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Parental Controls Not Working

TP-Link Router

Severity: Moderate

What Does This Error Mean?

TP-Link parental controls are bypassed when a device uses custom DNS (like 8.8.8.8) instead of the router's DNS. Block custom DNS on the router so all devices are forced to use the router's filtering.

Affected Models

  • Archer AX series
  • Archer AC series
  • Deco mesh

Common Causes

  • Device using custom DNS (Google, Cloudflare) bypassing router DNS filtering
  • Device connected via mobile cellular data instead of Wi-Fi
  • Parental control schedule set to wrong time zone
  • Child using a VPN to bypass router-level controls
  • Firmware bug in older router versions

How to Fix It