How to Set Up Parental Controls on Your Router

A router is your first line of defense against all the unsavory things lurking on the internet. Nearly all routers have some form of parental controls you can use to manage a child’s internet usage, regardless if they have a wired or wireless device.

Unfortunately, not all parental control options are the same, so we’re here to help sift through the mud and walk you through a few examples of how some routers handle these controls.

An introduction to parental controls

We’ve tested and reviewed dozens of routers, and each has some form of device control, whether they’re labeled as parental controls or not. Some let you create user profiles, add devices to those profiles, and set schedules, which is super convenient. Other routers push you into establishing rules and set schedules on a device-by-device basis, which can be a real time-consuming pain.

Overall, you can generally do the following across any router you use:

• Allow and block devices
• Allow and block websites
• Create offtime schedules

Depending on the router, you may also have the following options:

• Apply content filters (age-specific or general)
• Apply app filters

In many cases, parental controls in a router’s mobile app differ from the ones in the web interface. In some cases, controls are exclusive to mobile apps. That said, we can’t give you one definitive how-to guide that covers every router on the market, but we can illustrate how some parental control suites work.

Before we begin

We’ll assume you already know how to log in to your router using a web interface or app. If not, take a peek at our guide showing you how to log in to routers manufactured by ASUS, Linksys, NETGEAR, and more.

Now let’s dig into how parental controls work on various routers, starting with ASUS.

ASUS AiProtect

ASUS routers include AiProtect Classic or Pro, depending on the model and firmware. Both features are free to use for the lifetime of the router, but the controls are different in the web interface than in the mobile app. Here’s how to use both.

Using the web interface

Since the ASUS web interface doesn’t support user profiles, you have to address each device individually.

Part 1: Content filters

First, select a device and add a content category to filter out specific apps and websites. These filters include:

• Adult
• Instant Message and Communication
• P2P and File Transfer
• Streaming and Entertainment.

Each category has subcategories you can check and uncheck for more customized control over services and content.

Part 2: Time scheduling

Next, select a device and add multiple offtime schedules, like during homework hours and bedtimes. The device can’t access the internet during the hours you set.

Part 3: URL filtering

You can find this setting in the router’s firewall. Here you can prevent access to specific websites by adding them to a blacklist. However, this list applies to all devices connected to the network.

ASUS provides instructions on how to use the parental controls in the web interface.

Using the ASUS Router app

Unlike the web interface, the ASUS Router app has robust parental controls. You can create user profiles and assign specific devices to each profile.

Part 1: Kids-Safe Preset Profiles

Create a user profile and select one of four age range options:

• Preschooler (0–6)
• School-aged child (6–13)
• Teen (13–18)
• Adult (18+)

AiProtect Classic profiles have modifiable time presets—you can set up new ones too. AiProtect Pro adds content filters powered by Trend Micro. You can enable and disable types of content on each device or profile individually, including things like instant messaging and file transfering.

Part 2: Time scheduling

You can set up multiple offtime schedules with the web interface, but doing it on the app applies the schedule to the multiple devices assigned to a profile, which is super convenient.

Models we reviewed with ASUS AiProtect Classic and Pro:

TP-Link HomeCare

TP-Link provides two security suites across its range of standalone routers and mesh systems. HomeCare is free to use for the life of the router, while HomeShield has free and subscription-locked features. First, let’s look at HomeCare.

Using the web interface

You can find the parental controls under the Basic or Advanced tabs, depending on the model.

Part 1: Profiles

To start making user profiles, click the Add button, name the profile, and add the associated devices.

Part 2: Filters

You can select one of four filters to describe the appropriate age range for each profile:

• Child (0–7)
• School-aged child (8–12)
• Teen (13–17)
• Adult (18+)

After that, you can add or remove categories from the profile, like Adult Content or Games. However, the child, school-aged child, and teen presets have categories you cannot deselect.

Part 3: Time limits

With the filters in place, you can now set four different time limits:

• Daily offtime Monday—Friday
• Daily offtime Saturday—Sunday
• Bedtime Monday—Friday
• Bedtime Saturday—Sunday

TP-Link provides instructions on how to set up family controls using HomeCare in a web interface.

Using the Tether app

Parental controls in the Tether app are mostly the same as the web interface—they’re just displayed differently for the mobile screen.

The only exception is the added ability to block a profile’s access to the apps and websites you choose.

TP-Link provides instructions on how to set up parental controls using HomeCare in the Tether app.

Models we reviewed with TP-Link HomeCare:

TP-Link HomeShield

HomeShield is the newer security suite provided on TP-Link standalone routers and mesh systems. Below we list what you can do with HomeShield Free and the premium features offered through a HomeShield Pro subscription.

