The fastest way to block a website on Chrome Mobile

Chrome Mobile does not have a built-in website blocker in its settings. Instead, you block websites using your phone's operating system controls — either through Android's built-in parental controls or through a third-party app that intercepts web traffic. The method you choose depends on whether you want to block sites on your own device or on a device you manage for someone else.

If you are blocking sites on your own Android phone, the simplest route is a third-party blocking app that works alongside Chrome. If you are managing a child's device, Android's Family Link tool is the standard option and requires no separate app purchase.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome Mobile itself has no built-in blocker — you must use Android's system-level controls or a third-party app that works with Chrome.
  • Google Family Link is free and lets you block websites on a child's device remotely, but requires setting up a supervised account first.
  • Third-party blocking apps like Freedom, Cold Turkey, or AppBlock work on your own device and block sites across all browsers, not just Chrome.
  • DNS-level blockers like NextDNS or Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 app block websites before they load, but require more setup and may slow your connection slightly.
  • Some blockers work only when your phone is on your home WiFi network, while others block sites everywhere your phone connects.

Using Google Family Link to block websites on a child's device

Family Link is Google's parental control tool and works directly with Android. It lets you block specific websites on a child's phone or tablet from your own device. To set this up, the child's device must be running Android 7.0 or higher, and you need a Google account.

First, install Family Link on both devices. On the child's phone, go to Settings > Apps > Family Link and open the app. Sign in with your own Google account (the parent account), then follow the prompts to set up supervision. On your own phone, install Family Link and sign in with the same account. Once linked, open Family Link on your phone, tap the child's device name, then tap Controls on Google Play > Manage apps and games. Scroll down to find the web and content settings section, where you can add specific website URLs to a blocked list.

Family Link blocks sites across all browsers on the child's device, not just Chrome. The child cannot remove the block without your account password. However, Family Link does not let you block sites by category — you must enter each URL individually.

Blocking websites with a third-party app on your own device

If you want to block websites on your own Android phone, a third-party app gives you more control than Family Link. Apps like Freedom, Cold Turkey Blocker, and AppBlock let you create block lists, set schedules, and block sites across all browsers at once.

Freedom is one of the most popular options. Download it from the Google Play Store, open it, and tap the plus icon to create a new block. Select "Websites" and enter the URL you want to block. You can block individual sites or entire domains. Set a schedule if you want the block to run only during certain hours, or leave it always on. Freedom also lets you set a PIN so you cannot unblock sites on impulse.

Cold Turkey Blocker works similarly but is more aggressive — once a block starts, you cannot disable it until the timer runs out, even if you uninstall the app or restart your phone. AppBlock is lighter and faster, making it good for phones with less storage. All three apps block sites across Chrome, Firefox, Samsung Internet, and other browsers.

The trade-off with third-party apps is that they require you to grant device administrator access, which gives them deep control over your phone. Use only apps from developers you trust.

Using a DNS blocker to stop websites at the network level

A DNS blocker intercepts website requests before they reach Chrome, which means the site never loads at all. This is more effective than app-level blocking because a determined user cannot bypass it by switching browsers or clearing the app cache.

NextDNS and Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 for Families are the two most common options. Both are free. Download 1.1.1.1 from the Google Play Store, open it, and tap the menu icon. Go to Advanced > DNS over HTTPS and select "Malware and adult content" to enable basic blocking, or "Malware, adult content, and security threats" for stricter filtering. You can also add custom blocked domains in the app settings.

NextDNS requires creating a free account on their website first. Once you set up an account, download the NextDNS app on your phone, sign in, and enable it. In the app settings, you can add specific domains to a blocklist or use their pre-built category filters for adult content, gambling, social media, and other types of sites.

DNS blockers work on any network your phone connects to, including mobile data and WiFi. However, they may slightly slow your internet speed because every DNS request passes through their servers. If you switch to a different DNS service or turn off the app, the blocks disappear immediately.

Blocking websites only on your home WiFi network

If you only need to block sites when you are home, your WiFi router may have built-in parental controls. Log into your router's admin panel (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 into a browser on a computer connected to that WiFi), then look for a section called Parental Controls, Website Filtering, or Access Control. The exact steps vary by router brand, but most let you enter URLs or domain names to block.

This method blocks the site for anyone on your WiFi network, not just on Chrome Mobile. It also means you do not need to install anything on your phone. The downside is that the block only works at home — once someone leaves your WiFi, the block no longer applies.

If your router does not have this feature, you can use a DNS blocker on your WiFi network instead. Some routers let you set a custom DNS server in their settings. You can point your WiFi to NextDNS or Cloudflare's DNS servers, which will block sites for all devices on that network.

What to do if you need to unblock a site temporarily

If you blocked a site and now need to access it, the steps depend on which method you used. With Family Link, open the app on your phone, find the child's device, and remove the URL from the blocked list. With Freedom or AppBlock, open the app and toggle the block off or remove it from your list. With a DNS blocker, open the app and disable it, or remove the domain from your blocklist.

If you set a PIN to prevent unblocking, you will need to enter that PIN first. If you forgot the PIN, you may need to uninstall the app and reinstall it, which will reset your settings. Some apps like Cold Turkey do not let you disable a block once it starts — you must wait for the timer to expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block websites only in Chrome and not in other browsers?

No. Chrome Mobile has no built-in per-app blocker, so any blocking method you use will block the site across all browsers on your phone. If you need to block a site in Chrome only, you would need to use a Chrome extension on a desktop or laptop instead.

Will a blocked website still load if I use a VPN?

It depends on the blocking method. App-level blockers like Freedom can usually detect and block VPN attempts. DNS blockers may be bypassed by a VPN because the VPN routes your traffic through a different DNS server. If you want to prevent VPN bypass, use Family Link or a router-level block.

Can someone remove a block I set up on their device?

With Family Link, no — they cannot remove it without your account password. With third-party apps, they can uninstall the app unless you set device administrator restrictions. With a DNS blocker, they can disable the app or change the DNS settings. Family Link is the most tamper-proof option.

Do website blockers work on mobile data or only WiFi?

Most blockers work on both. App-level blockers and DNS blockers block sites whether you are on WiFi or mobile data. Router-level blocks only work on your home WiFi. Family Link works on any network.

What is the difference between blocking a domain and blocking a specific URL?

Blocking a domain (like example.com) blocks the entire website and all its pages. Blocking a specific URL (like example.com/section) blocks only that one page. Most blockers let you do either, but blocking the domain is simpler if you want to block the whole site.