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Parental Control

Parental control is a way to keep children safe online by blocking inappropriate websites and limiting how long they use devices. It helps prevent access to harmful content, manage screen time, and ensure children use the internet responsibly.

This feature has been available since firmware v4.2.

Watch this video or follow the steps below to learn more about Parental Control on GL.iNet router.

Local Version

The local version is provided by GL.iNet. It is currently in beta, so there is no additional cost. In this version, if you need to filter requests by application, you need to enter the domain manually.

Supported Models

Router Model Support
GL-BE9300 (Flint 3) √
GL-BE3600 (Slate 7) √
GL-X2000 (Spitz Plus) √
GL-B3000 (Marble) √
GL-MT6000 (Flint 2) √
GL-X3000 (Spitz AX) √
GL-XE3000 (Puli AX) √
GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) √
GL-AXT1800 (Slate AX) √
GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) √
GL-MT2500/GL-MT2500A (Brume 2) √
GL-SFT1200 (Opal) -
GL-S1300 (Convexa-S) -
GL-MT1300 (Beryl) -
GL-AX1800 (Flint) √
GL-AR750S (Slate) -
GL-XE300 (Puli) -
GL-X750 (Spitz) -
GL-B1300 (Convexa-B) -
GL-AP1300 (Cirrus) -
GL-X300B (Collie) -

Setup

Log in to the router's web admin panel, go to APPLICATIONS -> Parental Control. Ensure the router time is accurate. If not, go to SYSTEM -> Time Zone to synchronize it first.

router time

Enable Parental Control and click Apply.

parental control, enable

  • Block WAN for Unmanaged Devices: It is used to block unmanaged devices from accessing the Internet.

Then follow the setup wizard to set up Parental Control.

Here are two use cases for your reference, which you can adjust according to your own situation.

Case 1

Scenario: Devices in the profile can only access the Internet for study from 8 AM to 11 AM on weekdays, and for gaming from 6 PM to 8 PM on weekends. All other times, internet access is blocked by default.

Follow the steps below.

  1. Create a profile and give it a name.

    create a profile

  2. Select the devices you want to manage. If they have not been connected to the router, manually add them by inputting their MAC addresses.

    select devices

  3. Set access limit.

    There are two default rulesets: Block Internet Access and No Limit. Create two more rulesets here for later use: Learning and Play.

    Click Add a New Ruleset.

    add new ruleset

  4. Specify the ruleset name (e.g., Learning), color, and a list of sites to block. Then click Apply.

    create a ruleset 1

    Note: The domain names entered in the blocklist should include their subdomains. For example, if "example.com" is entered, it also includes any subdomain, such as "subdomain.example.com".

    Similarly, create another ruleset named Play. Specify a color, the sites to block and click Apply.

    create a ruleset 2

  5. Upon applied, there will be a total of four rulesets, as shown below.

    Ensure to select Block Internet Access as Default Ruleset, and click Finish.

    create a profile guide

  6. Then go to Set Schedule. Click Go to Set.

    set schedule

  7. Add the Learning ruleset to the schedule. Set the Execution Time is from 8 AM to 11 AM on weekdays. Click Apply.

    set schedule

  8. You will be taken to the edit page of the newly created profile.

    modify profile

    You will see that a schedule has been created. Click Add Schedule at the upper-right.

    add schedule

  9. Add another ruleset Play to the schedule. Set the Execution Time is from 6 PM to 8 PM on weekends. Click Apply.

    add schedule

  10. Then you will see that the Play ruleset has also been added into the schedule.

    schedules

    Note: The red dashed line indicates the current time.

    You can also modify the schedule ruleset by clicking on a certain part in the schedule.

    edit schedule

  11. Click Parental Control at the top to return to the Parental Control page.

back to parental control page

You will see the final configuration. You can modify the existing profiles and rulesets, or add new ones.

final configuration

Case 2

Scenario: Devices in the profile can only access the Internet for playing games and short videos from 6 PM to 8 PM on weekend evenings. All other times, including the bedtime from 9 PM to 7 AM the next morning, internet access is blocked by default.

See the video tutorial below.

Troubleshooting

There may be several reasons why the settings are not effective after being configured:

  1. DNS cache.

    Browsers and operating systems have caches, so it takes some time for the changes to take effect. You can try clearing the cache to get it to take effect immediately.

  2. The schedule for the profile has not yet arrived.

  3. The domain name you set may be incorrect.

    While a website's domain name is public, the domain name used when an app calls an API is not. To resolve this, you will need to use a tool (e.g. Wireshark) to capture packets or search for it.

    For example:

    If you want to filter "www.google.com", "google.com" is more appropriate than "www.google.com".

  4. The device you want to impose restrictions on uses a random MAC address for each connection, which will result in the rules not taking effect.

Bark Version

The Bark version, which is provided and managed by Bark on their own platform, offers the option to filter applications and websites with a single click and monitor request history.

Bark Parental Control feature has been available since v4.5, and it is supported by certain GL.iNet routers only.

Please be aware that Bark service is only available in the United States, Australia, Guam, and South Africa. Generally speaking, an additional subscription fee is payable directly to Bark for this service. However, in collaboration with Bark, GL.iNet enhances its parental control offerings and the Bark Home plan is available for free with the following GL.iNet routers, provides advanced monitoring and alert systems without any additional cost.

Supported Models

Router Model Support
GL-BE9300 (Flint 3) √
GL-MT6000 (Flint 2) √
GL-B3000 (Marble) √

Usage Scenarios

Bark features monitoring functionality for over 24 different applications and social media networks. These applications and social media networks serve as a pre-set list of items under our local parental control feature.

With its logging function, it knows which client accessed which website during which time period, making it convenient for parents to view the logs and identify websites that are not in the blacklist, and promptly add them to the scope of management control.

Setup

On the left side of web Admin Panel -> APPLICATIONS -> Parental Control.

Select the Bark version and apply. Both versions of Parental Control cannot be enabled at the same time, and the another one will be automatically disabled when you switch versions.

switch_versions

Please note: Bark's service may not be available in certain countries. As GL.iNet is not the provider of this service, should you encounter any issues using Bark, kindly reach out directly to Bark's Technical Support for assistance.

bark_enable

The Bark service is enabled, but this device is not yet paired with any account. Please use the Device Pairing Link to pair this device with your Bark account.

bark_pairing_link

The device is connected to Bark Cloud Services and paired with an account. Please Go to Bark and log in to the paired account to control access.

device_set_up

bark_success_pair

Still have questions? Visit our Community Forum or Contact us.