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 when you get 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
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Wi-Fi
.
- Under “Family Wi-Fi,” tap your group name to pause or unpause your device group. You might need to swipe left to find more groups.
With the Google Wifi app
- Open the Google Wifi app
.
- Tap Settings and actions tab
.
- Tap Family Wi-Fi
.
- 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
- "Pause Wi-Fi for [Family Wi-Fi group name]."
- "Unpause Wi-Fi for [Family Wi-Fi group name]."
Available when you use your Google Nest Wifi or Google Wifi in the Home app. Learn more about how to set up Voice Match and control your devices by voice.
Pause and resume a specific device
With the Google Home app
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Wi-Fi
Devices.
- Next to the device you want to pause, tap Pause. To resume, tap Unpause.
Note: If a device is set as a priority device, you’ll need to end the priority setting before you pause the device. To pause a priority device, tap End now Pause.
Pause specific devices
- Open the Google Wifi app
.
- Tap Settings and actions tab
Family Wi-Fi
Devices.
- To pause it, next to a device, tap Pause
.
When a device is paused in the Google Wifi app, 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.
- Open the Google Wifi app
.
- Tap the name of the paused device.
- Tap Add end time and select a specific time to resume Wi-Fi.
Choose from 1, 2 or 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
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Wi-Fi
Family Wi-Fi
Add
Schedule
.
- Give your schedule a name.
- Select a group
tap Next.
- Select a start time, end time, and on which days you would like the scheduled pause to happen.
- Tap Done.
With the Google Wifi app
- Open the Google Wifi app
.
- Tap Settings and actions tab
.
- Tap Family Wi-Fi
Schedules
Create schedule
(if you haven’t already created labels, you’ll be prompted to do so).
- Tap Create schedule.
- Choose a preset or create a custom schedule.
- Select your start and end time, then tap Next.
- Choose which days you'd like the schedule to occur, then tap Next.
- 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
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Wi-Fi
Family Wi-Fi
your schedule.
- Edit your schedule and tap Done.
With the Google Wifi app
- Open the Google Wifi app
.
- Tap Settings and actions tab
.
- Tap Family Wi-Fi
Schedules
your schedule.
- Tap Edit
.
- Tap Create schedule.
- Choose a preset or create a custom schedule.
- Select your start and end time, then tap Next.
- Choose which days you'd like the schedule to occur, then tap Next.
- You have successfully scheduled a pause. Tap Done.
View upcoming schedules
With the Google Home app
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Wi-Fi
Family Wi-Fi.
With the Google Wifi app
- Open the Google Wifi app
.
- Tap Settings and actions tab
Family Wi-Fi
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
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Wi-Fi
Family Wi-Fi.
- Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More
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 30 min on the card for the upcoming schedule.
- Open the Google Wifi app
and tap Settings and actions tab
Family Wi-Fi
Schedules
Manage your options
Delay 30 min.
Each time you tap "Delay 30 min," you'll delay the upcoming pause for an additional 30 minutes.
Skip an upcoming schedule
With the Google Home app
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Wi-Fi
Family Wi-Fi.
- Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More
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.
- Open the Google Wifi app
and tap Settings and actions tab
Family Wi-Fi
Schedules
Manage your options
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
- Open the Google Home app
.
- Tap Wi-Fi
Family Wi-Fi.
- Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More
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.
- Open the Google Wifi app
and tap Settings and actions tab
Family Wi-Fi
Schedules
Manage your options
End now.
Reconnect a paused device
If you accidentally pause the device that you use to access the Google Home app or Google Wifi app, below 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 app or Wifi app. Then reopen the app and resume your device.
- If you have access to another device with the Google Home app 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 reopen the app to resume your device.
- Find another location with available Wi-Fi to connect and resume your device.