You're scrolling. It happens every Friday night. You open Amazon Prime Video, hoping for a nice, quiet sitcom, but instead, you’re greeted by a row of hyper-violent slashers or that one reality show you’ve spent months trying to ignore. Maybe you have kids who have discovered that "cartoons" on streaming services aren't always meant for children. It’s frustrating. You’d think in 2026, with all the predictive AI and fancy algorithms, Amazon would just know you don't want to see "The Boys" while your toddler is eating Cheerios. But the truth is, learning how to block shows on amazon prime isn't as simple as clicking a single "delete" button on a title. It’s a bit of a workaround game involving PINs, rating filters, and profile management.
Honestly, Amazon’s interface is a bit of a maze. Unlike Netflix, which has a relatively straightforward "dislike" button that hides content, Prime Video relies heavily on its Parental Controls ecosystem. If you're looking to scrub a specific show from your existence because it's annoying, you're going to have a harder time than if you're trying to block it for safety reasons. But it is doable.
Why Prime Video Makes Blocking So Weird
Let's be real: Amazon wants you to see everything. Their goal is engagement. Because Prime Video is often bundled with a Prime shipping subscription, the metrics are different than a standalone service like Max or Disney+. They want to show you the "Homegrown" originals and the big-budget spectacles regardless of your personal taste. This is why you'll see "The Rings of Power" plastered across your home screen even if you've never watched a single minute of fantasy in your life.
The system is built on "Parental Controls." This is the core mechanism. To block content, you aren't really "deleting" the show; you're setting a gate that requires a five-digit code to pass. If you're trying to block a show from yourself—maybe you have a reality TV addiction you're trying to kick—this is surprisingly effective because that extra step of typing in a PIN is usually enough of a deterrent to make you keep scrolling.
Setting Up Your Prime Video PIN
Before you can do anything, you need a PIN. You can't filter or block a single thing without it. If you try to do this through a smart TV app, you might get a headache. The TV apps are notoriously clunky. It's much easier to do this on a desktop browser or the mobile app.
Go to your "Account & Settings." Look for the "Parental Controls" tab. You'll see an option to create a Prime Video PIN. Make it something you'll remember, but not something your kids can guess (so, maybe avoid 1-2-3-4). Once that PIN is active, it becomes the master key for the entire account. This is the foundation of how to block shows on amazon prime. Without this, the rest of the steps are basically useless.
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Restricting Content by Age Rating
This is the "sledgehammer" approach. It’s not subtle. If you want to block "The Boys" or "Invincible" because of the gore, you can set your viewing restrictions to "Teens (13+)" or "Younger Children (7+)."
- Navigate to the "Parental Controls" section again.
- Find "Viewing Restrictions."
- You'll see a slider. This slider allows you to choose which age ratings require a PIN.
- If you set it to "G," then almost everything—including PG and PG-13 movies—will be locked behind that code.
The downside? It applies to the whole device or the whole account depending on your settings. If you’re a fan of horror but your kid isn't, you’ll be typing that PIN every single time you want to watch something after they go to bed. It’s a trade-off. Safety vs. convenience.
Applying Restrictions to Specific Devices
One cool thing Amazon does allow is the ability to choose which devices these blocks apply to. You can have the living room TV locked down tight while your personal iPad remains "open." In the same "Viewing Restrictions" menu, you’ll see a list of your registered devices. You just check the boxes for the ones you want to be restricted. This is a lifesaver for parents who don't want to enter a PIN on their own phone but want the "Fire Stick" in the playroom to be a safe zone.
The "Hide This Video" Trick
What if you just hate a show? What if seeing the face of a certain actor makes your skin crawl? This isn't about parental controls; it's about aesthetic preference. Amazon used to be much worse about this, but they've added a "Hide this video" feature.
When you're hovering over a title on the home screen (usually on a browser or some updated TV apps), you can find an option to "Hide this video." It's often tucked away in the "Options" or "More" menu. This won't "block" it in a legal or parental sense, but it tells the algorithm, "Hey, I’m not interested." Over time, the algorithm learns. If you hide enough true crime documentaries, it’ll eventually stop suggesting them. It’s not an instant fix, though. The "Featured" banner at the top of the app is basically paid advertising space, and the "Hide" button usually doesn't affect that top-tier real estate.
