How to Create and Manage an Adults Only Tab in Kodi

The Adults Only tab is a separate content section you create in Kodi to organize mature material away from other library content

Kodi does not have a built-in "Adults Only" category — you create one by adding a custom tab to your library view. This tab works like any other section in Kodi: it holds movies, TV shows, or other media you organize there. The tab itself does not restrict access; it straightforward groups content in a separate place on your home screen.

The process involves editing your Kodi skin settings to add a new tab, then moving or linking content to that tab. The exact steps depend on which skin you are using (Estuary is the default), but the principle is the same across most skins.

Key Takeaways

You create an Adults Only tab by editing your skin settings in Kodi, not through a built-in feature.
The tab is a display choice only — it does not password-protect or restrict access to content.
Content appears in the tab when you tag it with a custom genre, content rating, or folder path that matches your tab settings.
Different skins have different menu editors, so the exact steps vary depending on which skin you have installed.
If you want actual access control, you will need to set up Kodi's parental controls separately from the tab itself.

How to add a custom tab in Estuary (the default Kodi skin)

Open Kodi and go to Settings (the gear icon). Select Interface Settings, then Skin. Look for an option called Customize Home or Edit Home Menu — the exact name depends on your Kodi version.

In the home customization menu, you will see a list of existing tabs (Movies, TV Shows, Music, etc.). Find an empty slot or an item you do not use, and select it. Change the label to "Adults Only" or whatever name you prefer. Then set the content type: choose Movies if you want the tab to show films, or TV Shows if you want series.

Save your changes and return to the home screen. The new tab will appear in your menu. At this point it will be empty because you have not linked any content to it yet.

Moving content into the Adults Only tab

The method depends on how your content is organized. If your movies or shows are in a separate folder on your hard drive or network storage, the easiest approach is to add that folder as a source in Kodi and point it only to the Adults Only tab.

Go to Settings > Media Settings > Libraries > Movies (or TV Shows). Select Add Movies and browse to the folder where your mature content is stored. When prompted to scan the folder, Kodi will add those files to your library. If you have set up your sources correctly, they will appear in the Adults Only tab automatically.

Alternatively, if your content is already in your main library, you can tag it with a custom genre or rating. Go to the movie or show, select Edit, and add a tag like "Adults" or "Mature". Then configure your Adults Only tab to display only content with that tag. This method requires editing your skin settings again to filter by the tag you created.

Using other Kodi skins to create a custom tab

If you use a skin other than Estuary — such as Confluence, Aeon Nox, or Amber — the menu editor will be in a different location. Most skins have a Customize Home or Edit Menu option under Settings > Skin, but the layout and available options vary.

Check your skin's documentation or settings panel for a menu editor. Some skins let you add custom shortcuts or widgets instead of full tabs; these work similarly but may display content differently. The principle remains the same: you are creating a new section and pointing it to a source or filter that contains your mature content.

Adding parental controls to restrict access

Creating a tab does not prevent someone from accessing the content — it only organizes it visually. If you want to actually restrict who can view the Adults Only tab, you need to set up Kodi's parental controls separately.

Go to Settings > Player > Videos and look for Parental Control. Enable it and set a PIN. Then go to Settings > System > Parental Control and configure which content ratings are blocked. You can block by movie rating (G, PG, PG-13, R, NC-17) or by custom tags you have assigned.

When parental control is active, anyone trying to play restricted content will be prompted to enter the PIN. This works independently of your Adults Only tab — the tab will still be visible, but the content inside it will be locked unless the correct PIN is entered.

Troubleshooting: content not appearing in the Adults Only tab

If you have created the tab but your content is not showing up, check that the source or filter is correctly configured. Go back to Settings > Media Settings > Libraries and verify that the folder or source you added is actually being scanned.

If you tagged content with a custom genre or rating, make sure your Adults Only tab is set to filter by that tag. Some skins require you to manually specify the filter in the tab settings; others do it automatically. Check your skin's settings panel to confirm the filter is active.

If content still does not appear, try rescanning your library. Go to Settings > Media Settings > Libraries > Videos and select Clean Library, then Update Library. This will re-index all your content and may resolve display issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I password-protect just the Adults Only tab?

No — Kodi's parental controls work on content ratings or custom tags, not on individual tabs. You can password-protect all content with a certain rating or tag, but the tab itself will still be visible. If you want the tab to be completely hidden, you would need to use a third-party add-on or modify your skin files directly, which is more complex.

Will the Adults Only tab show up on all my devices if I use Kodi on multiple screens?

The tab will appear on any device running the same Kodi installation or using the same profile. If you sync your Kodi library across devices using a shared database, the tab and its content will be available everywhere. If each device has its own separate Kodi installation, you will need to create the tab on each one individually.

What if I want to hide the Adults Only tab from the home screen but still access it?

You can create a shortcut or widget that points to the tab instead of displaying it as a main menu item. This keeps the content accessible but less visible. The method varies by skin — check your skin's customization options for widget or shortcut settings.

Can I organize content by multiple categories, like "Adults Only" and "Documentaries"?

Yes — you can create as many custom tabs as you want. Each tab can point to a different folder, source, or filter. Content can also appear in multiple tabs if it matches multiple filters or tags. For example, a mature documentary could appear in both the Adults Only tab and a Documentaries tab.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.