How to Block Websites on Google Chrome For Better Safety & Productivity

When you know how to block websites on the Google Chrome mobile app, you can protect your children on the internet or avoid distractions when working for productivity’s sake.

With so much content on the internet, not all of it is good or safe. Some websites can be a waste of time or even dangerous, like those with inappropriate material, scams, or malware that could harm your device.

Luckily, most web browsers, including Google Chrome, allow you to block certain websites you don’t want to visit.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to block websites on Google Chrome by using the mobile app or without. And if you ever decide to unblock a website later, we’ll cover that too, so you’re always in control.

Why Would You Need to Block Websites?
What Does Blocking Websites on Chrome Do?
How to Block Websites on Chrome
Blocking Websites on Google Chrome Mobile (iOS/Android)
- On iOS:
- On Android:
How to Unblock Websites on Chrome
FAQs
Conclusion
References
Recommendations

Why Would You Need to Block Websites?

There are a few key reasons why you might want to block a website:

Content restrictions – Sometimes, you must control what people can access online. For instance, parents may want to block adult websites on their kids’ devices to keep them safe from harmful content. There are ways to unblock ‘potentially’ sensitive content’ on X Twitter.
Malicious sites – Viruses and malware can sneak onto your device even with antivirus protection. If you know of specific sites that might be dangerous, it’s wise to block them right away to avoid any risks.
Work mode: Blocking distracting websites can help you focus and get more done. Limiting access to social media or gaming sites can boost productivity, whether working on your phone or computer.

It’s super easy no matter why you want to block websites on Google Chrome. In just a few clicks, you can control which sites are accessible, making it easy to customize your online experience to fit your needs.

If you’re looking for a way to control your browsing, Chrome’s website-blocking feature is a great choice because it’s both powerful and flexible.

What Does Blocking Websites on Chrome Do?

Now, what exactly does it mean to block websites on Chrome? When blocking a website entirely, you will prevent browser users from accessing any content on those websites.

This includes images, videos, text, and file downloads. This tool can also be used for harm reduction. Adults and children will be interested in digital desserts like social media, video games, streaming, etc.

But prolonged exposure to screens, especially at a young age, can breed addiction akin to those who struggle with substances and trigger mental health problems. That doesn’t mean the only way to avoid this is to cut these pleasures out of your digital diet.

But you can better regulate yourself and your loved ones by setting time limits on these sites using the same methods you would use to block them entirely. For many, this can provide a major boost to your work-life balance!

How to Block Websites on Chrome

Using Chrome’s Built-in Settings

Open Chrome and click the three dots in the top right corner.
Select Settings > Privacy and Security.
Scroll down, and click Site Settings > Permissions > Blocked.
Enter the website URL in the field titled Add site to block, then click Add.

To unblock it later, follow the same steps and click Remove next to the website.

Using an Extension

While Chrome does let you block websites through its settings, you might find it limiting. That’s where extensions come in handy—they give you extra features and customization. There are also some Chrome extensions to boost productivity when working.

Head to the Chrome Web Store and click Extensions on the left menu to get one. Choose the one you want and hit Add to Chrome. Afterward, confirm by selecting Add Extension in the pop-up box. You can find and manage your extensions by clicking the puzzle piece icon near the address bar.

Some popular extensions to block websites include:

BlockSite: This free extension lets you block sites, set timers, and even block specific categories of websites. Plus, you can track your time online. Although they collect data for Cookies, they don’t sell them.
ColdTurkey: Perfect for those looking to combat media addiction, it comes with a “nuclear mode” to cut off internet access for a while. According to their privacy policy, your data is not sold to third parties.
StayFocusd: This extension offers the same features as others but has a productivity reward system. It’s ideal for goal-oriented users and doesn’t sell your data, either.

Using Parental Controls

Parental controls are found in Google’s Family Link, not directly in Chrome. Family Link allows you to monitor your child’s online activity.

You and your child must create Google accounts, download the Family Link app, and follow the steps to set up a supervised account. Once set up, you can control which sites your child can access.

Here’s how to block websites using Family Link:

Open the Family Link app and go to your child’s profile.
Tap Controls > Content Restrictions.
Under Google Chrome, go to Advanced Settings > Manage Sites.
Tap Blocked and enter the URLs of the sites you want to block.
You can also create a list of approved sites by tapping Allowed and adding specific URLs.

Editing the Hosts File

If you don’t want to mess with browser settings or extensions, you can block sites by editing your device’s host file. This method is more technical, and you must be careful not to mess up your system. Keep in mind that this won’t block sites across all browsers, just Chrome.

