Free ISP-supplied hub

How to set up parental controls on Virgin Media Hub 3

Virgin Media Web Safe + Virgin Media Connect app

Author: Editorial team, ParentalControl.uk. Reviewed by: SSS Group editorial board. Last verified: 12 May 2026. Version tested: Router setup flow current to router review date. Changelog: view updates.

Initiative funded and led by Dr Alex J. Martin-Smith, CMgr · MBA · LLM · DBA. Contact Alex directly at ams@upleashed.com or 0330 122 1223 / 07624 218080.

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

Reviewed using our published methodology.

Quick answer

Hub 3 uses the same Web Safe (Adult, Virus & Malware) and Connect app (per-device pause, schedule) as Hub 4 and Hub 5. No Wi-Fi Pods, slower Wi-Fi, but parental controls identical.

Cost Free with every Virgin Media broadband package

Where to manage Virgin Media Connect app

Time to set up About 5 minutes

Wi-Fi standard Wi-Fi 5

Shipped by Virgin Media

UK install base About 2 million UK households (declining)

Step by step

Step-by-step setup

01
Download Virgin Media Connect and sign in.
02
Tap Devices, tap the child's device, then Pause or Schedule.
03
For content filtering, sign in at My Virgin Media → Settings → Web Safe.
04
Confirm Adult and Virus & Malware are on.

Manufacturer source: https://www.virginmedia.com/help/virgin-media-connect-app

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 Virgin Media Hub 3 parental controls can and cannot do

Features that work

Web Safe Adult and Virus & Malware filtering.
Connect app per-device pause and schedule.

Features that do not work

Only two content categories.
No Wi-Fi Pods.
Mobile data, encrypted apps, VPN bypass.

How to block YouTube on Virgin Media Hub 3

Web Safe does not block YouTube. Use Connect app schedule or device-level Screen Time / Family Link.

How to pause Wi-Fi on Virgin Media Hub 3

Connect app → Devices → Pause or Schedule.

Troubleshooting

Virgin Media Hub 3 parental controls not working: common fixes

Hub 3 slow or unstable

Hub 3 is end-of-life. Request a free Hub 5 upgrade through My Virgin Media.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

Is Hub 3 still supported?

Yes for the parental controls product, but the hardware is end-of-life. Virgin Media is offering free Hub 5 upgrades to Hub 3 and Hub 4 customers through 2026.

More help

If Virgin Media Hub 3 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.

Online Safety Hub The full BroadbandSwitch.uk online-safety hub. Router Parental Controls A non-technical parents' guide to router-level controls. UK ISP Parental Controls Every UK ISP's parental control product compared. Apple Screen Time For when a child uses mobile data and leaves home Wi-Fi.

References

Virgin Media. (2026). Virgin Media Hub 3, Hub 4 & Hub 5: Hub Swaps & Upgrades. https://www.virginmedia.com/broadband/existing-customer-deals/hub

Want to test whether your new filter is working?

Run the protection check