Parental controls on an eero network are set in the eero app with profiles, and they apply to the whole mesh including Beacons. Create a profile for each person, assign their devices, and then set a schedule to pause the internet, block or allow websites and, with eero Plus, filter content. The app also lets you pause a profile instantly. Features differ between the free plan and eero Plus, and several of them stop working in bridge mode, as eero's help notes, so a network in bridge mode will not enforce them.
The checks in more detail
If a rule seems ignored, check that the device is assigned to the profile, because a new phone appears as a new device. Devices using a private Wi-Fi address change identity on each network, which can detach them from a profile; turn off private addresses on children's devices for your network. A VPN on the child's device can bypass filters. Check that the device is on the main network, not the guest network, and keep the app updated.
eero also lets you set a Bedtime for a profile and a Pause that applies to every device in it, and the app's Activity screen shows data use by device. Teach older children that guest networks and mobile hotspots bypass the controls, and keep them on the main network by changing the Wi-Fi password if needed. Remember that some eero features, such as content filtering and ad blocking, need an eero Plus subscription and that the free plan covers profiles, pausing and schedules;
check what your plan includes before blaming a fault. The app's Discover tab lists the features available to your account and what each does. Keep devices with sensitive roles, such as work laptops, in a profile with no filters so that they are not blocked by accident, and set a clear schedule for children's devices. Review the profile list when someone gets a new phone, because the old device stays in the list and the new one starts unfiltered.
Differential
Likely causes of “eero Beacon parental controls or schedules are not working”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
Bridge mode
What separates it Filters and schedules do nothing
How to confirm Switch DHCP and NAT back to Automatic
- 2
A device not in a profile
What separates it A new phone is unfiltered
How to confirm Assign the device to the profile
- 3
A private Wi-Fi address
What separates it The device keeps leaving its profile
How to confirm Turn off the private address on that network
- 4
A VPN on the device
What separates it Filters are bypassed
How to confirm Block VPN use or manage the device directly
- 5
A plan limit
What separates it Content filtering is missing
How to confirm Check which features need eero Plus
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether bridge mode is on
- Which profile the device is in
- Whether the device uses a private address
- Which plan features are active
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedCheck DHCP and NAT mode
ReversibleIt must be Automatic.
Create a profile
ReversibleAdd the person's name and devices.
Assign devices
ReversibleMove each device into the profile.
Set a schedule
ReversiblePause the internet at set times.
Turn off private addresses
ReversibleOn children's devices for your network.
Review plan features
ReversibleSome filters need eero Plus.
Set Bedtime for a profile
ReversibleIn the profile, choose Bedtime and set the hours.
Look at the Activity screen
ReversibleCheck data use by device.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- Profiles
- They group a person's devices.
- Private addresses
- They can break profile membership.
- Bedtime
- A schedule pauses the profile at night.
- Activity
- The app shows data per device.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !If rules are ignored in Automatic mode, contact eero support
- !If a VPN bypasses filters, add device-level controls
- !Check the plan features
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
Do parental controls work in bridge mode?+
Mostly not.
How do I pause the internet?+
Pause a profile in the app.
Why is a device not filtered?+
It may not be in a profile.
Do Beacons enforce the rules?+
Yes, the whole mesh does.
Can I schedule bedtime?+
Yes.
Can children bypass with a hotspot?+
Yes, so talk to them.