The fastest way to block a website on Android

The simplest method is to use your phone's built-in parental controls or a DNS-based blocking app. Android does not have a single native website blocker in Settings, so you will need either a third-party app or to adjust how your phone resolves web addresses. Most people find DNS filtering apps the easiest because they work across all browsers at once — you do not have to set rules in Chrome, Firefox, and Samsung Internet separately.

If you want to block just a few sites quickly, you can also restrict them within individual browsers. This takes more setup if you use multiple browsers, but it requires no extra apps. The method you choose depends on whether you want to block sites across your entire phone or just in one browser, and whether you need parental controls for someone else's device.

Key Takeaways

  • DNS filtering apps like NextDNS or OpenDNS block websites across all browsers without needing separate rules in each one.
  • Chrome and Firefox both have built-in content filters that let you block specific sites, but the settings are different in each browser.
  • Android's Family Link lets a parent block sites on a child's device remotely, with the ability to add or remove blocked sites anytime.
  • Some routers have built-in website blocking that affects all devices on your network, which is useful if you want to block sites for everyone at home.

Using a DNS filtering app to block sites across your whole phone

A DNS filter intercepts web requests before they reach your browser, so it blocks a site no matter which app you use to access it. Apps like NextDNS, OpenDNS, and Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 for Families all work this way. You install the app, point your phone's DNS settings to the app's servers, and then add websites to a blocklist. The app does the rest.

To set up NextDNS as an example: download the NextDNS app from the Google Play Store, create a free account, and open the app. Tap the toggle to enable DNS protection. The app will ask permission to set up a VPN connection — this is how it intercepts DNS requests, not because it is actually a VPN. Once enabled, go to the NextDNS website on a computer, log in, and add the websites you want to block under the Blocklists section. Changes take effect immediately on your phone.

The trade-off is that DNS filtering apps use a small amount of battery because they run constantly in the background. If battery life is a concern, use browser-specific blocking instead. Also, some apps may not respect DNS filtering if they bypass it to use their own servers — this is rare but happens with some messaging and streaming apps.

Blocking websites in Chrome

Chrome does not have a built-in website blocker in the app itself, but you can use parental controls through Google Play to restrict access to mature content categories. This is a broad filter, not a way to block specific URLs. Open the Google Play Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right, select Settings, then Parental Controls. Turn it on, set a PIN, and choose which content types to block — this affects Chrome and other apps.

For blocking specific websites in Chrome, you need a third-party extension or app. The most straightforward option is to use a DNS filter app (described above) which will block sites in Chrome without any extra setup. If you prefer a Chrome-only solution, search the Google Play Store for "website blocker" — apps like Freedom and Cold Turkey Blocker work with Chrome, though they require more configuration than DNS filtering.

Blocking websites in Firefox

Firefox on Android does not have a native website blocker either, but you can install the uBlock Origin extension, which blocks ads and can be configured to block entire websites. Open Firefox, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines), select Add-ons, then search for uBlock Origin. Install it, then tap the uBlock icon in your toolbar. Click the settings gear, go to My Filters, and add a line like ||example.com^ to block that site.

This method works only in Firefox. If you use multiple browsers, a DNS filter app is faster because you set it up once and it works everywhere. If you only use Firefox, uBlock Origin is reliable and does not drain battery the way a constant VPN-style filter does.

Using Family Link to block sites on someone else's Android device

If you are a parent and want to block websites on your child's phone, Google Family Link is the built-in tool. Install Family Link on your own device and on your child's device. On your phone, open Family Link, select your child's account, tap Controls on Google Play, and turn on the content filter. You can then set the maturity level — this blocks apps and websites rated above that level.

For more granular control, use the Family Link app to set up screen time limits and app restrictions, which indirectly prevents access to certain sites by limiting when the device can be used. You cannot block individual URLs through Family Link itself, but you can combine it with a DNS filter app on your child's device for that level of control. Changes you make in Family Link take effect immediately on your child's phone, and you can adjust them anytime without needing their PIN.

Blocking websites at the router level

If you want to block a website for everyone on your home network — not just one phone — you can do it through your router's admin panel. Log in to your router by opening a web browser and typing your router's IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) and entering your admin password. Look for a section called Parental Controls, Content Filtering, or Access Control, depending on your router brand.

From there, you can add websites to a blocklist, and they will be blocked on any device connected to that network — phones, tablets, computers, everything. This is useful if you want to enforce a rule for the whole household without installing apps on individual devices. The downside is that anyone can bypass it by connecting to a different network or using mobile data instead of WiFi.

What to do if a blocked site still loads

If a website you blocked still appears, the most common cause is that the app or site is using a different DNS server or bypassing your filter entirely. Try these steps: first, restart your phone to make sure the DNS filter is fully active. Second, clear your browser cache — open Chrome or Firefox, go to Settings, find Clear Browsing Data, and select Cookies and Cached Images. Third, check that your DNS filter app is still running by opening it and confirming the toggle is on.

If the site still loads after those steps, the app or website may be using encrypted DNS (DoH) or a VPN to bypass your filter. In that case, switch to a DNS filter app that supports DoH blocking, like NextDNS, or use Family Link with a stricter content filter. Some sites also use multiple domain names, so you may need to block the parent domain (like example.com) instead of a subdomain (like mail.example.com).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block a website on Android without installing an app?

Not completely. You can block sites within individual browsers like Chrome and Firefox using extensions or parental controls, but you cannot block a site across your entire phone without an app or router-level filtering. A DNS filter app is the easiest single solution because it works everywhere at once.

Will blocking a website slow down my phone?

DNS filtering apps use a small amount of battery and data because they run in the background, but the slowdown is usually not noticeable. Browser-based blocking has almost no performance impact. If you are concerned about battery, use browser-specific blocking or router-level filtering instead.

Can someone unblock a website I blocked on their phone?

If it is their own device and they know the PIN or password, yes — they can uninstall the app or disable the filter. Family Link is harder to bypass because it requires the parent's Google account to remove. Router-level blocking is the hardest to bypass without knowing the admin password, but it can still be bypassed by using mobile data instead of WiFi.

Do I need to block a website in my browser if I use a DNS filter app?

No. A DNS filter app blocks the site across your entire phone, so you do not need to set up blocking in individual browsers. If you use a DNS filter, browser-specific blocking is redundant.

What is the difference between a DNS filter and a VPN?

A DNS filter only intercepts web address lookups and blocks certain sites — it does not encrypt your traffic or hide your IP address. A VPN encrypts all your traffic and routes it through another server. DNS filters use less battery and are faster, but VPNs offer more privacy. For website blocking alone, a DNS filter is sufficient.