How to block a site in Safari
You can block websites in Safari using the built-in parental controls on Mac, or by using the Screen Time settings on iPhone and iPad. On a Mac, you open System Settings, navigate to Parental Controls, and add the site to a restricted list. On iPhone or iPad, you use Screen Time to restrict access to specific websites or entire categories. Both methods prevent Safari from loading the blocked site when you or anyone using the device tries to visit it.
The method you choose depends on what you're trying to do. If you want to block sites for yourself as a reminder, Screen Time works on any Apple device. If you're a parent managing a child's device, parental controls on Mac give you more granular control, while Screen Time on iPhone offers a simpler approach that syncs across devices.
Key Takeaways
- On Mac, use System Settings > Parental Controls to add specific websites to a restricted list that Safari will not load.
- On iPhone and iPad, Screen Time lets you restrict websites by category or add individual sites to a blocked list.
- Blocked sites will show an error message in Safari, and the browser will not load the page even if you type the address directly.
- You can remove a blocked site at any time by going back to the same settings and deleting it from the list.
- Screen Time restrictions sync across all your Apple devices if you use the same Apple ID, so blocking a site on one device affects all of them.
Blocking sites on Mac using Parental Controls
On a Mac, the most direct way to block a website is through System Settings. Open System Settings, then click "General" in the sidebar. Scroll down and click "Parental Controls." You may need to unlock this section by clicking the lock icon and entering your password.
Once you're in Parental Controls, look for the "Restrictions" tab. Under the "Websites" section, you'll see options to restrict access to adult content or to allow only certain websites. If you want to block specific sites, select "Limit Adult Websites" or "Allow Only These Websites," depending on your preference. Click the plus sign to add a website URL to your list. Type the full address (for example, example.com) and click "Add." Safari will now block that site from loading.
If you choose "Allow Only These Websites," Safari will only load the sites you add to the list — everything else is blocked. This is more restrictive but useful if you want to limit browsing to a small set of approved sites. If you choose "Limit Adult Websites," Safari blocks sites it categorizes as adult content, but you can also manually add specific sites to the blocked list.
Blocking sites on iPhone and iPad using Screen Time
On iPhone or iPad, open Settings and tap "Screen Time." Tap "Content & Privacy Restrictions" and turn on the toggle if it's not already on. You may be asked to set a Screen Time passcode — this is a four-digit code that prevents others from changing your restrictions.
Once Content & Privacy Restrictions is on, scroll down and tap "Web Content." You'll see three options: "Unrestricted," "Limit Adult Websites," or "Allowed Websites Only." If you want to block specific sites, tap "Limit Adult Websites" first. Scroll down to "Never Allow" and tap "Add Website." Type the URL of the site you want to block and tap "Add." That site will now be blocked in Safari.
If you prefer to allow only certain websites, select "Allowed Websites Only" instead. This means Safari will only load sites you add to the approved list. You add sites the same way — by tapping "Add Website" and typing the URL. This option is stricter but useful if you want to restrict browsing to a curated set of sites.
What happens when you try to visit a blocked site
When you or someone else tries to visit a blocked website in Safari, the browser will display an error message instead of loading the page. The message will say something like "This website is restricted" or "You don't have permission to access this website." The page will not load, even if you type the address directly into the address bar or click a link to it.
If you set up a Screen Time passcode, the person trying to access the site will see an option to "Ask for Screen Time Passcode" or "Request Permission." If you're the one who set the passcode, you can enter it to temporarily allow access to that site. This is useful if you want to block a site most of the time but allow occasional exceptions.
Removing a blocked site
To unblock a site, go back to the same settings where you added it. On Mac, open System Settings > General > Parental Controls, find the site in your blocked list, and click the minus sign next to it. On iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Web Content, find the site under "Never Allow," swipe left on it, and tap "Delete."
If you set a Screen Time passcode and forget it, you'll need to reset it through your Apple ID. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Screen Time, tap "Change Screen Time Passcode," then tap "Forgot Passcode?" You'll be asked to sign in with your Apple ID to reset it.
Using Safari extensions to block sites
Beyond the built-in controls, you can also use third-party Safari extensions designed to block websites. Extensions like 1Blocker, Wipr, or Adblock Plus can block specific sites or categories of content. To add an extension, open Safari, go to Safari > Settings (or Preferences on older Macs), click the "Extensions" tab, and search for the extension you want. Download and install it, then configure which sites it should block.
Extensions work differently from the built-in parental controls — they run in the browser itself rather than at the system level. This means they're easier to bypass if someone knows how to disable them, but they offer more flexibility in what you can block. Some extensions block ads and trackers in addition to specific websites, which can speed up browsing on sites that load slowly.
Blocking sites across all your Apple devices
If you use Screen Time on iPhone or iPad and sign in with your Apple ID, your restrictions will sync to other devices you own that use the same Apple ID. This means if you block a site on your iPhone, it will also be blocked on your iPad and Mac if you have Screen Time set up on those devices too.
On Mac, Screen Time works similarly — open System Settings > General > Screen Time, set up your restrictions, and they'll sync across your devices. If you're managing a child's device, you can set up Family Sharing in Settings, which lets you manage their Screen Time restrictions from your own device without needing to physically access theirs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone bypass a blocked site by using a different browser?
Yes. The built-in Safari restrictions only affect Safari — they don't block sites in Chrome, Firefox, or other browsers. If you want to restrict browsing across all apps, you need to set up Screen Time restrictions at the device level rather than just in Safari. On iPhone, this means turning on Content & Privacy Restrictions and setting Web Content limits, which applies to all browsers.
What if I block a site by mistake?
You can unblock it immediately by going back to the same settings and removing it from the blocked list. On Mac, open System Settings > Parental Controls and click the minus sign next to the site. On iPhone, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Web Content and swipe left to delete it. The site will load normally in Safari after you remove it.
Does blocking a site in Safari also block it in Mail or other apps?
No. Safari restrictions only affect the Safari browser. If a link to a blocked site appears in Mail, Messages, or another app, tapping it will still try to open the site. To block sites across all apps, use Screen Time's Content & Privacy Restrictions instead, which applies device-wide rather than just to Safari.
Can I block a site temporarily and then unblock it later?
Yes. You can add and remove sites from your blocked list at any time. If you set up a Screen Time passcode, you can also request temporary permission to visit a blocked site without removing it from the list permanently. When you try to visit the blocked site, you'll see an option to request access, and you can enter your passcode to allow it just that once.
Will blocking a site affect my internet speed?
No. Blocking a site in Safari doesn't change your internet speed — it just prevents the browser from loading that specific address. The restriction happens in the browser itself, not at the network level, so other devices on your network are unaffected.