Setting Up Parental Controls or Content Filtering

How to set up network-level parental controls to filter content or restrict internet access for specific devices or times of day.

Network & Wi-Fi

Options for Parental Controls

Router-Level Filtering Most modern routers support basic content filtering and scheduling:
  1. Log into your router's admin panel.
  2. Look for Parental Controls, Access Control, or Content Filtering.
  3. You can typically block specific websites, set time schedules (e.g., no internet after 9 PM), or pause internet for specific devices.
DNS-Based Filtering (Recommended) For more robust filtering, we recommend DNS-based solutions:
  • CleanBrowsing — Free family filter, blocks adult content
  • OpenDNS Family Shield — Free, blocks adult content and malware
  • NextDNS — Paid, highly customizable with per-device rules
These work by changing your network's DNS servers, which filters content at the network level — no software to install on individual devices.
Network-Level Controls (Enterprise) For businesses and schools, we deploy firewall-level content filtering with granular policies per user group, detailed reporting, and compliance features.

Smart Systems Tip

We can configure DNS filtering on your network that applies to all connected devices automatically — including guest devices and IoT equipment. This is the most reliable approach since it can't be bypassed by changing device settings. Ask us about setting this up.