The main ways to block sites depend on what device you're using and who needs the blocking

You can block websites at three different levels: in your web browser, on your device's operating system, or through your internet connection. Browser-level blocking works fastest if you only need to stop yourself from visiting a few sites. Device-level blocking affects all browsers and apps on that computer or phone. Network-level blocking (through your router or internet service provider) stops the sites for everyone on your connection, which is useful if you're managing access for a household.

The method you choose depends on whether you're blocking sites for yourself, for children, or for a work device. Self-blocking is usually simpler. Blocking for others requires a method they can't easily bypass, which means avoiding browser extensions and moving to device or network controls.

Key Takeaways

  • Browser extensions like LeechBlock NG or Freedom let you block specific sites within your web browser, but anyone with device access can disable the extension.
  • Windows and macOS both have built-in parental controls that block sites at the operating system level, preventing bypass through different browsers.
  • Router settings let you block sites for all devices on your home network at once, which is the hardest method for others to work around.
  • iPhone and Android both have screen time and app restriction features that can block Safari or Chrome from reaching certain websites.
  • DNS filtering services like OpenDNS or Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 for Families block sites before they load, working across all browsers and devices on your network.

Blocking sites in your web browser

The easiest starting point is a browser extension. LeechBlock NG (for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge) and Freedom (for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge) both let you list specific websites and set times when they're blocked. You install the extension, add the sites you want to block, and set a password so you can't turn it off on impulse. These extensions work only in that browser — if you open a different browser, the blocks don't follow you.

Chrome and Firefox also have built-in parental controls if you set up a supervised account. In Chrome, go to Settings > You and Google > Manage your Google Account > Family > Parental Controls, then add the sites you want blocked. This works across all Chrome browsers on that device, but only for the supervised account. Anyone using a different account on the same computer can still visit those sites.

Browser-level blocking is easiest to set up but easiest to bypass. If someone has physical access to your device, they can uninstall the extension or switch browsers. For self-blocking, this is usually fine — the friction of disabling the extension is often enough to break the habit. For blocking sites from others, you need something stronger.

Blocking sites on Windows

Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in parental control system called Family Safety. Go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, add a child account, then go to account.microsoft.com/family and sign in. Under Content Restrictions, you can block specific websites or set content filters by category (adult content, violence, gambling, and so on). This blocks the sites across all browsers on that device for that account.

Family Safety requires the child account to be linked to a Microsoft account, and you need to be signed in to a parent account on the same device. The blocked user cannot disable these restrictions without the parent password. However, they can still switch to a different user account if one exists on the device, so this works best if you're the only account holder.

If you want to block sites for yourself without parental controls, you can also edit your hosts file. Open Notepad as administrator, go to File > Open, and navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. Add a line like "127.0.0.1 facebook.com" for each site you want to block. This is more permanent than an extension — you have to edit the file again to unblock — but it's also less user-friendly to manage a long list.

Blocking sites on macOS and iPhone

macOS has Screen Time built in. Go to System Settings > General > Screen Time, turn it on, set a Screen Time passcode, then go to App Limits or Communication Limits. You can't block specific websites directly in Screen Time the way Windows Family Safety does, but you can restrict Safari and other browsers by category or set downtime when they don't work at all.

For more granular control on macOS, use Freedom or Cold Turkey, both of which block specific sites and are harder to disable than browser extensions. Both require a password to turn off and can lock you out of uninstalling them.

On iPhone, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn it on, set a Screen Time passcode, then go to Allowed Apps. You can restrict Safari entirely, or go to Content Restrictions > Web Content and choose Limit Adult Websites or add specific sites to the Never Allow list. This blocks the sites across all browsers on the phone. Anyone without the Screen Time passcode cannot change these settings.

Blocking sites through your router

Your router can block websites for all devices on your home network at once. Log in to your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser address bar; check your router's manual for the exact address). Look for a section called Parental Controls, Content Filtering, or Access Control. You can usually add websites to a blocklist, and the router will refuse to connect to them from any device on your network.

Router-level blocking works across all browsers and devices, including phones and tablets on your Wi-Fi. However, anyone on your network can bypass it by switching to mobile data (if they have it) or by changing the DNS settings on their device. It's also the least user-friendly method to manage — adding or removing sites means logging back into the router each time.

If your router doesn't have built-in content filtering, you can replace the router's default DNS with a filtering service. This is more powerful and works even if someone tries to change their device's DNS settings (if you lock it down in the router).

Using DNS filtering to block sites across all devices

DNS filtering works by intercepting the request your device makes to look up a website's address before it even tries to connect. Services like OpenDNS, Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 for Families, and Quad9 let you block categories of sites (adult content, malware, gambling) or specific sites you add to a list.

To use DNS filtering, you change the DNS servers your device or router uses. For example, Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 for Families uses the addresses 1.1.1.2 (to block malware and adult content) or 1.1.1.3 (to block malware only). You can set this in your router's settings so it applies to all devices, or on individual devices in their network settings. This method blocks sites before the browser even loads them, so it's harder to bypass than browser or device-level blocking.

The trade-off is that DNS filtering is less precise. You're usually blocking by category rather than individual site, and miscategorized sites sometimes get blocked by mistake. OpenDNS lets you customize the list more, but it costs money for the full version.

Blocking sites on Android

Android doesn't have a built-in system-wide website blocker the way iPhone does. Your options are to use a browser extension (if you use Chrome), install a third-party app like AppBlock or Freedom, or change your device's DNS settings.

If you use Chrome on Android, you can set up a supervised account through Google Family Link. Go to families.google.com, add a child account, and under Controls on Google Play, you can restrict apps and set content filters. This blocks sites in Chrome for that account, but not in other browsers.

For broader blocking, install Freedom or AppBlock, which can block websites across all browsers on the device. Both require a password to disable. Alternatively, go to Settings > Network > Advanced > Private DNS and enter a DNS filtering service's address (like 1.1.1.2 for Cloudflare). This blocks sites at the network level before any browser loads them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone bypass a blocked site by using a VPN?

Yes, if the blocking is at the browser or device level. A VPN hides your traffic from your device's DNS settings, so it can bypass DNS filtering too. If you're blocking for someone else, the only truly hard-to-bypass method is router-level blocking combined with disabling mobile data access, but this is restrictive and not practical for most households.

What's the difference between blocking a site and filtering by category?

Blocking a site means you list the exact address (like facebook.com) and nothing else gets through. Filtering by category means the service blocks all sites it has labeled as adult content, gambling, social media, and so on. Category filtering is easier to set up but less precise — you might block sites you didn't intend to.

If I block a site in my browser, will it block it on my phone too?

No. Browser extensions only work in that browser on that device. If you want to block a site across all your devices, use a DNS filtering service, set it in your router, or use a cross-device app like Freedom that you install on each device separately.

Can I block a site just during certain hours?

Yes, if you use an app like Freedom, LeechBlock NG, or your device's built-in Screen Time. All three let you set schedules — for example, block social media from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Router and DNS filtering usually don't have scheduling built in, though some paid DNS services like OpenDNS do.

What happens if I block a site I need for work?

You'll need to unblock it, which means either disabling the block temporarily (if you know the password) or removing the site from your blocklist. If you use a browser extension, you can usually pause it for a set time. If you use device-level or router-level blocking, you have to go back and edit the settings. This is one reason browser-level blocking is popular for self-blocking — it's easier to make exceptions.