The main ways to block websites

You can block websites at three different levels: on a single browser, across your whole device, or on your entire home network. Browser-level blocking works fastest if you only need to stop yourself from visiting one or two sites. Device-level blocking affects every browser and app on that computer or phone. Network-level blocking stops anyone on your Wi-Fi from reaching certain sites, which is useful if you're managing access for a household.

The method you choose depends on what you're trying to do. If you want to block distracting sites during work hours on your own laptop, a browser extension takes two minutes. If you're a parent setting boundaries for a child's device, you'll want device-level controls. If you're managing a home network and want one rule that applies everywhere, router settings are the way to go.

Key Takeaways

  • Browser extensions like Freedom, Cold Turkey, or LeechBlock let you block specific websites in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari without affecting other programs.
  • Built-in parental controls on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android let you block sites across all browsers and apps on a single device.
  • Router settings let you block websites for everyone on your home network at once, though the process varies by router brand.
  • DNS-level blocking through services like OpenDNS or Cloudflare for Families blocks sites before they load, even if someone tries to bypass browser settings.
  • Blocking software can be circumvented by switching browsers, using a VPN, or changing DNS settings, so it works best as a reminder tool rather than an absolute barrier.

Browser extensions for blocking specific sites

A browser extension is the quickest way to block a handful of websites on the device you're using right now. Extensions live inside your browser—Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge—and only affect that browser. If you open a different browser or use an app, the blocks don't apply.

Freedom and Cold Turkey are the most popular options. Both let you create a blocklist, set times when the blocks are active, and add a password so you can't easily turn them off when you're tempted. Freedom costs about $7 per month or $40 per year and works across browsers and devices if you pay for the full version. Cold Turkey is a one-time purchase of $39 for the basic version and blocks at the application level, so it stops the website even if you try to access it through a different browser.

LeechBlock NG is free and works in Firefox and Chrome. It's simpler than Freedom or Cold Turkey—you set a blocklist and times, and that's it—but it has no password protection, so anyone using your device can turn it off. News Feed Eradicator is free and specifically targets social media feeds on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube, letting you still access the sites but hiding the endless scroll.

To install an extension, go to the Chrome Web Store, Firefox Add-ons, or Safari Extensions depending on your browser, search for the tool by name, and click Add or Install. The extension then appears in your toolbar, and you configure it from there.

Device-level blocking on Windows and macOS

If you want to block websites across every browser and app on your computer, use your operating system's built-in controls. On Windows 10 and 11, this is called Parental Controls or Family Safety. On macOS, it's Screen Time.

On Windows, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, select the account you want to manage, click Parental controls, and then open the account in the Family Safety portal online. From there, you can set App and game restrictions, Web browsing restrictions, and Screen time limits. Web browsing restrictions let you block specific websites or entire categories like adult content or gambling.

On macOS, open System Settings > General > Parental Controls (or Screen Time on newer versions), select the user account, and go to Content Restrictions. You can block adult websites, limit access to specific apps, and set downtime hours when the device locks. macOS also lets you restrict which apps can be installed, which is useful if you want to prevent someone from downloading a different browser to bypass the blocks.

Both systems require a password to change the settings, so someone can't simply turn off the blocks. However, both can be circumvented by restarting the computer in safe mode or using a different user account that doesn't have restrictions.

Device-level blocking on iPhone, iPad, and Android

On iPhone and iPad, use Screen Time to block websites. Open Settings > Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, enter a four-digit code, and go to Web Content. Choose Unrestricted Access, Limit Adult Websites, or Allowed Websites Only. If you choose Limit Adult Websites, you can add specific sites to a blocklist. If you choose Allowed Websites Only, you create a whitelist and nothing else loads.

On Android, the process depends on your phone's manufacturer. On a Google Pixel or most Android phones, go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls, select the user account, and tap App timers or Bedtime mode. These don't block websites directly, but they do lock the device during certain hours. For website blocking specifically, you'll need to use a third-party app like Google Family Link (if you're managing a child's device) or install a browser with built-in blocking like Firefox Focus.

Google Family Link is free and lets a parent block specific apps and websites on a child's Android phone or tablet from the parent's own device. You set it up by installing Family Link on both phones, linking the accounts, and then managing restrictions from the parent app.

