How to disable Wi-Fi on your child's phone: step-by-step instructions for Android and iOS

Monitoring the amount of time a child spends online is one of the key challenges for modern parents. According to research Kaspersky By 2026, more than 60% of children aged 8-12 spend more than 3 hours a day online, with a third of that time spent on social media and games. Wi-Fi on a child's phone — an effective way to restrict access to content without completely banning the use of the gadget.

In this article you will find 7 working methodsHow to disable the Internet on a child's smartphone: from the default settings Android And iOS to advanced tools like parental control on a router or through specialized apps. We'll explore the pros and cons of each method and provide recommendations on how to prevent teenagers from circumventing restrictions.

Important: all methods have been tested on current OS versions (Android 14–15 And iOS 17–18). However, interfaces may differ depending on the phone model or firmware. If your child uses a device with MIUI, ColorOS or One UI, some menu items may have different names.

1. Disabling Wi-Fi through phone settings (without a password)

The easiest way is manually turn off Wi-Fi in the settings menu. This method is suitable if your child doesn't know your home network password or can't recover it.

On Android:

1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Wi-Fi.
2. Find your network in the list and click on it.
3. Select Forget the network (or Delete in some firmware).

On iPhone:

1. Go to Settings → Wi-Fi.
2. Tap on the icon i near your network.
3. Select Forget this network and confirm.

⚠️ Attention: The child will be able to reconnect if they know the password. To avoid this, Change the Wi-Fi password on your router (Instructions in the next section). Some children also manage to connect to neighboring open networks—this method doesn't protect against such bypassing.

2. Block Wi-Fi through router settings

If you want manage access centrally Internet access for all of your child's devices (phone, tablet, computer), set up restrictions directly on routerThis method is more reliable because it doesn't depend on phone settings.

Instructions for most routers (TP-Link, ASUS, Keenetic, Xiaomi):

1. Connect to the router's web interface (usually at 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
2. Enter your login and password (by default it is often admin/admin).
3. Find the section Parental control (or Access Control, MAC filtering).
4. Add MAC address blacklist your child's phone or set up a blocking schedule.

🔹 How to find out the MAC address of a phone?

• 📱 On Android: Settings → About phone → General information → Wi-Fi MAC address.
• 🍎 On iPhone: Settings → General → About → Wi-Fi Address.

⚠️ Attention: If your child resets the network settings on their phone, they'll be able to reconnect. To avoid this, Disable the WPS function on your router. (it allows you to connect without a password) and set a complex password for the router's web interface.

What to do if a child resets the router?

If a teenager has physical access to the router, he can reset it to factory settings (using the button Reset). To avoid this:

- Hide the router in an inaccessible place.

- Set a complex password for the admin panel (not admin!).

- Enable login notifications in your router settings (if supported).

3. Using Airplane mode or restricting mobile data

If you want turn off the Internet completely (including mobile network), use the mode On the planeThis method is suitable for short-term restrictions, such as during sleep or study time.

How to enable:

• 📱 On Android: swipe down on the screen and tap the icon Airplane mode (or Settings → Network & Internet → Airplane Mode).
• 🍎 On iPhone: Swipe down from the top-right corner (or up on models with a home button) Home) and click on the airplane icon.

🔹 Alternative: Turn it off mobile data in the SIM card settings. This will allow you to keep Wi-Fi, but will block internet access via 3G/4G/5G.

⚠️ Attention: The child can easily turn off the mode On the plane, if you don't have a password set for your phone settings. To block changes to this setting, use parental control applications (see section 5).

4. Set up family sharing (Google Family Link and Apple Screen Time)

Companies Google And Apple offer built-in parental control tools that allow manage Wi-Fi access remotely.

🔹 For Android (Google Family Link):

1. Install the application Family Link on your phone and your child's phone.
2. Create a family group and add your child as a member.
3. In his profile settings, select Manage Applications → Restrictions.
4. Set a limit on internet usage or block specific applications (eg. YouTube or TikTok).

🔹 For iPhone (Screen Time):

1. Open Settings → Screen Time → Turn on Screen Time.
2. Select This is [child's name] iPhone. and set restrictions.
3. In the section Content and privacy restrictions Block changes to Wi-Fi settings.

📌 Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Remote control from your phone.
• ✅ Possibility to install flexible schedule (for example, blocking the Internet after 9:00 pm).
• ✅ Reports on time spent in applications.

⚠️ Attention: Teenagers often find ways to get around Family Link or Screen Time, for example, by resetting settings or using a second account Google/AppleTo avoid this, Link your child's phone to your credit card (For Apple ID) or set up two-factor authentication.

