Getting Started: Parental Controls
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Parental Controls How To's
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How to Set Up Parental Controls
Description:
Step by step instructions on how to Setup the Parental Controls for the Nintendo 3DS system.
What to do:
- Select the System Settings icon on the HOME Menu, and tap "Open."
- Select Parental Controls from the System Settings menu and tap "Yes."
- Enter the four-digit PIN, and tap "OK."
- Enter the PIN a second time and tap "OK."
- Select a secret question and tap "OK."
- Enter the answer and tap "OK."
- Tap "Set Restrictions."
- When restrictions are complete, tap "Done" to save the settings.
Related Articles:
How to Change Parental Controls
How to Reset Parental Controls
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How to Change Parental Controls
Description:
Step by step instructions on how to change the Parental Controls for the Nintendo 3DS system.
What to do:
- Select the System Settings icon on the HOME Menu, and tap "Open."
- Select Parental Controls from the System Settings menu.
- Tap "Change."
- If Parental Controls have not been previously set up, the initial settings will need to be entered. (How to)
- Enter the four-digit PIN, and tap "OK."
- Select "Set Restrictions."
- Select the category to change restrictions.
- When changes are complete, tap "Done" to save the settings.
Related Articles:
Forgot Parental Control PINHow to Reset Parental Controls
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How to Reset Parental Controls
Description:
Step by step instructions on how to reset Nintendo 3DS Parental Controls
What to do:
- Select the System Settings icon from the HOME Menu, and tap "Open."
- Tap "Parental Controls."
- Tap "Change."
- Input the PIN that was created during the initial set-up and tap "OK."
- Tap "Clear Settings."
- Tap "Delete."
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Forgot Parental Control PinWas this information helpful?
What Can I Block With Parental Controls?
Information:
Important Note!
- When Parental Controls are enabled, some System Settings, such as Internet Settings, Outer Cameras, System Transfer, and System Update cannot be accessed. You will need to enter the PIN to access these features.
The system's Parental Controls can restrict the following features or settings:
- Software Rating – Restrict the use of Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DSi software based on ESRB ratings. *These restrictions do not apply to Nintendo DS Games.
- Internet Browser – Restrict the use of the Internet browser.
The Internet browser is available through the current system update. Click here for information about peforming the system update.
- Nintendo 3DS Shopping Services – Restrict the use of credit cards, prepaid cards, and online content purchased in the Nintendo eShop.
The Nintendo eShop is available through the current system update. Click here for information about peforming the system update.
- Display of 3D Images – Make all images display in 2D only.
- Sharing Images/Audio/Video – Restrict the wireless transmission of photos, sounds, animations, and data.
- Online Interaction - Restrict the exchange of data between users who are not friends and the ability to participate in online play via the Internet. This restriction does not work with Nintendo DS software.
- StreetPass – Restrict communication with other users of StreetPass. This feature is not available on Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi software.
- Friend Registration – Restrict the registration of friends.
- DS Download Play – Restrict the use of DS Download Play.
- Viewing Distributed Videos – Restrict Nintendo Video application content with an age rating of 13 and over.
- Child Online Privacy Protection – Obtains parental consent for the online collection, use, or disclosure of personal data from children under the age of 13.
Related Articles:
How to Setup Parental Controls
How to Reset Parental Controls
Forgot Parental Control PIN
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Software Rating Information
Information:
Once a game had been reviewed by the ESRB, it is assigned a rating and, at times, one or more content descriptors. These are designed to provide information on the type of content the game contains, and what age level the content is appropriate for. A game's rating is found on the front of the game's packaging, and game content descriptors, where applicable, are found on the back.
The ratings a game can receive are:
EC (Early Childhood) - may be suitable for ages 3 and older. Contains no material that parents would find inappropriate.
E (Everyone) - may be suitable for ages 6 and older. Titles in this category may contain minimal cartoon, fantasy or mild violence and/or infrequent use of mild language.
E10+ (Everyone 10 and older) - may be suitable for ages 10 and older. Titles in this category may contain more cartoon, fantasy or mild violence, mild language, and/or minimal suggestive themes.
T (Teen) - may be suitable for persons ages 13 and older. Titles in this category may contain violence, suggestive themes, crude humor, minimal blood, simulated gambling, and/or infrequent use of strong language.
M (Mature) - may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content, and/or strong language.
AO (Adults Only) - should only be played by persons 18 years and older. Titles in this category may include prolonged scenes of intense violence and/or graphic sexual content and nudity.*
*Please note that Nintendo does not sell or license games that carry the ESRB rating "AO" (Adults Only).
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