Blocking websites on your home network

If you want to block websites for everyone on your Wi-Fi at once, you configure your router. This works because all internet traffic on your network passes through the router before reaching the wider internet. The exact steps depend on your router's brand and model, but the general process is the same.

Log into your router's admin panel by opening a web browser and typing your router's IP address—usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1—into the address bar. You'll need your router's admin username and password, which are often printed on the router itself or in the manual. Once you're logged in, look for a section called Parental Controls, Access Control, or Content Filtering. From there, you can enter website addresses or domain names you want to block.

If your router doesn't have built-in blocking, or if the interface is confusing, you can use a DNS filtering service instead. DNS is the system that translates website names into the addresses your device needs to reach them. By changing your router's DNS settings to point to a filtering service, you block websites before they even try to load. Cloudflare for Families and OpenDNS both offer free or low-cost DNS filtering. You change your router's DNS settings in the same admin panel where you'd set up parental controls, usually under Internet Settings or WAN Settings.

Router-level blocking can be bypassed by changing the DNS settings on an individual device, so it's not a foolproof barrier. But it does stop casual browsing and requires someone to actively know how to change DNS settings to get around it.

DNS filtering for stronger blocking

DNS filtering works differently from the other methods because it blocks websites before your device even tries to connect to them. Instead of your device asking "What is the address for this website?" and then deciding whether to go there, DNS filtering intercepts that question and says "I don't know that address" if the site is blocked.

Cloudflare for Families is free and blocks malware and adult content by default. You change your device's DNS settings to use Cloudflare's addresses (1.1.1.3 for blocking malware and adult content, or 1.1.1.2 for blocking malware only). This works on any device—phone, computer, tablet—and across all browsers and apps. OpenDNS offers a free tier with basic filtering and paid tiers with more control. Both services let you create custom blocklists and see what sites people on your network tried to visit.

The advantage of DNS filtering is that it's harder to bypass than browser extensions or device settings. The disadvantage is that it's less precise—you're blocking at the domain level, so you can't block a specific page on a website, only the entire domain. Also, someone with technical knowledge can change their device's DNS settings back to the default, or use a different DNS service entirely.

What to do if someone bypasses the blocks

Website blocking is a reminder tool, not a lock. Someone determined enough can usually get around it by using a VPN, switching to a different browser, changing DNS settings, or restarting their device in safe mode. The stronger the block, the harder it is to bypass, but none of them are impossible.

If you're trying to manage your own internet use, the blocks work best when combined with accountability—telling someone else what you're trying to avoid, or using a service that reports your activity. If you're managing a child's device, combine blocking with open conversation about why certain sites are off-limits. If someone is actively trying to circumvent the blocks, that's usually a sign that the rule itself needs to be discussed, not just enforced more strictly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block a website on just my phone without affecting other devices?

Yes. Use your phone's built-in parental controls (Screen Time on iPhone, Digital Wellbeing on Android) or install a browser extension if your phone's browser supports them. This won't affect your computer or anyone else's device. If you want to block it across all your devices, use a DNS filtering service and change the DNS settings on each device individually.

What's the difference between blocking a website and using a VPN to hide my activity?

Blocking stops you from reaching a website. A VPN hides your internet activity from your internet provider and network administrator, but doesn't stop you from visiting sites. They do opposite things—blocking is about access control, VPN is about privacy. Someone using a VPN can still visit blocked sites if they know how to change their DNS settings.

If I block a website on my router, can someone on my Wi-Fi still visit it using a VPN?

Yes. A VPN encrypts your traffic and routes it through a different server, so the router can't see where you're going. Router-level blocking only works on devices that use the router's DNS. DNS filtering is slightly harder to bypass because it blocks at the DNS level, but someone can still change their device's DNS settings to use a different service.

Will blocking websites slow down my internet?

Browser extensions and device-level blocking have no noticeable effect on speed. Router-level blocking and DNS filtering might add a tiny delay—a few milliseconds—because your device has to check the blocklist before loading a page, but you won't notice it in normal use.

Can I block websites only during certain hours?

Yes, most tools support this. Browser extensions like Freedom and Cold Turkey let you set schedules. Device-level parental controls on Windows, macOS, and iOS let you set downtime hours when the device locks entirely. Router-level blocking usually doesn't have scheduling built in, but some DNS filtering services do. Check your specific tool's settings to see what scheduling options are available.