DNS Filtering for Families:
The Small Setting That Does a Lot of Work

If the internet is a city, DNS is the map. You type a street name—example.com—and your device quietly asks a guide for the exact address (an IP number) so it knows where to go. That guide is DNS, the Domain Name System. It runs in the background, all day, on every device.

Here’s the part most families never hear: you can choose a safer guide.

1) What DNS Is (in plain English)

Computers don’t speak words; they speak numbers. When you click a link or type a site name, your device pauses to translate that name into a number called an IP address. DNS is the translator that provides this service, most often through your internet provider by default—but you’re not locked in to using theirs. Many organizations run DNS servers, from big tech companies to privacy-focused nonprofits, and some specialize in content filtering for families. This means you can pick a DNS provider that not only translates addresses quickly and reliably, but also screens them against categories you choose. No DNS, no website.

2) Why There Are Different DNS Providers—and How Filtering Works

Some DNS providers do more than translate. They maintain fast, reliable “address books” and—this is the useful bit for parents—constantly updated lists of known-bad or adult sites.

When your device asks, “Where is this site?” a family-safe DNS checks that list first. If the site is flagged, the DNS server responds with a safe “no” (often just an empty or blocked address) instead of the real one. Because the address never arrives, the page never loads.

That’s the entire trick. It’s simple, standardized, and widely used in schools and businesses. And because it happens at the router, it sits outside the settings kids can toggle on a phone or tablet. Set correctly, it applies to every device that tries to reach the internet through your home network.

What DNS Filtering Can—and Can’t—Do

What it does well

• Stops known-malicious and adult domains before a page appears.
• Works for everything on your Wi-Fi: phones, tablets, laptops, TVs, consoles.
• Runs quietly; no per-app gymnastics.

What it won’t do

• See inside end-to-end encryption. Most sites use HTTPS. DNS sees the site name you’re visiting, not the exact page or video.
• Fine-tune YouTube. DNS can block YouTube entirely, but it can’t decide which videos are okay. Pair DNS with locked-down YouTube/Google accounts and supervised profiles.

The Easiest On-Ramp: Cloudflare for Families

If you want a quick, trustworthy option, Cloudflare for Families is free and straightforward:

• Malware-only block: 1.1.1.2 and 1.0.0.2
• Malware + adult block: 1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3

Quick router setup (generic steps)

1. Log in to your router’s admin page (the address is usually on a sticker underneath).
2. Go to Internet/WAN → DNS and switch from Automatic to Manual/Custom.
3. Enter 1.1.1.3 (Primary) and 1.0.0.3 (Secondary). Save.
4. Restart the router.
5. On any device, visit 1.1.1.1/help to confirm it’s working.

A Note on Internet Provider Gateways (Why This Can Be Tricky)

Many internet providers—like AT&T, Xfinity, Spectrum, and others—supply a modem/router combo, often called a gateway. These devices connect you to the internet and, by default, also provide DNS services. In other words, your provider’s gateway is acting as your DNS server unless you tell it otherwise.

Some gateways don’t let you change the DNS setting at all. Instead, they may offer their own built-in parental controls, which can include site blocking, scheduling, and activity reports. While these tools can be helpful, they often aren’t as customizable or up-to-date as specialized family-safe DNS services.

If your provider’s gateway locks DNS changes, you have two good options:

1. Use your own router behind the internet provider’s box. This is the clean solution if you have lots of devices or frequent guests. Put the provider device in bridge or passthrough mode (when available), then set DNS on your router. One setup, all devices covered.
2. Set DNS on each device. This works, but it’s more work—and easier for a determined teen to undo.

When a Dedicated (Your-Own) Router Makes Sense

• You want a foundational layer that applies to every device without touching each one.
• You host guests or manage many gadgets (TVs, consoles, smart home). One policy, zero clutter.
• You want defenses that are harder to tamper with than on-device settings.

Reality Check and Pairings That Work

DNS filtering is a powerful first step, not the whole staircase. Phones on cellular data aren’t covered by your home router. Some features—like private relays or VPNs—can route around network rules. That’s why we pair DNS with:

• supervised accounts (Google/YouTube, Apple, Microsoft),
• non-admin profiles on shared computers,
• and clear family rules about unknown VPNs and Wi-Fi networks.

Simple iPad How-To (Wi-Fi Only)

1. Settings → Wi-Fi
2. Tap the ⓘ next to your home network
3. Configure DNS → Manual
4. Add Server: 1.1.1.3, then Add Server: 1.0.0.3 → Save
5. Visit 1.1.1.1/help to confirm

(For iPhone, Mac, Windows, and Chromebook, the steps are similar.)