BT parental controls, set up properly
BT includes free parental controls with its broadband. Once switched on, filtering happens at network level, so it covers every phone, tablet, console and laptop that uses your home wifi. Here is how to set it up and what it does and does not cover.
Cost
Free with BT broadband
Filter levels
Light, Moderate and Strict
Covers
Every device on your home wifi
Managed from
Your My BT account (web or app)
Turn on BT Parental Controls
Activation is done from your My BT account rather than on the router itself.
Steps:
- 1Sign in to My BT at bt.com (or open the My BT app) using the account holder login.
- 2Go to your broadband package and open the section for managing your extras.
- 3Find Parental Controls and choose to activate it.
- 4Pick a filter level: Light, Moderate or Strict. Moderate suits most families as a starting point.
- 5Add any specific websites you want to always allow or always block, so a filter level never gets in the way of sites you trust.
- 6Give it a little while to take effect, then test it by searching from a device on your wifi.
Tip:
Filters apply to your home wifi only. A phone using 4G or 5G data bypasses them completely, so set device-level controls on mobiles as well.
What it covers, and what it does not
Because BT filters at network level, one setting protects every device on your broadband, including visitors. It does not cover mobile data, so a teenager with a data plan can step around it by turning wifi off. Treat it as one layer, paired with the settings on each device.
Worth knowing
You can set homework-friendly restrictions and change the filter level whenever you like from My BT. If a site you need is wrongly blocked, add it to your allowed list rather than dropping the whole filter level.
Frequently asked questions
Related guides
Last reviewed: August 2026. Providers and platforms change their settings screens often, so if a step looks different, the official help page linked above has the latest wording.