How to Reset the Parental Control Pin on the Nintendo Wii

While the parental control feature of the Nintendo Wii keeps children from playing mature-rated titles, it can also have the side-effect of keeping you from playing them as well if you forgot your four-digit PIN number. If you find yourself in that situation, you can reset the PIN number directly from your Wii by answering a set of secret questions that you established when you first set up the parental controls. If you don't remember the answer to those questions either, there is yet another workaround that will help you regain access to all features of your system.

Click the "Wii" button located on the bottom left corner of the screen on the Wii Main menu.

Click the "Wii Settings" button on the System Settings screen. Look for the button with the wrench icon.

Move to the second page of the Wii System Settings screen by clicking the blue arrow.

Click the "Parental Controls" button on the second System Settings screen.

Click "I Forgot" when asked asked to enter your four-digit PIN.

Answer the secret question displayed on the screen. You provided the question when you set up your Wii. Note that the answer to the question is case sensitive.

If you answer correctly, you'll have access to the Parental Control Settings. Reset your PIN on this screen by entering a new PIN number and a new answer to the secret question, then clicking OK.

Click "I Forget" if you can't remember the answer to the question. Nintendo displays a message screen with text telling you to contact Nintendo customer support. At the bottom of the screen is a confirmation number.

Write down the confirmation number so you don't forget it, and leave your Wii turned on with the confirmation number screen displayed.

Call Wii customer support at 800-255-3700. Tell Nintendo customer support your confirmation number. You'll receive a master key code to reset your parental control PIN. Write down the master key code.

Return to your Wii, and click the "Enter Master Key" button. On the Master Key screen, enter the five-digit master key you received from Nintendo customer support, then click "Confirm Master Key." The Wii displays a message stating that "Parental Controls are Now Disabled." Click "OK" for the Wii to return you to page two of the Wii Systems Setting screen.

Click the "Parental Controls" button on the Wii System Settings screen. The Parental Controls screen will now show that you have no parental control settings enabled. Enter a new four-digit PIN number and secret question to reset your PIN, then click "OK."