extension on their laptop, all with the same child profile and the same approved channels.

You can also activate the same child profile on multiple computers for the extension (e.g., home desktop and laptop). Approvals sync to every activated device.

What does my child see when a video is blocked?

Your child sees a friendly overlay message. The exact message depends on whether Auto-pilot content screening is enabled:

Without Auto-pilot:

"This channel isn't on your approved list yet"

With Auto-pilot:

"Auto-pilot: Content Not Appropriate"

Both screens show:

• "✨ Watch These Approved Channels Instead" - Clickable cards showing their approved channels
• Request limits - Shows how many requests remain (e.g., "10 left, Resets 6:30 PM")
• "Ask Parent" button - Sends a request to you for approval

Does WhitelistVideo block YouTube Shorts?

Yes. YouTube Shorts are blocked by default on every plan. If you want to allow them for a child, turn off the Block YouTube Shorts toggle in Player Controls. We strongly recommend keeping this enabled—research shows that short-form, rapid-fire content can negatively impact children's attention span and focus.

What do the WARNING and UNPROTECTED alerts mean on my dashboard?

These alerts indicate the browser extension hasn't communicated with our servers recently:

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Common causes: browser closed, device off, no internet. To resolve, open Chrome/Edge on your child's device and visit YouTube. See Device Status Alerts for detailed troubleshooting.

Channel management questions

How do I choose which YouTube channels to approve for my child?

• During onboarding, use the interest picker and channel recommendations to build your initial list
• Start with channels your child already watches
• Use the suggestions in the Parents' App
• Add channels as your child requests them

Can I approve entire content categories instead of individual channels?

Yes, with Auto-pilot content screening (Premium feature). You can enable categories like Educational, Science, Music, Gaming, etc. Videos from non-approved channels that match your enabled categories will be allowed. See Auto-pilot Screening for details.

For maximum control, you can also approve individual channels manually.

Can I approve individual videos instead of whole channels?

No. WhitelistVideo works at the channel level, not the video level. Approving individual videos doesn't scale—parents would need to review thousands of videos, which isn't practical. Channel-level approval combined with Auto-pilot content screening provides the right balance of safety and convenience. You can also whitelist YouTube playlists (Premium) to approve curated collections of videos.

Can I whitelist YouTube playlists?

Yes! Playlist whitelisting is available on the Premium plan. You can approve entire YouTube playlists so your child can watch all videos in the playlist — great for educational collections or curated content. Premium users can add up to 10 playlists per child. See Playlists for details.

How do I remove a channel from my child's approved list?

You can remove any channel from the approved list:

1. Open the Parents' App
2. Go to Approved Channels
3. Find the channel and tap Remove

The change takes effect immediately.

Auto-pilot content screening questions

What does WhitelistVideo's Auto-pilot analyze to determine if a video is safe?

Auto-pilot analyzes:

• Video title and description
• Channel reputation
• Video metadata and tags
• Content category

Does WhitelistVideo's Auto-pilot actually watch the video content?

No. Auto-pilot uses metadata to make quick decisions. It doesn't watch the video content itself.

Can I override WhitelistVideo's Auto-pilot decisions?

Yes. If Auto-pilot blocked a channel you trust, approve it manually. If Auto-pilot allowed a channel you don't want, block it manually.

Does WhitelistVideo's Auto-pilot work for non-English YouTube videos?

Yes. Auto-pilot is multilingual and can analyze content in most languages. It checks video metadata, titles, and descriptions regardless of language.

Technical questions

Does WhitelistVideo slow down YouTube?

No noticeable slowdown. Filtering happens in milliseconds.

Does WhitelistVideo work without an internet connection?

No. WhitelistVideo needs an internet connection to:

• Check if channels are approved
• Run Auto-pilot Screening (Premium)
• Sync with the Parents' App

Will WhitelistVideo break any YouTube features?

No. YouTube works normally. Your child can search, browse, and watch videos from approved channels.

Does WhitelistVideo work with Chrome profiles?

Yes. Install the extension in your child's Chrome profile for best results.

Account & billing questions

How do I change my WhitelistVideo password?

1. Open the Parents' App
2. Go to Settings → Account
3. Tap "Change Password"
4. Follow the prompts

How do I cancel my WhitelistVideo subscription?

1. Open the Parents' App
2. Go to Settings → Subscription
3. Tap "Cancel Subscription"

You'll keep access until the end of your billing period.

Can two parents share one WhitelistVideo account?

Yes. Sign in with the same email and password on multiple phones. On Premium and Lifetime, co-parent / partner access also lets a second parent manage the same children (2 parents).

What happens to my data if I cancel WhitelistVideo?

Your data is kept for 30 days after cancellation. You can reactivate and restore your settings during this time.

Still have questions?

Contact us at support@whitelist.video

We typically respond within 24 hours on business days.