Block YouTube on Any Router — Generic Guide

Is Your Router Listed in Our Specific Guides?

Before using this generic guide, check if we have a more specific guide for your router:

• Google Nest Wifi / Nest Wifi Pro
• Xfinity xFi (Comcast)
• BT Smart Hub
• Netgear Nighthawk / Orbi
• Telstra Smart Modem (AU)

If your router isn't listed, this guide covers the universal approach that works on nearly every home router.

How Router-Level Blocking Works

Your router is the central point through which all internet traffic flows. Every device on your Wi-Fi — phones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, game consoles — sends all its internet requests through your router.

Most routers have a hidden admin panel accessible from inside your home network. This panel lets you configure which websites are blocked for devices on your network.

The result: Block YouTube once on the router and it's blocked on every device — without touching each device individually.

Step 1: Find Your Router's Admin Panel IP Address

The router admin panel is usually accessed via a specific IP address in your browser. The most common addresses are:

| Address | Common routers | |---|---| | 192.168.0.1 | TP-Link, D-Link, some ASUS, Optus/TPG supplied | | 192.168.1.1 | Linksys, some ASUS, Cisco, Huawei, Bell Canada | | 192.168.1.254 | BT Smart Hub, some Sky routers | | 10.0.0.1 | Xfinity Gateway, some T-Mobile routers | | 192.168.178.1 | AVM Fritz!Box | | router.asus.com | ASUS routers | | routerlogin.net | Netgear routers | | tplinkwifi.net | TP-Link routers |

How to Find Your Exact Router IP

Step 2: Find Your Router Admin Login Credentials

Once you have the IP address, open a browser and type it in the address bar. You should see a login page.

Default Credentials

Many routers use default credentials. Try these common combinations:

| Brand | Username | Password | |---|---|---| | TP-Link | admin | admin | | Netgear | admin | password | | D-Link | admin | (blank) | | Linksys | (blank) | admin | | ASUS | admin | admin | | Huawei | admin | admin | | Generic ISP | admin | printed on router sticker |

If You've Forgotten Your Admin Password

If the default credentials don't work and you don't remember setting a custom password, you'll need to factory reset the router:

1. Find the small Reset button — usually a pinhole on the back or bottom
2. With the router powered on, press and hold it for 10–30 seconds using a paperclip or pin
3. The router will restart and return to factory defaults
4. Warning: This also resets your Wi-Fi name and password — reconnect using the default Wi-Fi credentials printed on the router sticker

Step 3: Navigate to Parental Controls or URL Filtering

Every router admin panel is laid out differently. Here are the most common navigation paths for finding URL/content filtering:

| Brand | Path to URL blocking | |---|---| | TP-Link | Advanced → Security → Parental Controls | | Netgear | Security → Block Sites | | ASUS | AiProtection → Parental Controls → URL Filter | | D-Link | Advanced → Network Filter → URL filter | | Linksys | Parental Controls → Block Sites | | Fritz!Box | Internet → Filters → Parental Controls | | Generic | Look for: Parental Controls / URL Filter / Web Filter / Access Control / Block Sites |

Step 4: Add YouTube to the Block List

Once you've found the URL filtering or parental controls section:

Method 2: DNS Filtering (Works on Any Router — Even Those Without URL Filtering)

If your router doesn't have URL filtering, or you want a more reliable block, change the DNS server to a filtering service. This is often more effective than router URL filtering.

What to Do If You Can't Access the Admin Panel

If you can't reach the router admin panel at all: