How to block websites on Chrome, Safari, and more

Navigating the internet today requires an awareness of the different types of websites we access and that are available to us. Search engines do a great job identifying and recommending quality websites that provide us with the information we need.

However, not all websites are safe. There are websites that parents wouldn’t want their children to access. There are also malicious websites containing malware that could compromise our devices or spy on our online activity.

Read our post on how to block websites on Chrome, Safari, and other browsers to prevent you from inadvertently visiting dangerous websites, and discover new ways of protecting your online browsing experience with a specialized private browser with built-in security features.

How to block websites on Chrome

Google Chrome provides two types of website blocking:

1. Built-in settings - This type of website blocking prevents websites from accessing your information and devices such as your location, microphone, and camera. This method does not block users from accessing the websites.
2. Browser extension - This method blocks full websites on the URL level, preventing users from accessing them entirely.
   

To learn how to do both, we’ve provided steps below to guide you through the process.

Block websites with built-in settings:

1. Open Chrome settings by clicking on the three-dot menu in the top-right corner.
2. Choose "Settings" and navigate to "Privacy and security."
3. Select Under "View permissions and data stored across sites" under "Site settings."
4. Choose "Block" from the drop-down menu next to the site name to block location and notification permissions for specific sites.

Block websites with Chrome extension:

1. Open the Chrome Web Store by clicking on the three-dot menu and selecting "Extensions."
2. In the search bar, type "Block Site" and press Enter. Select extensions from the results page.
3. Select “Add to Chrome”
4. A pop-up window will appear to confirm the installation. Click “Add extension.”
5. After installation, an icon will appear near the address bar.
6. Click on the “Block Site” icon to open its menu while you’re on the website you’d like to block.
7. Select “Block this site” to block.

How to block websites on Safari

Mac users have access to the built-in Screen Time feature, which is a useful way to restrict access to specific websites without the need of extensions or third-party apps. This method helps maintain a controlled online environment for users, especially children. Here’s how to do it:

 

1. Click on the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen, then select "System settings" from the dropdown menu.
2. Locate “Screen Time,” and activate.
3. Find “Content & privacy” and switch it on.
4. Go to “Content restrictions” and next to “Access to web content”, select “Limit adult websites”
5. Click the “Customize” button, and under the “Restricted” section, manually input the website URLs you’d like to block by clicking the “+” button.
6. Click “Done” to finalize.

How to block websites on Windows

Windows allows you to restrict access to specific websites on the operating system level by modifying the hosts files, effectively preventing users from accessing those sites regardless of the browser they use. Blocking websites through this method requires some technical knowledge and administrative privileges. Follow these steps to implement website URL blocking:

1. Navigate to the hosts file location:
   
   • Open the “File Explorer” and go to the C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc directory.
   • Locate the hosts file.
2. Edit the hosts file:
   • Right-click on the hosts file and choose an appropriate text editor, like Notepad.
   • Open the file with administrative privileges.
3. Block a website:
   • To block a specific website, add the following line to the end of the file:
     127.0.0.1 
   • Enter the URL of the site you want to block and press Enter.
4. Save the changes:
   • Save the changes to the hosts file and close the text editor.
5. Flush DNS cache:
   • Open the “Command Prompt” with administrative privileges.
   • Enter the command: ipconfig /flushdns
   • This step ensures that the changes take effect immediately.

How to block websites on Mac

Blocking access to specific websites on a Mac requires modifying the hosts file. Like Windows, this method blocks websites on the operating system level, preventing users from accessing the website on all browsers. This is done through the Terminal app and requires some technical knowledge when inputting commands on the terminal. Follow the steps below to block website URLs on your Mac:

1. Open the Terminal app:
   • Launch the Terminal app. You can find it in the Applications > Utilities folder or quickly search for it using Spotlight (Command + Space, then type "Terminal").
2. Open the hosts file:
   • Type the command “sudo nano /etc/hosts” in the opened Terminal window and press Return.
   • Enter your administrator password. The command will open the hosts file.
3. Block a website:
   • With the hosts file opened, navigate to the bottom of the file using your keyboard arrow keys.
   • To block a specific website, type the following line: 127.0.0.1
   • Enter the URL you want to block next to the inputted line and press Return.
4. Save the changes:
   • Press Command + O to save the file.
   • Press Command + X to exit the nano text editor.
5. Flush DNS cache:
   • In the Terminal window, type the command “sudo dscacheutil -flushcache” and press Return.
   • This step ensures that the changes take effect immediately.

How to block websites on iPhone

Apple provides effective parental control tools that allow you to block websites on an iPhone. With these tools, you can confidently manage website access for yourself or others for a safer browsing experience. Follow the steps below to block website URLs on your iPhone:

1. Navigate to settings:
   • Open the “Settings” on the home screen.
2. Access Screen Time:
   • Scroll down to press "Screen Time."
3. Enable content & privacy restrictions:
   • If not already enabled, tap "Content & Privacy Restrictions" and turn them on.
4. Configure web content restrictions:
   • Tap on "Content Restrictions" and then select "Web Content."
5. Choose website restriction level:
   • You can choose between "Limit Adult Websites" or "Specific Websites Only."
   • "Limit Adult Websites" restricts access to adult content automatically.
   • "Specific Websites Only" lets you manually add websites to the allowed list.
6. Add websites to the block List:
   • If you chose "Specific Websites Only," tap on "Add Website" under the "Always Allow" section.
   • Enter the URL you want to block and tap "Done."
7. Save the changes:
   • Press the back arrow to save your changes and return to the previous screen.

How to block websites on Android

Android’s Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls feature allows you to restrict access to specific websites. Android users can browse the internet safely with just a few clicks. Follow the steps below to restrict certain websites on your Android:

1. Navigate to settings:
   • Open “Settings” on your home screen.
2. Access digital wellbeing & parental controls:
   • Select "Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls."
3. Set up parental controls:
   • Choose "Parental controls" and set up a PIN for access.
4. Configure site restrictions:
   • Tap on "Filters on Google Chrome" to customize site restrictions.
5. Block websites:
   • Add websites to the block list by entering their URLs.
   • Save the settings.

Make a safer internet browsing experience

Knowing how to block websites is useful knowledge to have as you and your family browse the internet. While many websites provide value to visitors, there is also a chance you can land on malicious websites that contain malware and more.

For an added layer of security, install Norton Private Browser to block fake and dangerous websites, suspicious ads, and malware from compromising your devices. With a specialized browser with built-in security settings, you can browse the web with peace of mind.