5. Parental control applications (Kaspersky Safe Kids, Norton Family)

If built-in tools Android And iOS seem insufficient, use specialized applicationsThey offer advanced features such as:

• 📍 Geolocation (tracking the location of the child).
• 🕒 Flexible schedule Internet blocking.
• 🔍 Content filtering (blocking dangerous websites).
• 📊 Detailed reports about activity.

🔹 Top 3 Wi-Fi Blocking Apps:

🔹 How to set up Wi-Fi blocking in Kaspersky Safe Kids:

1. Install the application on your phone and your child's phone.
2. In your personal account, select your child's profile.
3. Go to the section Device Management → Restrictions.
4. Install Internet blocking according to schedule or in full.

⚠️ Note: Some applications (eg. Qustodio) require root-rights on Android For a complete lock, this may void your phone's warranty. Please check compatibility with your device model before installation.

6. Limiting traffic through the telecom operator

If a child uses mobile Internet (3G/4G/5G), you can block access through your operator's personal account. This method is suitable if Wi-Fi is disabled, but you're concerned about your child connecting via a SIM card.

🔹 Instructions for main operators:

• 📡 MTS: Go to Personal Account → Services → Parental Controls and activate the restriction.
• 📡 Beeline: In the section My services select Traffic control and set the limit to 0 MB.
• 📡 Megaphone: In the appendix Megaphone go to Manage Services → Restrictions.
• 📡 Tele2: Enter the command *155*1# and follow the instructions.

🔹 Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Works even if the phone is reset to factory settings.
• ✅ Does not depend on Wi-Fi settings or applications.

⚠️ Attention: Carriers may charge a fee for the Parental Control service (usually 30–100 rubles/month). Some teenagers also manage to circumvent restrictions by purchasing SIM cards from other carriers. To avoid this, Check your child's phone for a second SIM card..

7. Physical methods: locking cases and "family chargers"

If software methods don't work, consider physical constraintsThey are suitable for children under 10 years old who are not yet able to bypass digital blocks.

🔹 Popular physical methods:

• 🔒 Cases with a lock: For example, LocknLock or Kidgy — block access to the screen without a key.
• 🔌 "Family Exercises": Devices like Circle Home Plus, which control the Internet of all gadgets in the house.
• ⏰ Socket timers: The router's power is turned off according to a schedule (for example, from 10:00 pm to 7:00 am).

🔹 Pros and cons of physical methods:

Method	Pros	Cons
Cases with a lock	100% blocking of phone access	Not convenient for emergency calls
Family Exercises	Control all devices in the home	Expensive (from 5000 ₽)
Socket timers	Simplicity and low cost	Disables the Internet for all devices

⚠️ Attention: Physical methods can cause protest in teenagers. To avoid conflicts, Explain to your child the reasons for the restrictions and suggest alternatives (such as reading books or playing board games).

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about blocking your child's Wi-Fi

🔹 Can a child bypass Wi-Fi blocking using a VPN?

Yes, if he installs a VPN app (eg. ProtonVPN or NordVPN). To avoid this:

• Block installation of new apps via Family Link or Screen Time.
• In your router settings, add popular VPN service addresses to the blacklist.

🔹 How to block Wi-Fi on your phone without accessing it?

If you can't get your child's phone, use:

• Parental controls on a router (MAC address blocking).
• Remote control through Google Find My Device (For Android) or Find My iPhone (For iOS).
• Contact your operator to block mobile internet.

🔹 What should I do if my child reset their phone to factory settings?

In this case:

• Set up reset lock through Family Link (on Android) or Screen Time (on iPhone).
• Use linking to a Google/Apple account - After the reset, you will be asked to enter your data.
• Install application with administrator rights (For example, Kaspersky Safe Kids), which is not deleted during reset.

🔹 How to restrict Wi-Fi to specific websites?

To do this:

• Set up content filtering on the router (section Parental Control → Website Blacklist).
• Use DNS filtering (For example, OpenDNS FamilyShield or CleanBrowsing).
• Install browser with parental controls (For example, Kids Place or Zoodles).

🔹 Is it legal to turn off a child's Wi-Fi?

Yes, parents have the right restrict your child's access to the Internet as part of educational measures. However, it is important:

• Do not violate right to education (for example, blocking the internet during distance learning).
• Do not use methods that may disrupt the child's psyche (for example, complete isolation from the Internet for a long period of time).
• Consider age: for teenagers 14+, it is better to negotiate than to block.

In extreme cases (such as cyberbullying or internet addiction), you can turn to child psychologist for recommendations.