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nickd3ps's avatar
nickd3ps
Tutor
Sep 17, 2021
Solved

Impossible to use premium features: Smart Parental Controls App Error on Activation ("SPC-ACT-FAIL")

I just purchased the premium plan for the "Smart Parental Control" app. I’m trying to use this on a newish iPhone and when I go to "Unlock Premium" I am taken to a SPC Activation screen to set up. The app goes through about 60 seconds of "setting up..." until I get a fatal error. The message says "Smart Parental Control activation is failed.Please try it again, or dismiss this message and try it later (code: SPC-ACT-FAIL)." 

 

I have attempted over the course of several days to set this up with the same error. I have rebooted my router and modem several times. I also downgraded to the previous firmware version as suggested by someone on chat support. Nothing is working.

 

  • ChristineT's avatar
    ChristineT
    Oct 14, 2021

    Hello NETGEAR Community! 

     

    We just released a patch this morning that should resolve this issue. I was also impacted by this error and can confirm, once I attempted to enable Smart Parental Controls (SPC) again and followed the pompts it worked as expected. 

     

    If you haven't done so already, please log into your Orbi app and tap the Smart Parental Controls tile to enable this feature.

     

    If anyone is still having an issue with activation please let me know and we can continue to debug this issue further.

     

    I appreciate everyone for your effort and patience in getting this issue resolved.

     

    Best Regards,

    Christine T.

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  • JaydeeJD's avatar
    JaydeeJD
    Aspirant
    Aug 22, 2022

    I was previously using Smart Parental Controls effectively during the free trial period. I then purchased a subscription and it is not working. After chatting with Netgear support, I have now:

    1. reset my router

    2. deleted the Orbi iOS app and reinstalled it

    3. manually upgraded the firmware on my satellites and router

    4. called Netgear support to be transferred to the wrong dept

    and

    5. devoted >2 hours to this issue.

    NO SOLUTION. I'm on hold with Netgear again. I don't think this issue has been solved.