Want to block web content or apps on your child’s device that aren’t age-appropriate? With the AT&T Secure Family app, you can.


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Categories group similar apps and websites so you can manage what your child can access. You choose a Low, Medium, or High filter level— and the app will allow, block, or ignore content in each category. Categories include things like Games, Social Media, Education, Dating, and more. The Secure Family app explains what each category means.

To use web and app filters, make sure you:

  • Install the AT&T Secure Family® app on parent devices
  • Install the AT&T Secure Family Companion® app on child's device that's paired to the parent device via the Secure Family app
  • Turn on the virtual private network (VPN) during setup. Secure Family Companion uses it to monitor and limit internet activity on your child’s device. Follow the app steps to turn on the VPN so the Parental Controls work.

Review the Secure Family FAQ (PDF, 1.5MB)

Filter internet access

Use Secure Family Filters to manage your child’s access to internet-based apps and websites. By default, no filter is turned on. The parent admin can authorize the account owner or another admin to set and manage this feature.

You can set internet filters by:

  • Choosing an age group filter
    • High: Blocks content that may not be right for younger children and allows kid-safe content.
    • Medium: Blocks mature or adult-oriented content and allows most general apps, categories, and platforms. Best for pre-teens.
    • Low: Blocks explicit content and allows almost all apps, categories, and platforms. Best for teens.
  • Customizing filter permissions
  • Adding custom website filters

Keep in mind, you must apply a filter level before you can customize filter permissions or add websites you want to manage.

FYI: Apps that run directly on your child’s device without using the internet may not be blocked. This includes standalone games or videos downloaded before content filters were activated.

Block apps and websites

The selected filter level (Low/Medium/High) automatically sets filter permissions (Allow/Block/Always Allow) for each category. You can then block by category or enter specific websites and apps to block. Select from categories such as:

  • App stores & downloads
  • Chat & forums
  • Explicit content
  • Dating
  • Online games & shopping
  • Social media

Turn on Safe Search to block Yahoo searches and remove sexually explicit content from Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.

You can turn on YouTube Restricted to apply Restricted Mode to the YouTube app and website. This helps block mature or objectionable content. It also blocks your child from viewing or writing comments on YouTube videos.

Customize available apps and sites

Change the filter permissions for apps, websites, and categories. Filter permissions can be set to:

  • Allow: Gives access to the app, website, or category. Parents can track and manage use with other Secure Family parental controls.
  • Block: Stops access to an app, website, or category at all times. Apps, videos, or other media already downloaded on your child's device may still work if they don’t need internet access. For example, an offline game may still work after you block the gaming app.
  • Always Allow: Gives access to the app, website, or category. It can’t be tracked or managed by Secure Family parental controls.

When apps or websites are blocked, your child can’t open them. For websites, they’ll get a message saying the site is blocked. Blocked apps may show no internet connection, not load at all, or give similar errors.


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Last updated: September 23, 2026

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