How to Fix Parental Controls Not Blocking Sites as Expected

🔧Step-by-Step Fixes

Fix 1: Verify Parental Controls Are Applied to the Right Devices

1. Log into your router at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1
2. Find "Parental Controls," "Access Control," or "Content Filtering"
3. Check which devices have controls applied
4. Identify your child's device by MAC address or device name
5. Make sure the controls are set to "Active" or "Enabled" for that specific device
6. If controls are schedule-based, verify the current time falls within the restricted period
7. Save any changes

Fix 2: Use DNS-Based Filtering for Better Coverage

1. Many routers use URL filtering, which can be bypassed easily
2. Switch to DNS-based filtering like OpenDNS FamilyShield or CleanBrowsing
3. In your router settings, find "DNS Settings" or "WAN Settings"
4. Change the primary DNS to 208.67.222.123 and secondary to 208.67.220.123 (OpenDNS Family Shield)
5. Or use CleanBrowsing: 185.228.168.168 and 185.228.169.168
6. Save the settings and reboot the router
7. This filters at the DNS level, which is harder to bypass

Fix 3: Block Alternative DNS Servers

1. Kids can bypass your DNS filtering by manually setting their device to use Google DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)
2. In router settings, find "Firewall" or "Access Control Rules"
3. Create rules to block outgoing traffic to port 53 (DNS) for all external DNS servers
4. Allow only your router's DNS
5. This forces all devices to use the DNS you've configured
6. Look for "DNS Redirect" or "Force Router DNS" options if available - this makes it automatic

Fix 4: Block VPN and Proxy Services

1. VPNs and web proxies allow kids to bypass all router-level filtering
2. In parental control settings, look for "Block VPN" or "Block Proxy" options
3. Enable these if available
4. You can also manually block known VPN ports: block outgoing traffic on ports 1194, 500, 4500 (common VPN ports)
5. Use the router's URL filter to block common VPN websites: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Windscribe, etc.
6. This isn't foolproof but blocks the most common workarounds

Fix 5: Enable HTTPS Filtering (If Supported)

1. Many sites use HTTPS, which encrypts the URL path
2. Basic parental controls can't see what specific page is being accessed, only the domain
3. Some routers offer "HTTPS Inspection" or "SSL Filtering"
4. Enable this feature if available
5. Note: This requires installing a certificate on each device and can have privacy implications
6. Follow your router's specific guide for this advanced feature

Fix 6: Set Up Device-Level Controls as Backup

1. Router parental controls are a good first layer, but not perfect
2. Add parental controls on the device itself as a second layer
3. On iPhones/iPads: Use Screen Time with content restrictions
4. On Android: Use Google Family Link or Samsung Kids Mode
5. On Windows: Set up a child account with Microsoft Family Safety
6. This way even if they bypass the router, device controls still apply

Fix 7: Monitor Router Logs for Bypass Attempts

1. In router settings, find "Logs," "System Logs," or "Traffic Logs"
2. Enable logging for blocked sites and parental control events
3. Review logs periodically to see if blocked attempts are being recorded
4. If you see no blocked attempts but know sites are being accessed, the filter isn't working
5. If you see DNS requests to 8.8.8.8 or 1.1.1.1, devices are bypassing your DNS