Safari has three ways to block websites, depending on what you're trying to stop

The method you use depends on whether you want to block a site on just your device, across all devices linked to your Apple account, or only when a specific person is using your Mac or iPhone. Safari's content filters work on individual devices. Screen Time blocks sites across all your devices at once. And parental controls let you restrict what another person can see on a shared device.

If you're blocking sites for yourself on one device, content filters are fastest. If you manage a family account or want the same blocks everywhere you use Safari, Screen Time is the right choice. If someone else uses your device and you want to limit what they can access, parental controls give you the most control.

Key Takeaways

  • Content filters in Safari Settings block specific websites on that device only and take effect immediately.
  • Screen Time blocks websites across all devices signed into your Apple ID and requires you to set a Screen Time passcode first.
  • Parental controls restrict what another person can view on a shared Mac or iPhone and require their device to be set up as a child account.
  • Blocked websites still appear in search results and autocomplete — they just won't load when you try to visit them.

Blocking websites using Safari content filters on Mac

Open Safari and go to Safari menu > Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions). Click the Websites tab, then select Content Restrictions from the left sidebar. Check the box next to Restrict adult websites if you want Safari's automatic filter, but this alone won't block specific sites you choose.

To block individual websites, you need to use Screen Time instead, which is described in the next section. The content restrictions tab in Safari Settings only controls automatic filtering, not custom blocks.

Blocking websites using Screen Time on Mac or iPhone

Screen Time is Apple's tool for setting limits across all your devices. Open System Settings (Mac) or Settings (iPhone), then tap or click Screen Time. If you haven't set a Screen Time passcode yet, you'll need to create one — this prevents someone from removing the blocks without your permission.

Once Screen Time is active, go to App & Website Activity (or Allowed Apps on iPhone), then scroll down and tap Restricted. Look for Websites and tap Add Website. Type the full web address of the site you want to block — for example, example.com — and tap Add. The block takes effect immediately on that device and syncs to all other devices signed into your Apple ID within a few minutes.

If you want to block a website on iPhone but not on Mac, or vice versa, you'll need to set up separate Screen Time rules on each device. Screen Time blocks apply to Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and any other browser on that device.

Blocking websites using parental controls on a child's device

Parental controls work only if the person whose device you're controlling has a child account set up under your Family Sharing group. On the child's device, open Settings (iPhone or iPad) or System Settings (Mac), then go to Screen Time. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn it on. You'll be asked to create a Screen Time passcode if you haven't already.

Tap Content Restrictions, then Web Content. Choose Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only. If you select Allowed Websites Only, only the sites you add to the list will load — everything else is blocked. If you select Limit Adult Websites, you can add specific sites to a blocklist by tapping Never Allow and entering the web address.

From your own device, you can also manage these restrictions through the Family Sharing app. Open Settings > Family Sharing, select the child's name, tap Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions. Any changes you make here sync to their device.

What happens when you try to visit a blocked website

When you navigate to a blocked site in Safari, the browser shows an error page instead of loading the website. The message varies depending on which blocking method you used, but it typically says the site is restricted or unavailable. You can't bypass the block by typing the address differently — example.com, www.example.com, and https://example.com are all treated as the same site.

Blocked websites still appear in Safari's search suggestions and autocomplete. Seeing the site name in a dropdown doesn't mean the block has been removed — it just means Safari remembers you've visited it before. The block only prevents the page from actually loading.

Removing or changing website blocks

To remove a block you set through Screen Time, open Settings > Screen Time > App & Website Activity > Restricted > Websites. Find the site you want to unblock, swipe left on it (iPhone) or right-click it (Mac), and tap or click Remove. The change takes effect immediately.

If you're managing a child's device through Family Sharing, open the Family Sharing app on your device, select the child, go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Web Content, and remove the site from either the blocklist or allowlist depending on which one you're using.

If you forgot your Screen Time passcode, you'll need to reset it through your Apple ID. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode and follow the prompts to verify your identity.

Why a blocked website might still load

If a website loads despite being on your blocklist, the most common reason is that you blocked the wrong web address. Many sites have multiple domains — for example, a news site might use news.example.com, example.com, and m.example.com for mobile. You need to block each version separately.

Another possibility is that the block hasn't synced yet if you set it on a different device. Screen Time changes can take a few minutes to appear across all your devices. If you set a block on your Mac and immediately check your iPhone, it might not be there yet — wait a few minutes and check again.

If you're using parental controls on someone else's device, make sure Content & Privacy Restrictions is actually turned on. It's easy to forget this step, and without it enabled, the website blocklist won't work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block a website on Safari but not in other browsers?

No. Screen Time and parental controls block websites across all browsers on that device, including Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. If you want to block a site only in Safari and allow it in other browsers, you would need to use a third-party content filter app, but Safari's built-in tools don't offer this level of control.

Will the person I'm blocking know I blocked the site?

Yes, they'll see an error message when they try to visit it. If you're using parental controls on a child's device, they'll see a notification that the site is restricted. There's no way to hide the fact that a block is in place.

Can I block a website on my iPhone but not my Mac?

Yes, but you need to set up separate blocks on each device. Screen Time blocks don't automatically sync across devices — you have to add the website to the blocklist on each device individually. If you want the same blocks everywhere, you'll need to add the site to both your iPhone and Mac.

What if someone removes the block using my Screen Time passcode?

If you share your Screen Time passcode with someone, they can remove any blocks you've set. Keep your passcode private if you want the blocks to stay in place. If a child has memorized or guessed your passcode, you can reset it through your Apple ID settings.

Do blocked websites use data or battery if I try to visit them?

Safari stops the connection before much data is used, so visiting a blocked site uses minimal data and battery. The error page loads locally on your device rather than pulling content from the blocked website's server.