Profiles: The Most Underused Tool
Most people just have one profile that the whole family shares. That's a mistake. If you want to effectively how to block shows on amazon prime, you need to use the Profile system. You can have up to six profiles.
When you create a "Kids" profile, Amazon automatically filters out everything that isn't age-appropriate. It’s a walled garden. The interface changes, the search results change, and the "Recommended for You" section is strictly kid-friendly. This is honestly the most "human" way to handle blocking. You don't have to worry about settings or sliders; the profile does the heavy lifting for you.
However, be careful. A kid can easily switch profiles back to "Adult" with two clicks unless you have the "Account Change PIN" enabled. To find this, go back to your "Parental Controls" and look for "Profile PIN." This locks individual profiles. It’s an extra layer of security that prevents your seven-year-old from jumping into your profile to watch "Fallout."
Common Misconceptions About Blocking on Prime
A lot of people think that if they "Hide" a show, it's gone forever across all their devices. That's not how it works. Hiding is often device-specific or cached in your browser. Also, hiding a show doesn't prevent it from appearing in search results. If someone types the name of the show into the search bar, it will still pop up. The only way to truly "block" the ability to watch it is through the PIN-based rating system.
Another myth: You can block specific channels like Paramount+ or Max within Prime. You can't really "block" the channel itself from being visible, but you can require a PIN for any "Purchase" or "Subscription." This prevents accidental sign-ups. If you have "Purchase Restrictions" turned on, no one can subscribe to a new channel or buy a movie without your code.
Dealing with the "Continue Watching" List
Sometimes you start a show, realize it's garbage, and then it haunts your "Continue Watching" row for the next three years. This feels like it's "unblocked" even if you want it gone.
To fix this:
- Go to your "Watch History" (hidden in the "Settings" menu under "Activity").
- Find the show you want to banish.
- Select "Delete episodes from Watch History."
- Once the history is wiped, the show usually disappears from your "Continue Watching" list and stops influencing your recommendations. It’s like a digital exorcism.
The Limitations of Amazon's System
Let's talk nuance. Amazon's system isn't perfect. For one, the age ratings are sometimes a bit wonky. International films might have different rating standards that slip through your filters. Furthermore, if you’re using an older device—like a smart TV from 2018—the Prime Video app might not support the latest profile locking features.
Also, the "Hide this video" feature is notoriously buggy. Sometimes a show you hid will reappear a month later because it’s now "Trending in your area." It’s a constant battle against a machine designed to sell you content.
Steps to Take Right Now
If you're serious about cleaning up your feed or protecting your household, follow these steps in this exact order. Don't skip the PIN part.
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- Log in on a Computer: Don't try to do the initial setup on your TV. It's too slow.
- Create a Master PIN: Go to "Account & Settings" > "Parental Controls." This is your first line of defense.
- Turn on Purchase Restrictions: This stops kids (or you, during a late-night shopping spree) from buying random shows.
- Set Viewing Restrictions: Slide that bar to the age group you’re comfortable with. If you're blocking for yourself, set it to "Mature" and use the PIN as a "stop and think" moment.
- Set a Profile PIN: Lock your adult profile so the kids can't wander in.
- Clean Your History: Go to your "Watch History" and delete anything you don't want to see again. This resets the algorithm's "opinion" of you.
- Use "Hide this Video" Aggressively: Every time you see something you dislike, hit that hide button. It takes about a dozen "hides" before the algorithm starts to actually listen.
Managing a streaming library is basically digital housekeeping. It’s never really "done," but once you have the PIN and the profiles set up, the manual labor drops significantly. You'll spend less time hovering over the "Back" button and more time actually watching stuff you enjoy. Just remember that the system is updated frequently, so if a button moves, it’s usually tucked under that "Account & Settings" gear icon. Keep your PIN private, keep your profiles separate, and your Prime feed might actually start looking like something you want to see.