OpenDNS: free family website filtering

Find the router model on its label and consult the manufacturer's official instructions.

Look for the ability to set the DNS servers used by connected devices. Depending on the router, the relevant controls may appear under Internet, WAN, LAN or DHCP settings.

Do not assume that a DNS setting with a similar name applies to your whole household. Confirm its purpose in the router documentation.

If the router does not support this, use your broadband provider's parental controls or get help with a suitable alternative. Changing settings on one laptop will not automatically filter the other household devices.

Sign in to the router using its official instructions.

Record the existing DNS addresses and whether the setting is automatic. Keep that record privately so you can restore it if needed.

Do not change unrelated settings, guess administration addresses or factory-reset the router.

Changing DNS can bypass your broadband provider's existing filtering. Do not assume OpenDNS and your provider's controls automatically work together. BT specifically requires BT DNS for its parental controls.

For FamilyShield: skip this check. No OpenDNS account is required.

For OpenDNS Home: create the free Home account using the official sign-up page and complete its verification.

From your home connection, follow the dashboard's network setup prompts to register your home network. This associates the connection's public internet address with your filtering settings.

If your public IP address changes, arrange a supported way to keep it updated. This may involve an updater on one computer or a supported router. It does not mean installing a filtering app on every device.

If you cannot register the network or maintain its address correctly, get help before relying on custom filtering.

For FamilyShield: skip this check. Its filtering is predefined.

For OpenDNS Home: sign in to the dashboard, select your registered home network and open its content-filtering settings.

Review the category choices and select the restrictions that suit your household. Add individual website or domain rules where needed, then apply your changes.

A domain rule can affect an entire service. It does not normally let you allow some posts or videos within that service while blocking others.

Check that useful school, health and support websites remain available.

Reconnect a device to your home network as directed by the router instructions.

Open the official OpenDNS connection test at welcome.opendns.com.

The welcome test checks whether that device is using OpenDNS. It does not prove that every device is filtered or that your chosen content rules are working.

Check ordinary browsing and repeat the connection test on other household devices. Check guest Wi-Fi separately if you expect it to be filtered.

For OpenDNS Home, you can temporarily block a harmless website you know, test the rule and remove it afterwards. Do not search for adult or upsetting material to test the filters.

Some devices or browsers can use another DNS service. VPNs and encrypted DNS can also bypass the router's filtering.

Mobile data and other Wi-Fi connections are outside this home setup. IPv6 and separate networks may need additional checking; ask for help if you cannot confirm which DNS service they use.

For OpenDNS Home, check that your registered public IP remains current.

If you need to undo the setup, restore the DNS settings you recorded, save the change and reconnect as instructed. A factory reset is not required.

Review the setup when you replace the router or change broadband provider.