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 in the Google Home app. You can also set a schedule ahead of time for regular routines.
Tip: Family Wi-Fi features do not work with devices that use a Private Address or Randomized MAC Address. This setting prevents your devices from being identified. If you experience problems with Family Wi-Fi, change or disable your device's Randomized MAC setting.
Pause and resume the internet on devices
Before you begin, create a Family Wi-Fi group.
- Open the Google Home app 👁 Google Home app
. - Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Wifi 👁 Wi-Fi
👁 and then
Family Wi-Fi. - Under your group name, tap Pause or Unpause. You might need to swipe left to find more groups.
- "Pause Wi-Fi for [Family Wi-Fi group name]."
- "Unpause Wi-Fi for [Family Wi-Fi group name]."
This is available for Google Nest Wifi systems in the Google Home app. Learn more about how to set up Voice Match and control your devices by voice.
- Open the Google Home app 👁 Google Home app
. - Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Wifi 👁 Wi-Fi
👁 and then
Devices. - Tap the device you want to pause 👁 and then
Pause device. - Select a period of time to pause, then tap Save.
- To resume, tap Paused device.
You can automatically pause the internet for everyday events like your kids' bedtime or family dinners. Create a schedule and select the groups to apply the schedule to. The devices you choose will go offline and come back online according to your schedule.
- Open the Google Home app 👁 Google Home app
. - Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Wifi 👁 Wi-Fi
👁 and then
Family Wi-Fi. - Tap Add 👁 Image
👁 and then
Schedule 👁 Image
. - Give your schedule a name.
- Select a group, then tap Next.
- Select a start time, end time, and what days you'd like the scheduled pause to happen.
- Tap Done.
You can edit the name, scheduled times, and groups associated with the schedule.
- Open the Google Home app 👁 Google Home app
. - Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Wifi 👁 Wi-Fi
👁 and then
Family Wi-Fi. - Select your schedule and edit it.
- Tap Done.
- Open the Google Home app 👁 Google Home app
. - Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Wifi 👁 Wi-Fi
👁 and then
Family Wi-Fi.
Things don't always go as planned, so you might want to postpone an upcoming scheduled pause.
- Open the Google Home app 👁 Google Home app
. - Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Wifi 👁 Wi-Fi
👁 and then
Family Wi-Fi. - Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More 👁 Image
👁 and then
Delay 30 min.
- Open the Google Home app 👁 Google Home app
. - Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Wifi 👁 Wi-Fi
👁 and then
Family Wi-Fi. - Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More 👁 Image
👁 and then
Skip.
You can end an active schedule before its scheduled end time. Once you've ended an active schedule, Wi-Fi will resume for your group's devices. The schedule will reoccur at its next scheduled time.
- Open the Google Home app 👁 Google Home app
. - Tap Home 👁 Image
👁 and then
Wifi 👁 Wi-Fi
👁 and then
Family Wi-Fi. - Next to the schedule you’d like to delay, tap More 👁 Image
👁 and then
End schedule.
Reconnect a paused device
If you accidentally pause the device you use to access the Google Home app, here are a few ways to get your device back online:
-
If your device uses a data plan, turn off its Wi-Fi. Use your data to access the Google Home app. Reopen the app and resume your device.
-
If you have access to another device with the Google Home app installed, resume your device from there.
-
Connect your device to a Wi-Fi connection tethered from a phone or hotspot within your house. Reopen the app to resume your device.
-
Find another location with available Wi-Fi to connect and resume your device.