The Wii Parental Controls settings offer you a means to manage what Wii content is accessible to the console users. If you apply Parental Controls, you will be prompted to set a 4-digit PIN which will allow you to adjust the Parental Controls settings in the future and also allow you to access content that may be restricted by the Parental Controls settings. The Parental Controls default setting is "OFF" which means that the console will allow all content unless you change the settings. There is one Parental Control setting per console, so it is recommended that you put the settings on the most secure that you need for your family; you can then share the PIN with users who may be allowed access to blocked content.

To adjust the Parental Controls settings:

1. Access the Wii System Settings.
2. Click on the blue arrow to reach the Wii System Settings 2 menu options.
3. Choose "Parental Controls" and select "Yes."
4. Enter the 4-digit PIN and select OK. If you have forgotten the PIN, select "I forgot" to answer the secret question. (Answers to the secret question are case sensitive.)
5. You can adjust the "Highest Game Rating Allowed" to be played on the Wii console. Please note that Parental Control settings do not affect Nintendo GameCube Game Discs.
   
   
   
   
6. If your Wii console is also connected to the Internet, you have the ability to place limits on the following online features:
   • Internet Channel
     If you have downloaded the Opera browser (subject to availability) via the Wii Shop Channel, it is possible to allow or restrict use of the browser.
   • News Channel
     Control access to the News Channel.
   • Wii Messages
     You can disable the Wii console's ability to send and receive messages from other Wii consoles. Wii consoles can only send and receive messages if both of the Wii users have entered each others Wii numbers in their Address Books. Please note that your system will still receive system updates and related business messages from Nintendo regardless of this Parental Controls setting.
   • Use of Wii Points
     This setting controls the use of Wii Points, which are used to acquire downloads from the Wii Shop Channel. If this setting is on, users will be required to enter the 4-digit PIN in order to use Wii Points to download items from the Wii Shop Channel.
7. Confirm the setting is as desired by clicking the "Settings Complete" button on the bottom right corner.
   
   

If Parental Controls are applied and a user attempts to play or download content that exceeds the Parental Controls setting, the user will be prompted to enter the Parental Controls PIN to temporarily disable the Parental Controls. The PIN will be necessary each time a user tries to access restricted content. If your settings only apply to certain members of your household, share the Parental Controls PIN with users who may have unrestricted use of the system. You will be prompted to select and answer a secret question that will allow you to retrieve a forgotten Parental Controls PIN. If you forget your PIN, please follow the prompts on screen to answer your secret question. If you are unable to retrieve your PIN by answering your secret question, please contact Nintendo Consumer Service.

Available for download via the Wii Shop Channel, the Internet Channel offers a way to use your Wii console to browse the Internet. If you do not download this channel, you will not be able to browse the Internet.

There are two ways to control access to the Internet: Parental Controls and web filtering.

The Wii Parental Controls settings offer you a means to manage what Wii content is accessible to your child. If you apply Parental Controls, you will be prompted to set a 4-digit PIN. That PIN is needed to access Wii features that you choose to restrict. You can also use this to ‘lock out’ games that are rated for older players.

Please click here for more information about setting up Parental Controls on Wii.

If you want to let your child access the Internet but filter the sites the child can visit, Nintendo offers easy access to Astaro Internet Security to provide a web-filtering solution. The Astaro Wii Content Filtering Portal feature can be found in the Favourites menu of the Internet Channel on Wii. Currently, this service is free for 30 days, but after the trial period, a fee for this service does apply.

The Internet Channel does not store browsing history.

Nintendo has made an extra effort to ensure that the online experience is one that is both safe and fun. With this in mind, Nintendo has implemented a system so that players cannot exchange information with each other unless they have registered each other’s Friend Codes.

Although some Nintendo games and games made by third-party publishers allow you to play against randomly selected opponents, you will not be able to communicate with these opponents – only people with whom you’ve exchanged Friend Codes.

Please note that the Wii console also offers the possibility to send messages to other Wii users, but only if both parties have registered each other’s console-specific Wii number. You can block the sending of messages in the Parental Controls settings. Please click here for more information about setting up Parental Controls on Wii.

A Friend Code is a unique numeric code that allows a player to communicate directly with a friend’s Nintendo DS or Wii online via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection. When two people have exchanged Friend Codes, they can find each other online when they’re logged on to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection and playing the same game.

For instance, if a person is playing Animal Crossing: Wild World and logged on to Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, that person can see if any of his or her friends (people he or she has exchanged Friend Codes with) are logged on as well. If yes, the friends can visit each other’s town within the game.

In many games, players who have exchanged Friend Codes can communicate with each other, either via text chat or the Voice Chat feature. If two people have not exchanged Friend Codes, there is no way for the two of them to directly communicate via Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.

We encourage you to instruct your children never to give out their Friend Codes to strangers, nor to post them on Internet forums.