Roku Error Code 180 — Parental Control PIN Error Fix

What Does This Error Mean?

Roku error 180 means a parental control PIN is required to access the content or perform the action you requested. Roku's parental controls use a 4-digit PIN that must be entered to watch restricted content, purchase channels, or add channels. If you have forgotten your PIN, it can be reset through your Roku account at my.roku.com. If someone else set the PIN, they need to provide it or reset it from the account.

Affected Models

Roku Express
Roku Streaming Stick 4K
Roku Ultra
Roku TV
Roku Streambar
All Roku models

Common Causes

Parental controls are enabled and the content rating exceeds the allowed rating level
Channel purchases require a PIN confirmation that has not been entered
The PIN was set up and later forgotten
Someone else set up the Roku and configured a PIN without sharing it
The Roku was purchased used or refurbished and still has a previous owner's PIN settings

How to Fix It

If you know your PIN, enter it when prompted. The PIN is 4 digits. If you misremember it, try common choices first: 0000, 1234, or the last 4 digits of your phone number.

Roku's default PIN setup often encourages simple combinations. Try these before going through the reset process.
Reset your PIN at my.roku.com. Log into your Roku account, go to PIN Preferences, and either view, change, or disable the PIN entirely. Changes take effect on the Roku within a few minutes.

You must have access to the email address associated with the Roku account to log in and change the PIN.
If you do not have access to the Roku account, use the Forgot Password option at my.roku.com to recover access to the account via your email address.

Check the email address associated with the account carefully. Roku accounts are often set up with an email address that differs from the one you commonly use.
To disable parental controls entirely once you are logged in: go to my.roku.com > PIN Preferences > Disable PIN. This removes the PIN requirement for all purchases and content access.

If you share the Roku with children, consider re-enabling the PIN after addressing the immediate issue, or set up appropriate content rating restrictions.
For a Roku TV, you may be able to perform a factory reset using the physical buttons if you are completely locked out. Check your TV model's manual for the button combination to access the factory reset without the remote or PIN.

Factory reset will clear all settings including the PIN, but will also remove all installed channels and Wi-Fi settings. Use this only as a last resort.

When to Call a Professional

PIN issues require no professional help. All Roku PIN management is handled through your Roku account at my.roku.com. If you do not have access to the Roku account email, account recovery options are available on the Roku website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Roku PIN protect against?

A Roku PIN can be used to restrict several things. First, it can require a PIN before adding or purchasing any new channels — this prevents children from adding channels or making in-app purchases without permission. Second, it can block content above a certain rating (like blocking PG-13, R, and above). Third, some channels use the PIN system for their own purchase flows. You configure all of this at my.roku.com under the PIN Preferences section.

Can I set different PINs for different family members?

No — Roku uses a single PIN across the entire device. However, Roku does support multiple user profiles on some models, and each profile can have its own content rating restrictions. For more granular family controls, setting up individual channel accounts (like Netflix kid profiles) is the recommended approach. The Roku PIN is primarily a purchase guard and content rating gate, not a full multi-user access control system.

I bought a used Roku and it is asking for a PIN I do not know. What do I do?

You will need to factory reset the Roku to clear the previous owner's settings. Go to Settings > System > Advanced System Settings > Factory Reset on the Roku (you may need to navigate using a keyboard on screen if the PIN blocks navigation — use the Roku mobile app as a remote). If the PIN is blocking the settings menu entirely, use the physical buttons on the device or TV for a hardware factory reset. After the reset, set up the Roku with your own Roku account.