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Forum Discussion
New Nighthawk App - where are the parental controls??
As suggested by Netgear I had set up an OpenDNS account and used the Netgear Genie App to enable / disable the parental controls on demand.
Today I was forced to upgrade to the new Nighthawk App - and the parental controls are gone.
I have now no way to turn parental controls off - I have to go through the OpenDNS site. This is a major inconvenience, as it was very useful to be able to just turn the Internet on for 5 minutes even during a configured 'down' timeslot.
Any reason why this feature was removed ? Esp. as the screenshot of the Nighthawk seems to suggest that it is still there ???
33 Replies
On a related note....I tried to factory reset the AC750 router to get rid of the parental controls alltogether - after 10 minutes the amber light is still blinking...I thought that factory reset (holding the button on the back for 5 seconds) should initiate a reboot ?
patsch wrote:
On a related note....I tried to factory reset the AC750 router to get rid of the parental controls alltogether...
What's the model number? It will be something like R6XXX.
AC750 is not a Netgear model number. It is a label that Netgear, and others, attach to hardware to describe wifi speeds.
R6020
patsch wrote:
On a related note....I tried to factory reset the AC750 router to get rid of the parental controls alltogether
Factory reset won't disable LPC -> https://support.opendns.com/hc/en-us/articles/227987607-How-to-Enable-Disable-Live-Parental-Controls
As the LPC control is not available on the Nighthawk App (one of many shortcomings on the Nighthawk App), you have to head to the desktop (Windows or macOS) Genie versions. Head to https://www.netgear.com/lpc and scroll down for the downloads.
patsch wrote:
... - after 10 minutes the amber light is still blinking...I thought that factory reset (holding the button on the back for 5 seconds) should initiate a reboot ?
Reads like corrupted firmware, requiring recovery. Same after power-off and power-on?
patsch wrote:
As suggested by Netgear I had set up an OpenDNS account and used the Netgear Genie App to enable / disable the parental controls on demand.
Today I was forced to upgrade to the new Nighthawk App - and the parental controls are gone.
I have now no way to turn parental controls off - I have to go through the OpenDNS site. This is a major inconvenience, as it was very useful to be able to just turn the Internet on for 5 minutes even during a configured 'down' timeslot.
Any reason why this feature was removed ? Esp. as the screenshot of the Nighthawk seems to suggest that it is still there ???
Netgear has dropped the ball here. If you have an Android device, you'll want to install the 3.1.74 version of the Genie app to retain the ability to configure connected devices using Access Control based on OpenDNS parental controls.
Don't upgrade the Genie app unless they've fixed this bug and add back support for all the router models they erroneously dropped recently.
You can re-enable Parental Controls by downloading the previous version of firmware and from routerlogin.net interface -> "Upgrading" (you will get a popup asking if you are sure you want to downgrade) to the Firmware Version 1.0.4.26 Download, see https://www.netgear.com/support/product/R9000.aspx#Firmware%20Version%201.0.4.26
Note: Release notes from v1.0.4.28 did not list any security updates.
Also, since the recent genie update, the app does not show parental controls option but the web interface does. So you might have to go to a browser vs. the app. patsch thanks for the tip to install the 3.1.74 version
- Same problem here, Disney Circle is not working either. Netgear, please fix this ASAP!
codyag wrote:
Same problem here, Disney Circle is not working either. Netgear, please fix this ASAP!A little bit off-topic - Netgear does fail again to make things clear. Why on earth don't they use the term "Circle" or "Circle by Disney" also on the App? No, they replace it (apparently) by a tile named "Parental Control" and confuse both the Live Parental Control (OpenDNS based) as in place on many Netgear routers.
Back to Circle by Disney issue - Netgear has published yet another marketing video https://community.netgear.com/t5/Nighthawk-App/Manage-Your-Network-amp-Get-More-Out-Of-Your-WiFi-With-The/m-p/1744185#M9451 stating:"From the app dashboard, you have easy access to these features:
• Device List — Monitor the devices connected to your network and pause the Internet to any device.
• Internet Speed Test — Check the broadband speeds from your service provider.
• WiFi Settings — Update your router’s firmware and personalize your network name and password.
• Guest Networks — Set up separate WiFi access for guests.
• Smart Parental Controls — Easily manage content & time online with Circle® with Disney.
• Remote Management — Easily monitor your home network anytime, anywhere."
Yet another marketing lie, isn't it Dustin_V ?
how can I get service what # do i call to pay the 65$ a month payment..
moneymoney wrote:
how can I get service what # do i call to pay the 65$ a month payment..
Are you asking about Circle? Some other service?
What hardware do you own?
Have you set it up for Circle?
Have you tried this issue in the section given over to Circle?
Circle Smart Parental Controls - NETGEAR Communities
If you are still under warranty or have insurance with SQUARETRADE you can file a claim.
How do I file claim? I bought Dec 2018 for the sole purpose of having parental control feature. Looks like Genie desktop app is gone, nothing in the admin of the router and as of April 10 the Disney Circle app is gone. I want my money back to buy a router which does have this feature. Help!
Hi gojambi, welcome to the community! The desktop Genie will continue to work for the Live Parental Controls feature. You can download it on the link below and go to the DOWNLOAD PC or DOWNLOAD MAC links at the bottom.
https://www.netgear.com/home/discover/apps/genie.aspx
Also, your router (R6900) is among the models that do support the Disney Circle feature as described on the link below.
https://kb.netgear.com/000044718/What-NETGEAR-routers-support-Circle-with-Disney
Dexter
- I bought the new AX8 Router and I liked everything about it except for the app. It does not support parental control. I have been an ASUS user and was trying to switch to Netgear because of all the good reviews I see online. Today I will be returning the AX8 because Nighthawk app lacks a lot of functionality that the competition offers.
Mikestur wrote:
Today I will be returning the AX8 because Nighthawk app lacks a lot of functionality that the competition offers.Netgear shot itself in the foot by introducing a new app before it was fully cooked. At the beginning of the year it published a video of the all-singing, all-dancing new NIghthawk app. Unfortunately, some months later too many of the feature demonstrated still don't work in the production version.
My guess is that parental controls and other missing features will return, but such is the pace of software development at Netgear that I am not holding my breath.
You may be able to do what you want by using the browser on your mobile device – it still works on the desktop app – but that is too complicated for some people.
If you want to try the browser option, just point a browser at thew OpenDNS account that you have set up for your router.
michaelkenward wrote:
Mikestur wrote:
Today I will be returning the AX8 because Nighthawk app lacks a lot of functionality that the competition offers.Netgear shot itself in the foot by introducing a new app before it was fully cooked. At the beginning of the year it published a video of the all-singing, all-dancing new NIghthawk app.
Can't agree more. Booth feet, both knees, ...The Nightawk App can only support features implemented on the router - for now there is no OpenDNS support on these leading edge devices. Complete strange.
Pace ... what pace?
michaelkenward wrote:If you want to try the browser option, just point a browser at thew OpenDNS account that you have set up for your router.
Trouble is that there is no OpenDNS updater on the Netgear routers which are not supporting OpenDNS ...
