Free Parental Controls

What is Parental Controls and where can I find it in the Linksys app and LinksysSmartWiFi.com?
How do I Pause Internet Access using Parental Controls?
Why does my child’s phone still have internet access after I paused it?
How do I Schedule a Pause using Parental Controls?
How do I Block Specific Websites using Parental Controls?
Why are the websites I blocked still getting to my child’s phone?
What is Block by Category?
Can I configure Parental Controls from a desktop browser?

 

What is Parental Controls and where can I find it in the Linksys app and LinksysSmartWiFi.com?

Parental Controls is a feature of Linksys Smart WiFi routers that manage your kids’ internet use through the Linksys app or LinksysSmartWiFi.com.  This feature allows you to pause internet access and block specific websites on individual connected devices.

 
  • Linksys app
You can access Parental Controls from the main menu and dashboard of the app.
 
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  • LinksysSmartWiFi.com
Parental Controls is accessible from the main menu and from the widget on the home page of the LinksysSmartWiFi.com.  
 
QUICK TIP:  If you don’t see the widget, navigate to the Parental Controls page, and make sure the Show widget on the homepage box is checked.
 
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NOTES:  
  • Parental Controls only applies to devices connected to your home WiFi.  Linksys Shield cannot manage internet access and activity if a device is connected to the internet over a mobile data plan; pauses will not apply, and blocked websites will be able to get through to the device.
  • Basic parental controls do not block access to mobile apps, only to web URLs.  For example, www.facebook.com can be blocked, but the Facebook app cannot.
 
How do I Pause Internet Access using Parental Controls?
 
  • Linksys app
Step 1:
Log in to the Linksys app on your mobile device.  For iOS, click here.  For Android™, click here

Step 2:
Choose Parental Controls from the main menu and tap Control a Device.

Step 3:
Pick a device from the list and tap on Pause Internet Access, this will immediately block internet access on the device.  To resume, just tap on Resume Internet Access.

QUICK TIP:  With a Linksys Shield subscription, you can also block internet content by category.  To know more, click
here
.
 
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NOTE:  Pause Internet Access will only apply to devices connected to your home WiFi.
 
  • LinksysSmartWiFi.com
Step 1:
Open a web browser to access the LinksysSmartWiFi.com.  For instructions, click here

Step 2:
Choose Parental Controls from the main menu and turn it ON.

Step 3:
Pick a device from the list and assign how you would like to manage its access to the internet.  You can block internet access or enter specific websites to block for the device.
 
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Step 4:
Click Ok to apply the changes.
 

Why does my child’s phone still have internet access after I paused it?

It might be that your child is connecting to the internet over a mobile data plan.  Parental Controls only applies to devices connected to your home WiFi.  Devices connected to the internet over a mobile data plan can still access the internet and visit any websites specifically blocked in Parental Controls.

Also, basic Parental Controls do not block internet access to mobile apps, only to web URLs.  If you have blocked the Facebook URL using Parental Controls, you can't access it using the browser, but the Facebook app will still work.


NOTE:  Some devices such as laptop computers can access the internet in multiple ways.  A laptop has an ethernet port for wired access and wireless connection for WiFi access.  Once a device accesses your router with either of those methods, it will appear in your Devices screen as a unique device.  They will all be named the same unless you change the name for a device.  Be sure to choose all the devices individually when assigning Parental Controls; otherwise, the controls won’t apply to those that were not selected.

How do I Schedule a Pause using Parental Controls?
 
  • Linksys app
Step 1:
Log in to the Linksys app on your mobile device.  For iOS, click here.  For Android, click here

Step 2:
Go to Parental Controls and select a device.

Step 3:
On the device’s page, tap Schedule a Pause.  Use Schedule a Pause to manage internet access at specific times, such as school nights from 6:00 pm to 8:00 am.  Once you create a schedule, it can be applied to multiple devices.
 
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Step 4:
Select the days and the time to pause and resume the internet access.  Then tap on Save.
 
  • LinksysSmartWiFi.com
 
Step 1:
Open a web browser to access LinksysSmartWiFi.com.  For instructions, click here

Step 2:
Go to Parental Controls and select a device.

Step 3:
In the Block Internet access box, choose Never, Always, or Specific Times.  If you choose Specific Times, click on Edit to open a calendar.  Click a square or several squares that represent the time of day you want to restrict internet access.  Make sure that the Router Time is the same as your current time zone.
 
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Step 4:
Click Ok to apply the changes.

How do I Block Specific Websites using Parental Controls?
 
  • Linksys app
Step 1:
Log in to the Linksys app on your mobile device.  For iOS, click here.  For Android, click here

Step 2:
Go to Parental Controls and tap Block Specific Websites.
 
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Step 3:
Enter the address of a website you want to block.  Then tap Save.

NOTES: 
 
  • Websites entered here will be blocked regardless of whether it is allowed by a Block by Category filter in Linksys Shield.  To know more, click here.
  • Once you have saved a blocked website on a device, you can easily apply it to another device.  Tap Block Specific Website and choose from sites already entered and your list of blocked websites will appear.
  • If you no longer want to block a website, you can delete the blocked site.  Tap the trash bin icon next to the website address.
 
  • LinksysSmartWiFi.com
Step 1:
Open a web browser to access LinksysSmartWiFi.com.  For instructions, click here

Step 2:
Go to Parental Controls then click Add next to Block specific sites.

Step 3:
Enter the address of a website you want to block then press [Enter] on your keyboard or tap the Ok button.

NOTE:  If you no longer want to block a website, you can delete the blocked site.  Click on the x next to the website address then click the Ok button.
 
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Why are the websites I blocked still getting to my child’s phone?

Keep in mind that complete control over internet content is limited.
 
  • WiFi versus mobile data access
It might be that your child is connecting to the internet over a mobile data plan.  Parental Controls only applies to devices connected to your home WiFi.  Websites specifically blocked in Parental Controls can be accessed by devices connected to the internet over a mobile data plan.
 
  • WiFi versus ethernet connection
Some devices such as laptop computers can access the internet in multiple ways.  A laptop has an ethernet port for wired access and wireless connection for WiFi access.  Once a device accesses your router with either of those methods, it will appear in your Devices screen as a unique device.  They will all be named the same unless you change the name for a device.  Be sure to choose all the devices individually when assigning Parental Controls; otherwise, the controls won’t apply to those not selected.
 
  • Cached content
A website content that has recently been accessed on a device’s browser may not be immediately blocked.  Exit and relaunch the web browser or restart the device.
 
  • HTTP vs HTTPS sites
At this time, Block specific sites only works for HTTP sites, not HTTPS.
 
  • IPv4 vs IPv6 addresses
Block Specific Websites may not work for devices using IPv6 addresses which are provided by your internet service provider.
 
  • Mobile application
Basic Parental Controls do not block internet access to mobile apps, only to web URLs.  If you have blocked the Facebook URL using Parental Controls, you can't access it using the browser, but the Facebook app will still work.
 
What is Block by Category?

Block by Category is a feature of the Linksys Shield subscription services.  It provides four age-appropriate filters that can be preset to allow or block categories of internet content.  For more on Block by Category and Linksys Shield, click here.

Can I configure Parental Controls from a desktop browser?

Yes, you can configure Parental Controls on LinksysSmartWiFi.com.  There are a few differences in how the feature works online and in the Linksys app.  The Advanced Parental Controls feature of the Linksys Shield subscription services are only available only in the app.  If you attempt to use the Parental Controls feature through LinksysSmartWiFi.com, you will be directed to use the  Linksys app instead.

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