GET THIS BROWSER READY
A little companion for their watch time.
Add Watch Cub to Chrome on the computer your child uses. The companion keeps direct YouTube visits on their shelf, opens supported picks in one exact-pick window, and returns them when watch time is up.
Checking the companion in this Chrome profile…
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- Install in the Chrome profile they’ll use.Choose Add to Chrome and accept the navigation and YouTube access Chrome displays. Watch Cub discards unrelated navigation, keeps only temporary IDs for protected-site tabs, and stores no browsing history. Pin it so their shelf is easy to find.
- Sign in to your streaming services.While Parent is unlocked, open Disney+, Netflix or your other services in this same Chrome profile and sign in directly. Your Watch Cub account doesn’t sign you into those services. Keep their parental controls enabled.
- Try a pick together.Add a child and approve a favorite on your family shelf. Choose their profile, open that pick, try another YouTube destination to confirm it returns to the shelf, then test Back to my shelf.
The companion is optional, but external exact-pick protection and timed return require it. Supported YouTube and Disney+ routes are guarded; other services open in timed windows. Chrome extensions need desktop Chrome and do not install in a phone’s Chrome app.
CHILD PROTECTION · THIS CHROME PROFILE ONLY
Keep YouTube starts on the shelf.
Update the Companion to 0.6.0 or newer to make YouTube protection automatic and keep supported YouTube and Disney+ launches inside the exact pick. This older Companion can still use the optional site selections below.
Checking this browser…
Exact-pick protection applies only to supported YouTube and Disney+ routes in the one managed window. Other providers use a timed window, not title filtering. Removing or disabling the extension, another Chrome profile, another browser or another device is outside this protection.
How the companion works — and its limits
An approved external pick opens in one timed window. Watch Cub returns it to the shelf at the deadline, when approval is removed, or when permission can no longer be checked. Use Back to my shelf in the companion to return sooner.
With Companion 0.6.0, supported YouTube and Disney+ picks are guarded: leaving the exact approved video, channel, playlist, movie or show closes the managed window. Unsupported providers remain launch-only. Watch Cub cannot detect an external episode ending. Keep provider parental controls enabled and sign in there directly; Watch Cub never receives those logins.
Timers may be delayed while Chrome is asleep or busy. After a full restart, choose a fresh pick and close any restored provider window. The guard cannot hide provider content that changes without a URL navigation. Other browsers, Chrome profiles, native apps, embedded provider media on unrelated sites and extension removal are outside these controls. Prime Video settings cover primevideo.com, not Amazon shopping pages.
Updates and troubleshooting
Chrome updates the store version automatically. Don't install a second copy. Pin Watch Cub from Chrome's puzzle-piece menu and open this website in the same Chrome profile. Refresh after an update.
Get help →Developer installation — not needed for the store version
For deliberate unpacked testing only: download the development package, unzip it to a permanent folder, then use Load unpacked at chrome://extensions. For later updates replace files in that same folder and click Reload. Do not install beside the store version.