Kerio Control Web Filter Is Not Activated Categorization Is Disabled Hot 📥 💫

SSH into the Kerio Control box (or use the web admin → Diagnostics → Shell) and run:

/etc/init.d/kerio-filtering stop Remove the cache directory: SSH into the Kerio Control box (or use

curl -v https://download.gfi.com/ curl -v https://update.gfi.com/ Also test the license validation server: Categorization is disabled

Start with and Step 5 (DNS) – these resolve the majority of "hot" support tickets. For persistent issues, enable debug logs and contact GFI support with the output. Categorization is disabled." Alternatively

Introduction If you are a network administrator managing a Kerio Control firewall (formerly WinRoute), you may have encountered a frustrating red banner or log entry stating: "Web Filter is not activated. Categorization is disabled." Alternatively, you might see a variation: "HTTP Policy: Web filter is not available. Categorization is disabled. The 'URL Filtering' rule will be skipped."

Last updated: October 2025 – Compatible with Kerio Control 9.4.x and 10.x.

| | Typical Symptom | |-----------|----------------------| | Expired or missing license | Web Filter shows "Not Activated" in Dashboard; grace period ended. | | DNS resolution failure | Kerio Control cannot resolve update.gfi.com or category cloud servers. | | Firewall rules blocking the appliance itself | Local policy prevents Kerio Control from outbound HTTPS (port 443). | | Corrupted local cache | Database files for categories are damaged. | | Proxy mode misconfiguration | Using transparent proxy on a non-standard port without proper SSL interception. | | Time/date sync issue | Certificate validation fails if system time is incorrect. | | Version-specific bug | Known issues in older releases (e.g., 9.2.x, 9.3.x). | Part 3: Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Step 1: Verify Web Filter License Status Navigate to: Status → License Information (or Configuration → Licenses ).