How to use your router’s parental controls

Most wireless routers have settings that allow you to limit your child’s screen time and the content they can see. You just have to be willing to dig around in the settings a little. Every router is different, so you should consult your model’s manual for details, but here’s an overview of what features to look for and how to best use them.

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Setting up parental controls on your Wi-Fi router

Before you can customize and manage your home’s internet connection, you’ll need to access your router’s settings. The latest models offer companion apps that let you connect to your router and customize the settings to your liking.

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Such apps are a good place to start, and many offer basic parental controls that you can experiment with. But if you really want to dig deep and look at all of your router’s settings, you’ll need to connect through your computer.

First, open your favorite web browser on your computer and type your network IP address into the address bar. By default, most routers use 192.168.1.1 as their IP address. If that doesn’t work for you, you can look up your IP address by right-clicking on your internet icon and searching for details or settings.

For Mac users, you can find the IP address by clicking on your Wi-Fi icon and then scrolling down to Open the network settings.

After you enter your IP address in the address bar, you’ll need login information to edit the settings. For some routers, this information is printed on the router itself or can be found in the user manual or on the manufacturer’s website. You may also have chosen your own login information when you first set up your router. If you can’t remember the login information, you can usually find and change it in the router’s app.

Once you log in or access the settings, you can customize your web browsing experience in a variety of ways, depending on the capabilities of your router.

1. Limit internet time

Most routers with parental control options have a scheduling setting, which means you can schedule the network to turn off at a specific time every day.

Some include scheduling for specific devices, so you can select your child’s laptop, tablet or game console and disconnect it from the internet every night at 8 p.m., for example. Want to block everything? Look for options that let you group devices.

2. Restrict certain websites

In addition to scheduling, some routers have parental controls for specific websites. You can choose which URLs to block on various devices in your home, so you can keep your children away from content you consider inappropriate or dangerous.

Netgear, for example, does this with its Nighthawk routers through the Nighthawk app’s parental control settings, powered by Circle Smart Parental Controls. You can adjust time and content for any device on your network from your mobile device.

3. Pause Wi-Fi

If you want to keep distractions to a minimum during dinner but don’t want to set any special schedules or restrictions, disconnecting is the best solution.

Routers and mesh networks like Nest Wifi include companion apps that let you pause the internet connection on some or all devices and then restore it when you’re ready. Google’s second-generation Nest Wifi system adds Google Assistant voice control to each extender, so you can just say, “OK Google, pause the kids’ Wi-Fi.”

Tip: This is also very useful if your children’s daily Wi-Fi usage interferes with work-related video calls, for example.

Add a router accessory

If you’re happy with your router but want to add parental controls, there are add-on devices that can help you do just that. Plug-in modules like the Circle Home Plus connect to your router and manage internet access and rules for multiple connected devices.

Some devices and apps even allow you to allocate a certain number of minutes to each device, allowing kids to earn more internet time by completing chores around the house. This is a great way to teach kids to manage and balance their screen time responsibly without a parent snatching the device out of their hands.

When adjusting your router settings or adding a device to manage access, it’s important to take steps to keep everyone safe online. For parents looking for more guidelines on web browsing, screen time, and keeping their children safe, there are a number of online resources, including Connectsafely.org and the Family Online Safety Institute.