Free ISP-supplied hub

How to set up parental controls on Virgin Media Hub 4

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

Web Safe blocks Adult and Virus & Malware network-wide. The Virgin Media Connect app adds per-device pause and scheduled WiFi cutoff. Setup is identical to Hub 5 but Hub 4 does not support WiFi Pods.

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 1.5 million UK households (declining as Hub 5 rollout continues)

Step by step

Step-by-step setup

01
Download the Virgin Media Connect app and sign in.
02
Tap Devices and find the device you want to control.
03
Tap Pause to pause immediately or Schedule to set a daily pause window.
04
For content filtering, sign in to My Virgin Media (virginmedia.com), tap Settings → Web Safe, and 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 4 parental controls can and cannot do

Features that work

Web Safe Adult and Virus & Malware filtering.
Connect app per-device pause and schedule.
Covers every device on the home Wi-Fi.

Features that do not work

Only two content categories.
No per-child profiles.
No WiFi Pod support (Hub 5 only).
Mobile data, encrypted apps, VPN bypass.

How to block YouTube on Virgin Media Hub 4

Same as Hub 5: Web Safe does not block YouTube. Use Connect app pauses or device-level Apple Screen Time / Google Family Link.

How to pause Wi-Fi on Virgin Media Hub 4

Connect app → Devices → tap device → Pause or Schedule.

Troubleshooting

Virgin Media Hub 4 parental controls not working: common fixes

Hub 4 running hot

Make sure the Hub is upright and not enclosed. Hub 4 is known to run warm; this is normal.

Wanting WiFi Pods

WiFi Pods only work with Hub 5. Request a free Hub 5 upgrade through My Virgin Media.

FAQs

Frequently asked questions

How is Hub 4 different from Hub 5?

Hub 4 is Wi-Fi 5 only and does not support WiFi Pods. Hub 5 adds Wi-Fi 6 and WiFi Pod compatibility. Parental controls are identical.

Can I get a free Hub 5 upgrade from Hub 4?

Yes. Virgin Media O2 began rolling out free Hub 5 upgrades in October 2025. Check My Virgin Media or wait for an upgrade email.

More help

If Virgin Media Hub 4 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
Virgin Media O2. (2025). Virgin Media O2 begins upgrading customers to the WiFi Hub 5 for free. https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/virgin-media-o2-begins-upgrading-customers-to-the-wifi-hub-5-for-free/

Want to test whether your new filter is working?

Run the protection check