StudyLock

How StudyLock works, step by step

Setting up StudyLock takes about ten minutes, start to finish. The three steps below name who does each part, on which device, and exactly what to click. This guide also covers what to do if something doesn't go as expected.

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What do you need before you start?

Three things, and nothing technical: a way to reach studylock.org, your child's computer with Chrome on it, and about ten minutes.

Your own device

Any computer or phone with a web browser. This is where you sign up and set the rules.

Your child's computer

A Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook computer with the Chrome browser — the one your child actually uses.

About ten minutes

Enough time to sign up, set the first rules, and pair your child's Chrome — in one sitting.

What are the three setup steps?

Each step below says who does it, where, when, and exactly how. Steps 1 and 2 are on your own device; step 3 is the only one that touches your child's computer.

  1. 1

    Create your parent account

    Who

    You, the parent

    Where

    On any computer or phone

    When

    First — about a minute

    How

    1. Open studylock.org in any web browser.
    2. Click the “Get started” button.
    3. Click “Create a parent account” on the page that opens.
    4. Sign up with your email address and a password.

    You land on your dashboard — the single place you control everything from now on.

  2. 2

    Add your child and confirm the starter rules

    Who

    You, the parent

    Where

    On your dashboard, at studylock.org

    When

    Right after signing up

    How

    1. Click “Add child” and give the profile a name.
    2. Review the starter rules — adult, dating and gambling sites blocked, SafeSearch on. Fine-tune them now or later.
    3. Click “Continue to pairing”, then “Get pairing code”.

    Your dashboard shows a six-digit pairing code — it works for ten minutes. You use it in the next step.

  3. 3

    Set it up on your child's computer

    Who

    You — on your child's computer (do it together, or while it's free)

    Where

    In the Chrome browser on your child's computer (Windows, Mac, Linux, or Chromebook)

    When

    Once, within ten minutes of getting the code

    How

    1. Open Chrome on your child's computer.
    2. Add StudyLock to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store — the listing is pending review, so this step goes live when it publishes.
    3. Click the puzzle-piece icon near the top-right of Chrome to see your extensions. Next to StudyLock, click the three dots and choose “Options”.
    4. Choose a 4-8 digit parent PIN and click “Save PIN”. The PIN keeps these settings in your hands — you'll enter it to change anything here later.
    5. Type the six-digit code from your dashboard and click “Pair device”.

    Done. The rules you set are now active on that computer, and everything else is managed from your dashboard.

What can you do from now on?

Setup happens once. After that, everything is done from your dashboard on any browser — nothing more to touch on your child's computer.

Change rules any time

Edit the block list or the focus schedule, pause or lock in one tap, and approve or decline your child's request to open a site. Changes reach the paired Chrome the next time it checks in.

Common problems and how to fix them

The situations parents run into most, and the plain fix for each.

The block isn't working — the site still opens. What now?
Saved rules reach your child's Chrome on its next check-in — usually within a few minutes — and blocking then applies the next time a page loads. Wait a few minutes, then open the site in a new tab. If it still opens, check on your dashboard that the device is paired.
What if your child opens sites in an Incognito window?
By default, Chrome turns extensions off in Incognito. On your child's Chrome, open the three-dot menu → Extensions → Manage extensions, find StudyLock, and switch on “Allow in Incognito.” Then open an Incognito window and confirm a blocked site is blocked.
What about a Guest window or a different browser?
StudyLock covers the Chrome browser on that computer. Turn off Chrome's Guest mode, and if your child can open another browser (Edge, Firefox, Safari), remove or block it — StudyLock cannot see inside other browsers.
Does blocking stop when the internet drops?
No. StudyLock keeps enforcing the last rules you set, even with no connection. It will not suddenly open blocked sites just because the Wi-Fi is down.
The pairing code didn't work or expired. What now?
A pairing code lasts ten minutes. If it expired, open your dashboard, generate a fresh code, and type it again on your child's computer.
What if your child removes the extension?
A browser extension can be removed, and StudyLock is honest about that. Your dashboard shows when a device stops checking in, so you will notice — then reinstall StudyLock and pair again with a new code.
Pause is on, but a video keeps playing — why?
Pause and lock take effect the next time a page loads. Reload the open tab and the change applies right away.
What happens to focus schedules when the family travels across timezones?
Focus schedules run on the timezone of the computer you set them up on, so a 9 pm window stays 9 pm at home. Travel to a different timezone and your child's device plays it safe — it keeps focus on until a parent opens the schedule and saves it again from the new location, which re-syncs it to where you are.
Can two parents manage the same child?
Yes. From your dashboard, create a one-time invite code and share it with the other parent yourself — no email is sent. Once they join, both of you can see status, change rules, pause, or approve requests.

Ready to set up the first device?

Create a parent account, install the StudyLock extension, and pair your child's Chrome in the same sitting.

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