Set up and use parental controls

This article will help you to keep your children safe online. Parental controls is a free feature with the Smart Hub Pro, Smart Hub Plus, EE Smart Hub (2023) and BT Smart Hub 2.

Set up, control and use parental controls

Setting up, controlling, and using parental controls is done through the EE app. Download or open the EE app.

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  1. Open the EE app.
  2. Select Manage from the bottom menu, then Broadband.
  3. Scroll to the groups section.
  4. Select which group you want to apply parental controls to (you can also apply parental controls to ungrouped devices).
  5. Slide the scale to choose the level of restriction you want.

Schedule when WiFi is available

Parental Controls lets you pause WiFi access at certain times, for example at bedtime. Set these times in the EE app:

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  1. Open the EE app.
  2. Select Manage from the bottom menu, then Broadband.
  3. Scroll to Groups and select the group you want.
  4. Scroll to Schedules.
  5. Select Add schedule.
  6. Give the schedule a name so you can recognise it later.
  7. Select the days and times you want to pause WiFi.
  8. You can also set a schedule when editing or creating a new group.

Pause WiFi for specific devices or groups

Using the EE app:

  1. Open the EE app.
  2. Select Manage from the bottom menu, then Broadband.
  3. Select the device and open its individual page.
  4. Use the toggle at the bottom to pause and unpause WiFi.

Using Groups with Smart Hub Pro and Smart Hub Plus

For Smart Hub Pro or a Smart Hub Plus users, you can set default settings for any device that joins your network under ‘ungrouped devices’. Or you can set up separate groups of devices and apply controls to that group such as 'all kids devices'.

Using the EE app:

  1. Open the EE app.
  2. Select Manage from the bottom menu, then Broadband.
  3. Scroll to Groups.
  4. Select Create group or select an existing group. A group is a set of devices with the same restrictions.
  5. Give the group a name (for example, “Kids' devices”).
  6. Add the device or devices to your group.
  7. You will see a list of devices in the group, and under that a scale with Off, Light, Moderate and Strict restrictions. Move the button to the setting you want.

Choose your level of restriction

You can choose the level of restriction in Parental controls to Off, Light, Moderate or Strict. In the higher settings, more websites are blocked. You can change the restriction level separately for your different groups (a group is a set of devices with the same restrictions).

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To change the restriction level for a group in the EE app:

  1. Open the EE app.
  2. Select Manage from the bottom menu, then Broadband.
  3. Scroll to Groups. You’ll see any groups you already set up, including ungrouped devices.
  4. If a group is created, you can select the group tile. If creating a new group, you can set parental controls on the group page at the end of the set up process.
  5. Or, if you want to set restrictions for somebody else, select Add new group. Then choose which devices belong in the new group.
  6. When the group is created, or when you’ve selected an existing group, you will see the group’s individual details. Select the group’s tile.
  7. Scroll down to the scale labelled Off, Light, Moderate or Strict. Move the button to the level of restriction you want.

Block website categories or specific sites

Parental Controls lets you choose whether to block or unblock various types of websites as well as specific websites. In the EE app:

Need to know

You can block specific websites in ungrouped devices, but you can't allow specific websites in ungrouped devices. 

This feature is only available on Smart Hub Pro and Smart Hub Plus.

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  1. Open the EE app.
  2. Select Manage from the bottom menu, then Broadband.
  3. Scroll to Groups.
  4. You’ll see any groups you already set up.
  5. If you want to block or unblock a type of site for a group you've already set up, select that group.
  6. If you want to block the site for other devices, choose Create group. You will be asked to choose which devices are in your new group.
  7. When the group is created, or when you select any existing group, you'll see the group’s individual details.

Change blocked sites

  1. Under parental controls, make sure that the slider is set to either Light, Medium, or Strict (not Off).
  2. Below the slider, select the link Change Blocked Sites.
  3. You'll see a list of the types of websites or content blocked. Tick or untick the boxes to block or allow different types of content.

Block or allow specific websites

  1. Scroll to Block or allow specific websites.
  2. Type in the URLs of websites you want to block, or to allow websites you blocked earlier.
  3. To unblock a site, select the X next to its name.

I can’t access a website I’ve allowed

Check your advanced web protect settings. If they are turned on it could be that our cyber security settings have blocked the website.

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