What blocking a website means and where you can do it
Blocking a website stops it from appearing in your Google search results, or prevents you from visiting it altogether — depending on which method you use. Google Search has a built-in feature to hide specific sites from your results. Your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge) can block sites at the device level, which works across all browsers and apps. A router can block sites for everyone on your home network. Which one you choose depends on whether you want to hide results just for yourself, prevent access for your whole household, or stop a site from loading at all.
Each method has a different scope and strength. Hiding a site from Google Search only affects what you see when you search — it does not stop you from visiting the site directly. Browser extensions and device-level controls block the site across your device but can sometimes be bypassed. Router-level blocking is the hardest to work around because it stops the site from loading before it even reaches your device, though someone on your network can still use a VPN to bypass it.
Key Takeaways
- Google Search lets you hide unwanted sites from your results by clicking the three dots next to a search result and selecting "Don't show results from this site."
- Browser extensions like uBlock Origin and Freedom can block websites across your device, and work in any browser you install them in.
- Your router's parental controls can block sites for everyone on your home network, which is the most effective method if you share a connection with others.
- Windows and Mac both have built-in content filtering tools that block sites at the operating system level without needing extra software.
- Blocking a site in Google Search does not prevent you from visiting it directly — you need a browser extension or router setting to do that.
Hiding websites from Google Search results
Google Search has a feature that removes a specific website from your results without affecting anyone else's searches. This is the simplest method if you just want to stop seeing a particular site when you search.
To hide a site from Google Search: perform your search normally, find a result from the site you want to block, click the three vertical dots to the right of that result, and select "Don't show results from this site." Google will remember this choice and stop showing that domain in your future searches. You can undo this at any time by clicking the three dots again and selecting "Show results from this site."
This method only works on Google Search itself. It does not prevent you from visiting the site directly if you type the URL into your address bar, and it does not block the site on other search engines like Bing or DuckDuckGo. If you want to actually prevent the site from loading, you need to use a browser extension or router control instead.
Blocking websites in your browser with extensions
Browser extensions are small programs that add features to your web browser. Several extensions can block websites across your entire device, which means the site will not load no matter how you try to reach it — through search, a link, or typing the URL directly.
uBlock Origin is a free, open-source extension available for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari. It blocks ads by default, but you can add custom rules to block specific websites. To block a site: install the extension, visit the site you want to block, click the uBlock Origin icon in your toolbar, click the power icon to turn off uBlock for that site (this adds it to your blocklist), then reload the page. The site will not load the next time you try to visit.
Freedom is a paid extension ($7 per month or $40 per year) that specializes in blocking distracting websites and apps. It works across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, and syncs your blocklist across all your devices. You can set schedules — for example, block social media sites during work hours but allow them in the evening. This is useful if you want temporary blocks rather than permanent ones.
Cold Turkey is another paid option ($39 one-time purchase) that blocks websites and apps at a deeper level, making them harder to bypass. It works on Windows and Mac. Cold Turkey also has a "Frozen Turkey" mode that locks your computer entirely until a timer runs out, which prevents you from disabling the block even if you restart your device.
Blocking websites on Windows using built-in tools
Windows 10 and Windows 11 include a parental controls feature called Family Safety that can block websites without installing extra software. This works at the operating system level, so the block applies to all browsers and accounts on your device.
To set up Family Safety: open Settings, go to Accounts, select Family & other users, choose the account you want to restrict, click Parental controls, and sign in with your Microsoft account. Once you are in the Family Safety dashboard, select the device, go to Web and apps, and turn on "Web filtering." You can then add specific websites to your blocked list. Windows will prevent that site from loading in any browser.
Family Safety also requires you to use a Microsoft account on the device you are protecting. If you are setting this up for a child or another household member, you will need their Microsoft account email address. The person whose account is being restricted will see a message that the site is blocked by Family Safety if they try to visit it.
Blocking websites on Mac using built-in tools
Mac does not have a single built-in feature like Windows Family Safety, but you can use Parental Controls (in older versions) or Screen Time (in newer versions) to restrict access to websites.
On macOS Monterey and newer: open System Settings, go to General, select Parental Controls (or Screen Time if you do not see Parental Controls), choose the user account you want to restrict, and look for the Web Content section. You can set it to "Limit Adult Websites" or add specific sites to a blocklist. This requires you to set a Screen Time passcode that the restricted user cannot bypass.
On older versions of macOS: open System Preferences, go to Parental Controls, select the user, click the Web tab, and choose "Allow unrestricted access to websites" or "Limit adult websites" or "Allow access to only these websites." You can manually add sites to block or allow. Keep in mind that older versions of macOS are no longer receiving security updates, so upgrading is recommended if possible.
Blocking websites on your router
Your router is the device that connects your home to the internet. Most routers have a built-in feature to block websites for everyone on your network, which is the most effective method if you share a connection with family members or roommates.
The exact steps vary by router brand and model. Generally: open your router's admin panel by typing its IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1) into your browser, log in with your router's username and password (often printed on the router itself), look for a section called Parental Controls, Access Control, or Content Filtering, and add the websites you want to block. Some routers let you block by domain name, while others require you to block by IP address.
If you do not know your router's IP address or login credentials, check the manual that came with it or look at the sticker on the back of the device. If you have forgotten the password, you may need to reset the router to factory settings, which will erase all your custom settings and return it to its original configuration. Router-level blocking is harder to bypass than browser or device-level blocking, because it works before traffic even reaches your computer. However, someone on your network can still bypass it by using a VPN (a tool that routes their traffic through another server), so this method is not foolproof.
Blocking websites on your phone or tablet
On iPhone and iPad: open Settings, go to Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn on the toggle, go to Web Content, and select "Limit Adult Websites" or "Allowed Websites Only." You can add specific sites to block or allow. This requires a Screen Time passcode that prevents the restricted user from changing the settings.
On Android: the built-in options are limited. Google Family Link is Google's parental control app that works on Android devices. Install it on the child's device and the parent's device, sign in with your Google account, and you can block websites and apps from the parent app. Alternatively, use a third-party extension like Freedom or Cold Turkey if available for Android, or set up blocking at your router level instead, which will protect all devices on your home network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block a website on Google Search without using an extension?
Yes. Click the three dots next to any search result from that site and select "Don't show results from this site." This hides the site from your Google Search results only — it does not prevent you from visiting the site directly or block it in other search engines.
If I block a website in my browser, can someone else on my device still visit it?
It depends on the method. Browser extensions block the site only in that browser and only for the account that installed the extension. Device-level blocking (Windows Family Safety, Mac Screen Time, or router controls) blocks the site for all users on that device or network, unless they have admin access to disable the block.
What is the difference between blocking a site in my browser and blocking it on my router?
Browser blocking only works in that specific browser on that specific device. Router blocking works across all devices on your home network and all browsers, but someone can bypass it with a VPN. Router blocking is stronger if you want to enforce a block for multiple people.
Can someone bypass a website block I set up?
Browser extensions and device-level blocks can sometimes be bypassed by using a VPN, switching browsers, or using a different device. Router-level blocks are harder to bypass but still vulnerable to VPNs. If you need a truly unbypassable block, you would need to use a service that monitors and controls network traffic at a deeper level, which is beyond typical home setup.
Will blocking a website slow down my internet?
No. Blocking a website does not affect your internet speed. The block simply prevents your device or browser from loading that specific site — it does not consume bandwidth or processing power.