Get set up

Someone sent you Family Filter TV. Here is the whole setup, start to finish, for an Android TV or TV box — the same steps work on a phone too.

Before you start

Two apps go on the television: Stremio, which you already use (or are about to) to find and play films and series, and Family Filter TV, which mutes the swearing in whatever Stremio plays. Family Filter TV is a separate, independent app — it is not made by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Stremio.

1. 1. Install Stremio

   Install Stremio from Google Play on the TV, and on your phone too if you'd like, then sign in or create a Stremio account. We are not affiliated with Stremio — it's simply the player Family Filter TV works alongside.

   You'll know it worked when Stremio opens on the TV and you're signed in.

2. 2. Install Family Filter TV

   Install Family Filter TV from Google Play on the same TV, and on the parent's phone as well — that phone is where the filter gets set.

   You'll know it worked when Family Filter TV appears on both the TV and the phone's app list.

3. 3. Set up on the phone

   Open Family Filter TV on the phone, create an account, and start the 14-day free trial. Google will ask for a card at this point — that's Google Play's own trial flow, and nothing is charged until the trial ends. Pick a filter strength: off, mild, family, or strict. Then tap Link a TV and type in the code your TV is showing.

   You'll know it worked when the phone shows the TV as linked.

4. 4. Set Family Filter TV as the player

   In Stremio on the TV, start any title. Open the Player menu on the control bar (the picture-in-frame icon), choose External, and pick Family Filter TV from the list. Tap Always so Stremio remembers the choice.

   You'll know it worked when every title you start from now on hands over to Family Filter TV automatically, without asking again.

5. 5. Add-ons — your choice, your responsibility

   Stremio itself plays nothing until add-ons are added. The official catalogue is inside Stremio, under Add-ons → Community or Official. Which add-ons someone installs, and where they point, is entirely their own choice — we don't recommend, endorse, or supply any particular one.

   You'll know it worked when a title actually starts playing from Stremio.

6. 6. Turn on subtitles

   Filtering only works when a subtitle track exists for what's playing. Stremio ships with an OpenSubtitles add-on — make sure it's enabled, and pick a title with English subtitles available. The banner at the start of playback tells you where the subtitles came from, or says plainly if none were found.

   You'll know it worked when that opening banner names a subtitle source instead of saying none were found.

7. 7. What to expect

   The swearing is muted for the few seconds a subtitle line contains it — nothing is cut or skipped, the picture keeps playing and the sound comes straight back. Violence and nudity are not filtered; Family Filter TV only acts on speech. And it can't do anything inside Netflix, DStv, or other subscription apps — they play inside their own players, which nothing else on the television can reach.

   You'll know it worked when a swear word drops out and the picture never stutters, cuts, or skips.

8. 8. Launch offer, and inviting others

   Right now there's 50% off the first year, for the first 200 subscribers in South Africa and the first 200 everywhere else, running until 31 December 2026. Family Filter TV also has an Invite a friend screen in the app: 10 weeks free for every friend who subscribes, so five friends covers a full year.

   You'll know it worked when the app's pricing screen shows the discount, or your invite history shows a friend who's joined.

Still stuck?

The support page has setup steps, known limits, and a real address to write to if something isn't behaving.

Family Filter TV is an independent app. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Stremio, Google, or any streaming service.