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. You can also set a schedule ahead of time for regular routines like getting ready for bed or distraction-free homework time. In order to use Wi-Fi pause, you will first need to set up a Family Wi-Fi group. Note: In the Google Wifi app, groups are called labels.  

Pause and resume a group

Before you begin, you'll need to first create Family Wi-Fi groups.

With the Google Home app

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap Wifi .
  3. Under “Family Wi-Fi,” tap your group name to pause or unpause your device group. You might need to swipe left to see more groups.

With the Google Wifi app

  1. Open the Google Wifi app .
  2. Tap Settings and actions tab .
  3. Tap Family Wi-Fi .
  4. Next to the label you would like to pause, tap Pause . The label will remain paused until you tap again to resume.

 When a label is paused, the status bar beneath it will say so and the pause button will be purple.

With Google Assistant

You can pause and unpause groups, with your voice.  Say “OK, Google,” then...
  • "Pause Wi-Fi for [Family Wi-Fi group name]."
  • "Unpause Wi-Fi for [Family WiFi group name]."

Available when using Google Nest Wifi or Google Wifi in the Home app. Learn more about setting up Voice Match and controlling your devices by voice. 

Pause and resume a specific device

With the Google Wifi app

Pause specific devices

To pause individual devices without a group or label, you will need to use the Google Wifi app.

  1. Open the Google Wifi app .
  2. Tap Settings and actions tab  and then Family Wi-Fi  and then Devices.
  3. Tap Pause  next to a device to pause it.

When a device is paused, a status bar beneath it will say so and the pause button will be purple. A paused device will also jump to the top of your device list.

Add an end time for a paused device

If you paused an individual device, you can set a time to resume Wi-Fi in the Google Wifi app.

  1. Open the Google Wifi app .
  2. Tap the name of the paused device.
  3. Tap Add end time and select a specific time to resume Wi-Fi.

​Choose from 1, 2, 4 hours from now, Until morning (6:00 AM) or a Custom time.

Note: If you pause your own device, you won't be able to access Wi-Fi on that device.

Create a scheduled pause

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

With the Google Home app

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap Wifi  and then Family Wi-Fi and then Add  and then Schedule .
  3. Give your schedule a name.
  4. Select a group and then tap Next.
  5. Select a start time, end time, and on which days you would like the scheduled pause to happen.
  6. Tap Done.

With the Google Wifi app

  1. Open the Google Wifi app .
  2. Tap Settings and actions tab .
  3. Tap the Family Wi-Fi  and then tap Schedules, and then Create schedule  (if you haven’t already created labels, you’ll be prompted to do so).
  4. Tap Create schedule.
  5. Choose a preset or create a custom schedule.
  6. Select your start and end time, then tap Next.
  7. Choose which days you'd like the schedule to occur, then tap Next.
  8. You have successfully scheduled a pause. Tap Done.

Edit a scheduled pause

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

With the Google Home app

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap Wifi  and then Family Wi-Fi and then your schedule.
  3. Edit your schedule and tap Done.

With the Google Wifi app

  1. Open the Google Wifi app .
  2. Tap Settings and actions tab .
  3. Tap the Family Wi-Fi  and then Schedules and then your schedule.
  4. Tap Edit Edit.
  5. Tap Create schedule.
  6. Choose a preset or create a custom schedule.
  7. Select your start and end time, then tap Next.
  8. Choose which days you'd like the schedule to occur, then tap Next.
  9. You have successfully scheduled a pause. Tap Done.

​View upcoming schedules

With the Google Home app

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap Wifi  and then Family Wi-Fi.

With the Google Wifi app

  1. Open the Google Wifi app .
  2. Tap Settings and actions tab  and then Family Wi-Fi  and then Schedules.

Delay active or upcoming schedules

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

With the Google Home app

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap Wifi  and then Family Wi-Fi.
  3. Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More 더보기 and then Delay 30 min.

With the Google Wifi app

To delay an upcoming schedule's start time by 30 minutes, do one of the following:

  • Open the Google Wifi app and tap Delay 30min on the card for the upcoming schedule, or
  • Open the Google Wifi app  and tap Settings and actions tab  and then Family Wi-Fi  and then Schedules and then Manage your options  and then Delay 30min.

Each time you tap "Delay 30min," you'll delay the upcoming pause for an additional 30 minutes.

Skip an upcoming schedule

With the Google Home app

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap Wifi  and then Family Wi-Fi.
  3. Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More 더보기 and then Skip.

With the Google Wifi app

To skip an upcoming schedule, do one of the following:

  • Open the Google Wifi app  and tap Skip on the card for the upcoming schedule, or
  • Open the Google Wifi app  and tap Settings and actions tab  and then Family Wi-Fi  and then Schedules and then Manage your options  and then Skip schedule.

End active schedules early

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

With the Google Home app

  1. Open the Google Home app Google Home app.
  2. Tap Wifi  and then Family Wi-Fi.
  3. Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More 더보기 and then End schedule.

With the Google Wifi app

To end an active schedule before its scheduled end time, do one of the following:

  • Open the Google Wifi app  and tap End now on the card for the active schedule, or
  • Open the Google Wifi app  and tap Settings and actions tab  and then Family Wi-Fi  and then Schedules and then Manage your options  and then End now.

Reconnect a paused device

If you accidentally pause the device that you use to access the Google Home or Google Wifi 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 or Wifi app. Then re-open the app and resume your device.
  • If you have access to another device with the Google Home or Google Wifi 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 re-open the app to resume yourself.
  • Find another location with available Wi-Fi to connect and resume your device.
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