Free ISP-supplied hub

How to set up parental controls on Sky Broadband Hub (SR203)

Sky Broadband Shield

UK 2026 guide · Last reviewed 12 May 2026 · By Dr Alex J. Martin-Smith

Reviewed using our published methodology.

Quick answer

Sky Broadband Shield is free, on by default, and managed at https://broadbandshield.sky.com. Choose PG, 13, 18 or Custom, set a Watershed schedule, and the filter applies network-wide to every device.

Cost Free, on by default for every new Sky Broadband customer

Where to manage My Sky app

Time to set up Immediate

Wi-Fi standard Wi-Fi 5

Shipped by Sky Broadband, NOW Broadband

UK install base About 4.5 to 5 million UK households

Step by step

Step-by-step setup

01
Go to https://broadbandshield.sky.com and sign in with your Sky iD (the account holder, not just any household user).
02
Choose your default rating: PG (strictest), 13 (moderate) or 18 (lightest).
03
Optionally enable the Watershed. This switches between two ratings at a time you choose, for example PG during the day and 18 after 9pm.
04
Add specific sites to your Allow or Block list under Custom Settings.
05
Click Save. The change is immediate across every device on your Sky Wi-Fi.
06
For per-profile and per-device controls, open the My Sky app and tap Parental Controls. This requires Sky WiFi Max (£3-4/month) on Superfast and Ultrafast plans; it is included with Gigafast+.

Manufacturer source: https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-wifi-max-parental-controls

Reversible

How to remove this later

Open the same router app or admin panel, disable the parental profile or content filter, and save. If your household is moving to looser rules, reduce one control first (for example schedule limits) before turning off all filtering.

Honest limits

What Sky Broadband Hub (SR203) parental controls can and cannot do

Features that work

Three age ratings: PG, 13, 18, plus full Custom mode.
Watershed: automatic switch between two ratings at scheduled times.
Custom allow and block lists.
Network-level so applies to every device including consoles and smart TVs.
Email alerts to the bill payer when settings change.
On by default for new customers since 2016.

Features that do not work

Per-child profiles and per-device pause require Sky WiFi Max add-on (£3-4/month).
Does not enforce SafeSearch on Google by default.
Mobile data bypass (use Apple Screen Time or Google Family Link for that).
Encrypted apps bypass.
VPN bypass.

How to block YouTube on Sky Broadband Hub (SR203)

Sky Broadband Shield does not block YouTube at PG, 13 or 18 by default. Go to https://broadbandshield.sky.com, choose Custom Settings, then Add to Blocked. Add youtube.com, m.youtube.com, youtu.be and googlevideo.com.

How to pause Wi-Fi on Sky Broadband Hub (SR203)

On the standard Sky Broadband Hub, there is no per-device pause without Sky WiFi Max. Add WiFi Max (£3-4/month) to your plan, then in My Sky app tap Parental Controls, choose a profile, and tap Pause all devices.

Troubleshooting

Sky Broadband Hub (SR203) parental controls not working: common fixes

Cannot sign in to broadbandshield.sky.com

You must use the account holder Sky iD, not a family member's. Reset the password from My Sky if needed.

Xbox or PlayStation network blocked

At PG rating, gaming domains can be flagged. Add xboxlive.com, playstation.net, and ea.com to the Allow list.

Settings change but filter still shows old behaviour

Sky's edge cache can take up to 15 minutes. Restart the device after the wait.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is Sky Broadband Shield on by default?

Yes. Sky turned on Broadband Shield by default for every new customer since November 2016. Existing customers can opt out if they wish.

How much does Sky Broadband Shield cost?

Sky Broadband Shield is free with every Sky Broadband package. The per-profile Parental Controls in the My Sky app require Sky WiFi Max (£3-4/month) on Superfast and Ultrafast plans; they are included with Gigafast+.

Can I block YouTube on Sky?

Not by category alone. Go to broadbandshield.sky.com, choose Custom Settings, and add youtube.com plus m.youtube.com, youtu.be and googlevideo.com to your blocked list.

How do I pause my child's WiFi on Sky?

You need Sky WiFi Max. With it, open the My Sky app, tap Parental Controls, choose a profile, and Pause all devices. Without WiFi Max, you can only adjust the Watershed schedule.

What is the Sky Watershed?

A scheduled rule switch. You can set Broadband Shield to be on PG before 9pm and 18 after 9pm, for example. Configure it at broadbandshield.sky.com.

Why can I not change Broadband Shield settings?

You need to sign in with the account holder's Sky iD. Other household Sky iDs cannot change Broadband Shield even if they have account access.

More help

If Sky Broadband Hub (SR203) controls are not enough

Router-level controls have known gaps: mobile data, encrypted apps, VPNs. These guides from our sister site BroadbandSwitch.uk pick up where the router stops.