The fastest way to block YouTube on Safari

The simplest method is to use Safari's built-in content blocker settings combined with Screen Time, which lets you restrict access to specific websites without installing anything extra. Open Settings, go to Screen Time, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions, then Websites, and add YouTube to the "Never Allowed" list. On Mac, the process is similar: System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > Websites.

If you want a faster daily toggle without going into settings each time, you can also use Safari Extensions that block websites. These sit in your browser toolbar and let you turn blocking on and off with one tap or click. The trade-off is that extensions require more setup than the built-in method, but they give you more control over when the block is active.

For households where one person manages restrictions for others, Screen Time is the stronger choice because it prevents the restricted person from turning it off without a passcode. Extensions can be disabled by anyone with access to the device.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Time's content restrictions block YouTube across Safari and other apps, and require a passcode to disable on iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
  • Safari Extensions like 1Blocker or AdGuard let you toggle YouTube blocking on and off from your toolbar without entering settings each time.
  • DNS-level blocking through your router or a service like Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 for Families blocks YouTube on every device connected to your network.
  • Parental control apps like Bark or Net Nanny offer more detailed reporting and scheduling than Screen Time alone.
  • YouTube's Restricted Mode, built into the app itself, filters mature content but does not fully block the site.

Using Screen Time to block YouTube on iPhone and iPad

Open Settings and tap Screen Time. If you have not set it up yet, tap "Turn On Screen Time" and choose whether this is your device or a child's device. If it is a child's device, you will set a Screen Time passcode that they cannot change without your permission.

Once Screen Time is on, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and toggle it on. Then tap Websites. You will see three categories: "Always Allowed", "Never Allowed", and "Limit Adult Websites". Tap "Never Allowed" and then the plus sign to add a website. Type youtube.com and tap Add. YouTube will now be blocked in Safari.

The block applies only to Safari, not to the YouTube app itself. If you also want to block the YouTube app, go back to Screen Time, tap App Limits, tap Add Limit, select the YouTube app, set the time to 1 minute, and confirm. This will make the app unusable after 1 minute of daily use.

Blocking YouTube on Mac using Screen Time

On Mac, go to System Settings and click Screen Time in the sidebar. If Screen Time is not on, click "Turn On" and choose whether this is your Mac or a child's Mac. Set a passcode if you want to prevent others from changing these settings.

Click Content & Privacy in the left sidebar, then toggle it on. Click Websites. Add youtube.com to the "Never Allowed" list by clicking the plus sign and typing the address. YouTube will now be blocked in Safari on that Mac.

Unlike on iPhone and iPad, the Mac version of Screen Time does not have a separate app-blocking feature for the YouTube app. If you want to block the YouTube app on Mac, you will need to use a third-party tool or manually move the app to a restricted folder.

Using Safari Extensions to block YouTube

Safari Extensions give you a toolbar button you can tap to turn blocking on and off without opening Settings. Popular options include 1Blocker, AdGuard, and Wipr. Open the App Store, search for one of these, and tap Get to install it.

After installation, open Safari and tap the Extensions icon (a puzzle piece) in the toolbar. Find your blocker in the list and tap the settings icon next to it. Most blockers let you add custom website rules. Add youtube.com to your block list, and the extension will block it whenever the extension is active.

The main limitation is that anyone with access to the device can disable the extension or remove it entirely. Extensions are best for personal use or for devices where you trust the user to respect the block. For enforcing restrictions on a child's device, Screen Time is more secure.

Blocking YouTube at the network level with DNS

If you want to block YouTube on every device connected to your home WiFi, you can change your DNS settings at the router level. This blocks YouTube even if someone switches browsers or uses a different app.

Log into your router's admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser address bar) and look for DNS settings. Change the primary DNS to Cloudflare's 1.1.1.1 for Families service, which blocks adult sites and malware by default. Some routers also let you manually block specific domains in a parental controls section.

The trade-off is that DNS blocking affects all devices on the network, so you cannot block YouTube for one person while allowing it for another. It also requires access to your router's admin panel and a passcode to change, which makes it harder for others to bypass.

Parental control apps for more detailed blocking

Apps like Bark, Net Nanny, and Screentime offer more features than Safari's built-in tools. They let you block YouTube on a schedule (for example, only during school hours), see reports of what the user tried to access, and set different rules for different times of day.

These apps typically cost between $10 and $20 per month and require installation on the device you want to monitor. They work across all browsers and apps, not just Safari. If you need scheduling or reporting, they are worth the cost, but for a simple one-time block, Screen Time is usually enough.

Why YouTube's Restricted Mode is not the same as blocking

YouTube has a built-in Restricted Mode that filters out mature content, but it does not block the site entirely. Someone can turn Restricted Mode off in YouTube's settings, and it only works within the YouTube app or website — it does not prevent access to YouTube itself.

Restricted Mode is useful if you want to reduce exposure to mature videos but still allow YouTube use. It is not a substitute for blocking if your goal is to prevent YouTube access entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone bypass Screen Time restrictions?

On iPhone and iPad, no — if you set a Screen Time passcode, the person being restricted cannot turn off the block without that passcode. On Mac, Screen Time is less secure because a tech-savvy user can sometimes work around it by restarting in Safe Mode or using another account. For a child's Mac, combine Screen Time with a strong account password.

Will blocking YouTube on Safari also block it in the YouTube app?

No. Safari blocking only affects the web browser. To block the YouTube app itself, use Screen Time's App Limits feature on iPhone and iPad, or uninstall the app on Mac. Extensions only block websites in Safari, not apps.

What if I block YouTube but the person uses a VPN to unblock it?

Screen Time and Safari Extensions cannot stop a VPN from bypassing the block. DNS-level blocking at the router is harder to bypass with a VPN, but a determined user can still find ways around it. For strong enforcement, combine multiple methods — Screen Time plus router-level DNS blocking plus a strong account password.

Can I block YouTube only during certain hours?

Screen Time's built-in tools do not have hourly scheduling — they block all day or not at all. Parental control apps like Bark and Net Nanny do offer time-based blocking. You can also manually turn Screen Time on and off, but that requires access to the device each time.

Does blocking YouTube on Safari affect other video sites?

No. When you add youtube.com to the "Never Allowed" list, only YouTube is blocked. Other video sites like Vimeo, TikTok, or Netflix remain accessible. If you want to block multiple sites, add each one to the "Never Allowed" list separately.