How to Block Websites on Chrome

Chrome has no simple "block this site" button for everyday users, so blocking a website means picking one of a handful of workarounds: a site-blocking extension, parental controls, your computer's own settings or your home router. The right choice depends on who the block is for and how difficult it should be to switch off.

Pick a method

Method	Suits	How hard to undo
Blocking extension	Your own focus at work or study	Easy; a couple of clicks
Google Family Link	Children with supervised Google accounts	Only the parent can change it
Screen Time	Households using iPhone, iPad or Mac	Protected by a separate passcode
Hosts file	One computer, every browser on it	Needs administrator rights
Router filter	Every device on the home Wi-Fi	Needs the router's admin login
Admin policy	Work and school devices	Handled by the IT team

1. A site-blocking extension

This is the quickest route for anyone trying to rein in their own browsing. Open the Chrome Web Store, search for a website blocker and read the reviews and permission requests before installing. A blocker has to see which sites you visit, so stick to well-reviewed extensions with a clear privacy policy. Once it is installed, add the addresses you want blocked. Many blockers also offer schedules, keeping social media closed during working hours and open in the evening, and an optional password that makes switching them off a little less tempting.

Extensions only work in the browser they are installed in, and they can usually be disabled in seconds. Think of them as a nudge rather than a lock.

2. Google Family Link for children

When a child has a Google account supervised through Family Link, a parent can manage Chrome from the Family Link app. The options are to allow all sites, try to block explicit sites, or only allow sites the parent approves, and individual addresses can be added to blocked or approved lists. These settings follow the child's account on Android phones and Chromebooks where they are signed in.

3. Screen Time on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Apple's Screen Time includes web content limits. Open Screen Time in Settings (or System Settings on a Mac), go to Content & Privacy, switch it on and find the web content section; the wording shifts slightly between versions. Choose to limit adult websites, then add specific addresses to the never-allow list. Protect everything with a Screen Time passcode the user does not know. On iPhone and iPad these limits generally apply in other browsers as well. On a Mac, test the block in Chrome after setting it up, since coverage can differ.

4. The hosts file on a computer

Every Windows PC and Mac has a small text file called hosts that can send a web address nowhere. A line such as 127.0.0.1 www.example.com, with the real address you want blocked, stops that site loading in every browser on the machine. This is a more technical option, so make a copy of the file before editing it.

• Windows: open Notepad as administrator, then open the file at C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
• Mac: open Terminal and edit /etc/hosts with administrator rights, for example through the built-in nano editor.
• Add one line for the address with www. and one without, save the file and restart the browser. If the site still loads, restart the computer.

5. A filter on the router

Many home routers include parental controls or an address filter in their admin page or companion app. A block set there covers every phone, tablet and laptop on the home Wi-Fi, though not phones using mobile data. Router menus vary a great deal, so check the manual for the exact steps.

6. Work and school computers

Organisations control Chrome with central policies that can block whole lists of sites. If something needs blocking or unblocking on a work device, ask the IT team instead of trying to change it yourself.

When the real problem is pop-ups

Sometimes a whole site is fine and it is the windows it throws at you that grate. Chrome's pop-up blocker is on by default, but it is worth a check:

1. Open Chrome's Settings and go to Privacy and security.
2. Choose Site settings, then Pop-ups and redirects.
3. Select the option that stops sites sending pop-ups or using redirects, and remove any unfamiliar site from the allowed list.

Many of the "pop-ups" people complain about are really notifications a site was once allowed to send. Under Site settings > Notifications, remove those sites and stop new ones from asking. The wider habits in our guide to turning off notifications without missing what matters apply here as well.

Common snags

• Extensions are off in Incognito windows by default. Open the extension's details page and allow it in Incognito if the block should hold there too.
• Blocking one address does not always cover its mobile version or other subdomains. Add each variant you need.
• Clearing your history removes traces of a site but does nothing to stop the next visit. If tidying up is the real aim, see how to delete your Google search history.

Quick answers

Can I block a site in Chrome on Android without an extra app?

Not inside Chrome itself. On many Android phones, Digital Wellbeing can set daily time limits on individual sites visited in Chrome, and Family Link handles children's accounts. For a firm block on your own phone, a blocker app or a router filter is the usual route.

Will a blocked site still appear in my bookmarks?

Yes, the bookmark stays, but it will not open while the block is active. Remove it if you want the temptation gone entirely; our guide to bookmarking websites shows where to manage them.