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 a web browser. This feature allows you to pause internet access and block specific websites on individual connected devices.
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 a web browser. This feature allows you to pause internet access and block specific websites on individual connected devices.
This feature has been renamed Family Time on the Linksys MBE7000, Linksys MX6200, and Linksys LN1100. Learn more
- Linksys app
You can access Parental Controls from the main menu and dashboard of the app.
iOS
Android™
iOS
| Dashboard | Menu |
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Android™
| Dashboard | Menu |
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- Web browser
Parental Controls is accessible from the main menu and the widget on the home page of the router's web interface or when logged in to the router's IP address.
Access your router using a web browser, then click on Parental Controls.
Access your router using a web browser, then click on Parental Controls.
- Parental Controls only applies to devices connected to your home WiFi. Parental Controls 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.
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?
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.
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.
Linksys Shield is being discontinued. Current subscribers can continue to use the service until July 31st, 2024. New subscriptions or renewals will no longer be available.
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?
Linksys Shield is being discontinued. Current subscribers can continue to use the service until July 31st, 2024. New subscriptions or renewals will no longer be available.
Yes, you can configure Parental Controls on the router's web interface. 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 the router's web interface, you will be directed to use the Linksys app instead.