How to Block Sites on Windows

Open Notepad as an administrator by typing Notepad in the Start menu, right-clicking it, and selecting Run as administrator.
Go to File > Open, then navigate to C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc and select the hosts file.
Scroll to the bottom and add the line 127.0.0.1 [website domain] (replace “[website domain]” with the site URL, like 127.0.0.1 youtube.com for YouTube).
Repeat this for each website you want to block, then save the file.
Now flush your DNS cache by typing cmd in the Start menu, right-clicking Command Prompt, selecting Run as administrator, and typing ipconfig /flushdns. Hit Enter.

For Mac:

Go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Terminal.
Type sudo nano /private/etc/hosts in Terminal and press Enter. When prompted, enter your password.
Scroll to the bottom of the file, and add the line: 127.0.0.1 [website domain] (replace “[website domain]” with the URL).
Press Ctrl + O to save, then Ctrl + X to exit.
Type sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder to refresh the DNS and activate the changes.

Be cautious when using this method. If you make a mistake, you could accidentally block sites you don’t want to. It’s always easier to stick with Chrome’s built-in tools or extensions.

Blocking Websites on Google Chrome Mobile (iOS/Android)

Here are how to block websites on Google Chrome Mobile on your iOS and Android

On iOS:

Open Settings and go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
If you want, scroll down and tap Lock Screen Time Settings to set a password. This is super helpful if you’re setting up a device for a child.
Ensure Content & Privacy Restrictions are switched on (green), then tap Content Restrictions > Web Content.
From there, you can automatically block adult websites, adjust your ‘Allow’ list, or easily switch back to unrestricted access when needed.

On Android:

Go to Settings and search for Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls.
Depending on your device, it might just be called Parental Controls.
Tap Dashboard > Manage apps, or you might need to tap Manage App Permissions.
Look for the Chrome app and tap it.
You can adjust permissions, block pop-ups, and tweak other site settings here.

With these quick steps, managing what websites you or your kids can access becomes super easy, keeping things safe and distraction-free!

How to Unblock Websites on Chrome

Unblocking websites on Chrome depends on how you blocked them in the first place. Don’t worry, and it’s easy to get access back! Here’s how to do it based on the method you used:

BlockSite Extension

If you used the BlockSite extension, click on its icon in your browser. Choose Edit block list, then find the URL you want to unblock under the Blocked sites section. Click the trash can icon next to it, and that site will no longer be blocked.

Windows Parental Controls

For sites blocked using Windows parental controls, head to the Microsoft account manager for the child’s account. Navigate to Content filters, find the site’s URL under Blocked sites, and remove it to unblock access.

Editing the Hosts File

If you blocked sites by editing your computer’s host file, you must reopen that file using a text editor (like Notepad for Windows).

Scroll to the bottom, delete any blocked URLs you no longer want to be restricted to, and then save the file.

Chrome’s URL Blocklist

Log into the console and go to the URL blocking section if you blocked websites using Chrome’s URL Blocklist through the Google Admin Console. Find the site’s domain on the blocklist and remove it to unblock the site.

Each method only takes a few quick steps, so you can easily regain access whenever you’re ready!

FAQs

How do I block websites on Chrome?

There are several ways to block websites on Chrome. The browser has built-in settings to help you block access, but extensions are available to boost functionality if you need more advanced features. These are great for productivity or parental control. And if you’re tech-savvy, you can even block websites before you open the browser by tweaking some settings.

What Is the Best Website Blocker?

Some of the top website blockers include SiteBlock, Freedom, Serene, and Y-Productive. Some are available as apps you can download to your device, while others are compatible with operating systems like Windows or Mac. Each has different features so you can choose the best fit for your needs.

Why should I block websites on Chrome?

Blocking websites can be super helpful, depending on your situation. Blocking distracting sites during work hours can improve productivity if you want to focus better. Parents can also block harmful or inappropriate websites to keep their kids safe online and set time limits on specific sites.

Can I unblock websites on Chrome?

Definitely! Everything mentioned in this post can be easily reversed. You can block and unblock websites whenever possible, so it’s flexible. It’s all about finding what works best for you, whether you’re trying to improve productivity or protect your family.

Can blocked websites be bypassed?

While blocking methods, like editing the hosts file, are more challenging to bypass, people with some tech skills might find ways around it. Extensions like BlockSite offer password protection to prevent changes to the block list, adding an extra layer of security.

Conclusion

Blocking certain websites on Chrome is a great way to protect young users from inappropriate content, avoid risky files from shady sites, and boost your productivity.

You have now learned to block websites on Google Chrome mobile apps and Windows. This is a simple yet powerful tool for improving your online experience!

If you find this article helpful, please share your thoughts in the comment section and follow us on our social media platforms: X (Silicon Africa (@SiliconAfriTech)), Instagram (SiliconAfricaTech), and Facebook (Silicon Africa).