Safari has a built-in blocking tool that stops you from reaching certain websites

You can block websites in Safari using the Screen Time feature on Mac or iPhone. This prevents Safari from loading those sites entirely — you will see a blocked message instead of the webpage. The method differs slightly between devices, but both use the same underlying system.

Screen Time is designed to manage device usage, but its website blocking feature works regardless of whether you are trying to limit your own browsing or set restrictions for someone else. Once a site is blocked, it stays blocked until you remove it from the list.

Key Takeaways

  • Safari blocks websites through Screen Time settings, which you access differently on Mac versus iPhone.
  • On Mac, you go to System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy, then add sites to the restricted list.
  • On iPhone, the path is Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Web Content.
  • Blocked sites will not load in Safari, and you cannot bypass the block without entering your Screen Time password.
  • You can block individual sites or entire categories like adult content, gambling, or social media.

Blocking websites on Mac

Open System Settings on your Mac. Click Screen Time in the sidebar — if you do not see it, scroll down to find it.

Click Content & Privacy on the right side. You may be asked to enter your Mac password or create a Screen Time password if you have not set one yet. If you already have a Screen Time password, enter it.

Click the Web Content tab. You will see options for Unrestricted Access, Limit Adult Websites, or Allowed Websites Only. Choose Limit Adult Websites if you want to block specific sites while allowing most others. Choose Allowed Websites Only if you want to block everything except a list you create.

Under your chosen setting, you will see a section to add websites. Click the + button and type the website address you want to block — for example, example.com. Do not include https:// or www, just the domain name. Click Add. Repeat for each site you want to block.

Blocking websites on iPhone or iPad

Open the Settings app. Tap Screen Time. If this is your first time using Screen Time, tap Turn On Screen Time and follow the prompts. If Screen Time is already on, skip to the next step.

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Enter your Screen Time password if prompted. If you have not created a Screen Time password yet, you will be asked to set one now — this is a four-digit code separate from your device passcode.

Tap Web Content. You will see three options: Unrestricted Access, Limit Adult Websites, or Allowed Websites Only. Choose the option that matches what you want to do.

If you chose Limit Adult Websites, scroll down to Never Allow and tap the + button. Type the website address and tap Add. If you chose Allowed Websites Only, add sites to the Always Allow list instead, and everything else will be blocked.

What happens when you try to visit a blocked site

When you navigate to a blocked website in Safari, the page will not load. Instead, you will see a message saying the site is restricted. The message will tell you that the site is blocked by Screen Time.

If you want to visit the site anyway, you can tap Ask for Permission on the blocked message. This sends a request to whoever set up Screen Time on the device. If you are the one who set it up, you will be asked to enter your Screen Time password to allow access. If someone else set it up, they will receive a notification on their device asking whether to allow the visit.

Removing or changing blocked sites

On Mac, go back to System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > Web Content. Find the site you want to remove in the list and click the − button next to it. The site will be unblocked immediately.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Web Content. Tap Edit in the top right corner of the Never Allow or Always Allow section. Tap the red − button next to the site you want to remove, then tap Delete. Tap Done when finished.

Using category blocking instead of individual sites

Instead of blocking specific websites one at a time, you can block entire categories. On both Mac and iPhone, the Limit Adult Websites option automatically blocks sites that Safari categorizes as adult content, gambling, or other restricted categories.

This approach is faster if you want broad restrictions but less precise if you want to block only certain sites. You can combine category blocking with individual site blocking — for example, block the adult category automatically and then add specific social media sites to your Never Allow list.

If you choose Allowed Websites Only, Safari will block everything except the sites you explicitly add to the Always Allow list. This is the most restrictive option and is useful if you want to limit browsing to a small set of known sites.

Resetting your Screen Time password

If you forget your Screen Time password on Mac, you will need to reset it through your Apple ID. Go to System Settings > Screen Time, click Change Screen Time Password, and follow the prompts to verify your Apple ID. You can then set a new password.

On iPhone, the process is similar. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Password. You will be asked to verify your Apple ID before you can create a new password. Keep this password somewhere safe — without it, you cannot change your blocked sites list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone bypass a blocked site by using a different browser?

No. Screen Time blocks websites at the system level, so the restriction applies to all browsers on your device, not just Safari. This includes Chrome, Firefox, and any other browser installed on your Mac or iPhone.

Will blocking a site affect my iCloud sync across devices?

Screen Time settings do not sync between devices. If you block a site on your Mac, it will not be blocked on your iPhone unless you set up the same block there separately. You must configure blocked sites on each device individually.

What if I want to block a site only at certain times of day?

Screen Time blocking is always active — it does not have a time-based option. If you need time-based restrictions, you would need to use a third-party parental control app or router-level blocking instead.

Can I block a site without creating a Screen Time password?

No. Screen Time requires a password to prevent someone from easily removing the blocks. You must set a password during the initial setup, and you cannot skip this step.

Does blocking a site in Safari affect email or other apps?

No. Screen Time website blocking only affects Safari and other browsers. If a website address appears in an email or a link in another app, tapping it will still attempt to open the site in Safari, where it will then be blocked.