Block YouTube on Google Nest Wifi & Nest Wifi Pro

Use the Google Home app to block YouTube on every device on your Nest Wifi network. Covers device pausing, Family Wifi, DNS filtering workaround, and scheduling.

Last updated 11 April 2026·

Difficulty🔨🔨🔨

Free

Bypass risk🐹🐹🐹🐹🐹

What You'll Need

The Google Home app on your phone (iOS or Android)
Your Google account — the same one used to set up Nest Wifi
About 10 minutes

Google Nest Wifi uses the Google Home app for all management. There is no traditional router admin panel like 192.168.0.1 — everything goes through the app or the Google Home web portal.

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Important limitation: Nest Wifi site blocking is limited

Google Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro do not have a built-in per-URL block list the way traditional routers do. The Family Wifi feature allows you to pause internet for a device and set schedules — but it cannot block specific websites like youtube.com while leaving other internet access working.

To block YouTube specifically (without cutting all internet), you need to use DNS filtering as your primary method. This guide covers both approaches.

Method 1: Family Wifi — Pause Devices and Set Schedules

Family Wifi lets you pause internet access for specific devices on a schedule. This is useful for screen time control but it's an all-or-nothing block — not YouTube-specific.

Step 1: Open Google Home and Find Connected Devices

Open the Google Home app

Tap the Google Home app on your phone. Make sure you're signed in with the same Google account used to set up your Nest Wifi.

Tap Wifi → Devices

From the home screen, tap your Wifi tile → Devices. You'll see a list of every device connected to your network, with their device names.

Identify your child's device(s)

Devices are listed by the name they were given when they connected. Common names include the device model (e.g. "iPhone 13", "Samsung Galaxy A54"). If names are unclear, check Settings on the device to find its network name.

Step 2: Set Up Family Groups

Go to Wifi → Family Wifi

In the Google Home app, tap Wifi → scroll down to find Family Wifi (may also appear as Parental Controls depending on app version).

Create a family group for your child

Tap Add Group → give it a name (e.g. "Kids") → add your child's device(s) to the group.

Set a schedule for the group

With the group created, tap Schedules → Add Schedule. Set times when internet is paused — for example:

Paused: 9:00pm – 7:00am (bedtime)
Paused: 8:00am – 3:00pm (school hours)

Pause internet manually when needed

On the Family group tile, tap Pause to immediately cut internet access to all devices in the group. Tap again to resume.

Step 3: Nest Wifi Pro — Additional Controls

The Nest Wifi Pro (2022, Wi-Fi 6E) has the same Google Home management interface as the original Nest Wifi. The parental controls are identical — there's no extra URL filtering capability in the Pro model.

Method 2: DNS Filtering — Block YouTube Specifically (Recommended)

Because Nest Wifi can't block individual URLs, the best way to block YouTube while keeping other internet working is to change the DNS server on your Nest Wifi router to a filtering service.

Step 1: Change DNS in the Google Home App

Open Google Home → Wifi → Settings (gear icon)

Tap your Wifi tile → the Settings (gear) icon in the top right.

Go to Advanced Networking → DNS

Scroll to Advanced Networking → tap DNS. You'll see the current DNS setting (usually "Automatic / Google").

Switch to Custom DNS

Tap Custom and enter the CleanBrowsing Family DNS addresses:

Primary: 185.228.168.168
Secondary: 185.228.169.168 Tap Save.

Test the block

On any device connected to your Nest Wifi, try visiting youtube.com. It should fail to load or show a blocked page.

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Alternative: OpenDNS FamilyShield

If you prefer OpenDNS, use:

Primary: 208.67.222.123
Secondary: 208.67.220.123

Same steps as above. No account required.

Step 2: NextDNS for Custom YouTube Blocking (Optional — More Control)

NextDNS gives you a custom DNS server with a dashboard showing exactly what's being blocked and when.

Create a free NextDNS account at nextdns.io

Add YouTube to your NextDNS deny list

In the NextDNS dashboard → Denylist → add youtube.com and youtu.be.

Get your NextDNS DNS addresses

In the NextDNS dashboard → Setup → your personalised DNS addresses are shown. Use these in the Google Home DNS settings (same steps as Method 2, Step 1).

View the activity log

NextDNS logs every DNS query — you can see exactly which devices tried to access YouTube and when. This makes it easy to verify your block is working.

Method 3: Per-Device DNS Override (for Devices That Ignore Router DNS)

Some devices — particularly those running Android 9+ or iOS 14+ — support Private DNS (DNS over HTTPS/TLS) which overrides the router's DNS setting entirely. If your child's device is ignoring the router DNS, set the filtering DNS directly on the device.

iPhone/iPad: Settings → Wi-Fi → tap your network → Configure DNS → Manual → add CleanBrowsing addresses.

Android: Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS → enter family-filter-dns.cleanbrowsing.org.

Windows: Settings → Network & Internet → Ethernet/Wi-Fi → Edit DNS → enter CleanBrowsing addresses.

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How Kids Bypass This

Mobile data: Nest Wifi controls only apply on your home Wi-Fi. On 4G/5G, your child's device uses carrier DNS — your filters don't apply. Use device-level controls (Screen Time, Family Link) for mobile coverage.

Using a VPN: A VPN on any device bypasses both the pause feature and DNS filtering. Block VPN apps using Screen Time (iPhone/iPad) or Family Link (Android).

Connecting to a neighbour's Wi-Fi or mobile hotspot: If they connect to a different network, Nest Wifi has no control. This is a social/trust issue — no router can solve it. Device-level controls are the answer.

Nest Wifi DNS bypass using device Private DNS: Android and iOS devices can override the router's DNS using Private DNS settings. If they know to do this, set device-level DNS filtering directly on the device as well (see Method 3 above).

Google Home app access: If your child has access to your Google Home app (e.g. on a shared family tablet), they could remove their device from the family group or delete the schedule. Password-protect your Google account and don't leave the Google Home app signed in on shared devices.

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Counter-Measures

Layer DNS filtering + device controls: DNS on the Nest Wifi blocks YouTube on Wi-Fi. Screen Time (iPhone) or Family Link (Android) blocks YouTube on mobile data. Together, these cover the device everywhere.

Use NextDNS for visibility: The free NextDNS tier shows you a log of every domain lookup — so you can confirm YouTube is being blocked and see if any bypass attempts are being made.

Set Family Wifi schedules as a second layer: Even with DNS filtering in place, use the Family Wifi pause schedule for bedtime. This cuts all internet access overnight — belt and braces.

Review Google Home device list weekly: Occasionally check the device list in Google Home to see what new devices have connected. A new device could be an unrestricted phone connecting to your network.

Related Guides

By Method

Block YouTube with DNS Filtering (All Devices, Home Network)

Use DNS filtering to block YouTube on every device connected to your home Wi-Fi — including smart TVs, game consoles, and anything else. Free options available.

By Device

How to Block YouTube on iPhone (iOS 17 & iOS 18)

Step-by-step guide to block YouTube on iPhone using Screen Time. Works on iOS 17 and iOS 18. Free, no apps needed.

By Device

How to Block YouTube on Android (Google Family Link)

Block YouTube on Android phones and tablets using Google Family Link. Free, works on all Android devices with a child Google account.

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