Pause the internet on demand or on a schedule

With Wi-Fi pause, you can pause the internet for a group of devices or for specific devices in the Google Home app. You can also set a schedule ahead of time for regular routines like when you get ready for bed or distraction-free homework time.

Note: Family Wi-Fi features can't be used with devices that use a Private Address or Randomized MAC Address. This setting on your phone, tablet, computer, or other device prevents them from being identified. If you experience problems trying to use Family Wi-Fi, change or disable your device's Randomized MAC setting.

Pause and resume the internet on devices

Pause and resume a group

Before you begin, create a Family Wi-Fi group.

With the Google Home app

Open the Home app .
Tap Favorites Wifi Family Wi-Fi.
Under your group name, tap Pause or Unpause. You might need to swipe left to find more groups.

With Google Assistant

You can pause and unpause groups, with your voice. Say "Hey Google," then:

"Pause Wi-Fi for [Family Wi-Fi group name]."
"Unpause Wi-Fi for [Family Wi-Fi group name]."

This is available for Google Nest Wifi systems in the Home app. Learn more about how to set up Voice Match and control your devices by voice.

Pause and resume a specific device

Open the Home app .
Tap Favorites Wifi Devices.
Tap the device you want to pause Pause device a period of time to pause Save. To resume, tap Paused device.

Scheduled pauses

Create a scheduled pause

You can automatically pause the internet for everyday events like your kids' bedtime or family dinners. Create a schedule and select the groups to apply the schedule to. The devices you choose will go offline and come back online according to your schedule.

Open the Home app .
Tap Favorites Wifi Family Wi-Fi Add Schedule .
Give your schedule a name.
Select a group tap Next.
Select a start time, end time, and what days you'd like the scheduled pause to happen.
Tap Done.

Edit a scheduled pause

You can edit the name, scheduled times, and groups associated with the schedule.

Open the Home app .
Tap Favorites Wifi Family Wi-Fi your schedule.
Edit your schedule, then tap Done.

View upcoming schedules

Open the Home app .
Tap Favorites Wifi Family Wi-Fi.

Delay active or upcoming schedules

Things don't always go as planned, so you might want to postpone an upcoming scheduled pause.

Open the Home app .
Tap Favorites Wifi Family Wi-Fi.
Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More Delay 30 min.

Skip an upcoming schedule

Open the Home app .
Tap Favorites Wifi Family Wi-Fi.
Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More Skip.

End active schedules early

You can end an active schedule before its scheduled end time. Once you've ended an active schedule, Wi-Fi will resume for your group's devices. The schedule will reoccur at its next scheduled time.

Open the Home app .
Tap Favorites Wifi Family Wi-Fi.
Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More End schedule.

Reconnect a paused device

If you accidentally pause the device you use to access the Google Home app, here are a few ways to get your device back online:

If you're on a device with a data plan, turn off your phone's Wi-Fi and use your data to access the Google Home app. Then reopen the app and resume your device.
If you have access to another device with the Google Home app installed, resume your device from there.
Tether a Wi-Fi connection from a phone or hotspot in your house and connect your device to it. Then reopen the app to resume your device.
Find another location with available Wi-Fi to connect and resume your device.

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?