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 that manages 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.
 
MicrosoftTeams-image (174).png
  • LinksysSmartWiFi.com
Parental Controls is accessible from the main menu and from the widget on the home page of LinksysSmartWiFi.com.
 
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.
 
sf317707-002_en_v4
 
  • 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?
 
1. Open a web browser to access LinksysSmartWiFi.com.

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

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 the device.
 
sf317707-003_en_v4
 
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 by 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.

Some devices such as laptop computers can access the internet in multiple ways. A laptop has an ethernet port for wired access and a wireless connection for WiFi access. Once a device accesses your router with either of those methods, it will appear on 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?
 

1. Open a web browser to access LinksysSmartWiFi.com. 

2. Go to Parental Controls and select a device.

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.
 
sf317707-004_en_v4

4. Click Ok to apply the changes.

How do I Block Specific Websites using Parental Controls?
 
1. Open a web browser to access LinksysSmartWiFi.com. 

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

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

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.
 
sf317707-005_en_v4

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 a wireless connection for WiFi access. Once a device accesses your router with either of those methods, it will appear on 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
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 work for HTTP sites, not HTTPS.
 
  • IPv4 vs IPv6 addresses
Block Specific Websites may not work for devices using IPv6 addresses that 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.

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 is 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.
 

Was this support article useful?

Additional Support Questions?
Search Again