The child lock on a TV can be a wonderful thing. A parent sometimes cannot be present for the duration of a kids' show, so the child lock ensures they can't watch programs that are off limits. The lock can, however, cause unwanted trouble--if it gets accidentally turned on and you don't know the code, you can find yourself unable to fully enjoy the full range of available television stations. Follow a few easy steps you'll be back to watching regular TV in no time.

Locate the manual for your television. Though slightly embarrassing, accidentally turning on the child lock to a TV is a common problem. The section In the manual about how to set the child lock feature will also explain how to unlock it.

  • The child lock on a TV can be a wonderful thing.
  • Though slightly embarrassing, accidentally turning on the child lock to a TV is a common problem.

Try a few "universal methods" for unlocking the child lock. Some televisions have a universal code built in for disabling the child lock --no matter what your code is. A common code is "0000."

Unplug your television for a few minutes. The internal battery of the TV is what helps remember what your code. If the TV is unplugged for an extended period of time, it clears the internal memory, which in turn will reset your child lock code.

TIP

If the above methods do not work, contact the customer service department for your particular brand of television.