Using the Tether and Deco apps

HomeShield parental controls are not available on the web interface, so you need to use the Parental Controls tab in the Tether or Deco app to get started.

Part 1: Profiles

HomeShield supports up to 16 profiles. Each time you create a profile, you select a family role:

• Son
• Daughter
• Dad
• Mom
• Grandpa
• Grandma

After that, you add devices and save the profile.

Part 2: Filter Content

Next, you can add up to nine filters per profile to block specific content and services:

• Adult Content
• Gambling
• Sex Education
• Online Communication
• Social Networking
• Pay to Surf
• Media
• Download
• Games

Part 3: Block websites

You can prevent a profile from accessing specific websites by adding the addresses to the Blacklist. This tool is ideal for keeping your kids from “stumbling” onto easily-accessible adult websites.

Part 4: Bedtime

Finally, HomeShield Free allows you to create one bedtime schedule per profile. Multiple bedtime schedules require a HomeShield Pro subscription.

HomeShield Pro features

The HomeShield Pro subscription adds the following features:

• Bedtimes for weekdays & weekends
• Bedtimes for custom days
• Daily time limits
• Offtime schedules

The HomeShield Pro subscription costs $5.99 per month or $54.99 per year.

TP-Link provides instructions on how to set up parental controls using the Tether and Deco apps.

Routers and mesh systems we reviewed with HomeShield:

NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls

The free version of Smart Parental Controls is minimal—even more so than TP-Link’s HomeShield Free. Plus, the controls are mainly in the mobile apps, although the web interface provides a few additional tools you can use for parental controls.

Using the web interface

As with most other routers, you can do the following:

• Block and allow devices
• Block and allow websites
• Block and allow applications

Using the Nighthawk and Orbi apps

Part 1: Profiles

First, create a profile and add the related devices. After that, you can pause and unpause the profile’s internet access, but that’s it. All other options require a Smart Parental Controls Premium subscription.

Smart Parental Controls Premium

NETGEAR’s subscription adds the following features:

• Age-appropriate content filters
• Automatic daily time limits
• Automatic internet breaks (offtimes)
• Custom daily time limits
• Daily bedtimes
• Rewards
• App and internet usage statistics
• Website history
• Access to the My Time companion app (App Store, Google Play)

NETGEAR Smart Parental Controls Premium costs $7.99 per month or $69.99 per year.

NETGEAR provides instructions on how to set up parental controls using the Nighthawk and Orbi apps.

Routers and mesh systems we reviewed with Smart Family Controls:

Eero parental controls

Your internet provider may have supplied you with an Eero mesh system if you also received a standard modem—it’s a popular whole-home solution. Eero doesn’t have a web interface, so you manage the parental controls through the Eero mobile app.

Using the Eero app

Step 1: Profiles

First, tap the + button to create a profile. After that, name the profile and add the associated devices.

Step 2: Schedules

Once you create a profile, you can schedule as many pauses as you like. Just enter the schedule’s name (like bedtime) and set the start and end times. Then the schedule takes effect. For example, you can have one bedtime schedule for weekdays and another for weekends.

You can manually pause and unpause internet access as needed, too, like when your child finishes early during homework downtime.

Step 3: Block and allow devices

As with any other router and mesh system, you can manually block and allow devices on your network.

Eero Plus subscription

Here’s a list of added features provided through the Eero Plus subscription:

• Ad blocking
• Content filters
• App blocking
• Block and allow websites
• Daily activity stats (weekly activity is free)

Eero Pro subscription costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year.

Mesh systems we reviewed with Eero Plus:

Internet provider routers and mesh systems

Internet providers that supply gateways and standalone routers generally offer similar parental controls you find on retail equipment. You can usually access these controls in the web interface and the provider’s app. Below we list instructions for five national internet providers.

AT&T

• Smart Home Manager (App Store, Google Play)
• Set Content Controls with Smart Home Manager

Frontier

• Secure by Frontier (App Store, Google Play)
• Set Up Internet Parental Controls To Help Keep Your Kids Safe

Spectrum

• Security Suite (Windows, Mac)
• Security Suite Antivirus: Parental Controls for Windows
• Security Suite Antivirus: Parental Controls for Mac

Verizon Home Internet

• Verizon My Fios (App Store, Google Play)
• Parental Controls

Xfinity

• Xfinity App (App Store, Google Play)
• Set Up Parental Controls for the Internet

Related content

• Best Routers with Parental Controls
• Best Free Parental Control Software
• Internet Parental Control Apps for Keeping Your Kids Safe
• How to Use Apple’s Parental Controls on iPhone, iPad, and Mac

FAQ about routers with parental controls

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