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There are several ways to block websites in Chrome. You can use an extension called “BlockSite”, use parental controls, edit the Hosts file, and even block sites with your router.
Do you find yourself accessing Facebook, Twitter or other distracting websites when you really should be doing something else? Block that website in Google Chrome. Other solutions will also allow you to block websites for children at home or employees.
How to block websites in Chrome
Unfortunately, the easiest way to block a website in Chrome isn’t a built-in feature. Instead, we recommend an extension called BlockSite. It is highly rated, constantly updated, and free.
After installation, you will be asked to click “I agree” to allow the extension to work, and then you can click “Skip” on the next page to use the extension for free. You are limited to blocking three websites with the free version.
Next, we can start blocking websites. Make sure you’re on the “Block Sites” tab and enter a URL in the text bar. Click the “Add Item” button to block the site.
You can also block a site while browsing the site by using the extension shortcut in the Chrome toolbar. Just click the puzzle icon and select “BlockSite” from the menu (click the pin icon to place the shortcut on the toolbar).
Click “Block this site” to add the current page to the list of blocked sites.
If you don’t want an extension like BlockSite to run on every website you visit, you can use Chrome Extension Permissions to restrict your access. For example, if you only want to block Facebook, you can restrict BlockSite to only run on facebook.com.
To block websites for other users on your computer, you can also go to the “Password Protection” tab to prevent people from easily unblocking websites.
How to block a website in Chrome with parental controls
The BlockSite extension works well, but as an extension it has some shortcomings. If you’re trying to block extensions for a child or someone else on your PC, an extension is easy to remove. For a more secure method, you can take advantage of parental controls.
Familiar Windows 10 features allow you to add websites to “Allow Allow” and “Always Block”. Windows 11 Family Features can do the same, but Windows 11 requires all users in the family to have Microsoft accounts; works through the “Family Safety” app.
For Apple users, the Screen Time feature on Mac, iPhone, and iPad can be used to block websites. Screen Time allows you to block websites in the “Application Limits” section and applies to all system browsers, including Chrome. On a Chromebook and Android, you can use Family Link to control which websites a child’s account can visit (more on that in the section below).
How to block a website in Chrome with Google Family Link
Google’s parental control software is called “Family Link”. Among the many features is the ability to block websites in Chrome. This includes any instance of the Chrome browser where you are signed in to your child’s Google account. Windows, Android, iPhone, anywhere.
To get started, go to family.google/familylink and sign in with your Google account. If you haven’t added a child yet, click the “Add Child” option in the sidebar.
Next, select “Controls” for the child and go to “Content Restrictions.”
Select “Google Chrome” from the list of services.
This is where you will see all the options for blocking and approving websites. Click “Blocked Sites” to add a blocked website.
Enter the URL of the website and click “Block”.
You can also choose to only allow websites that you have added to the “Approved Sites” list if you prefer a more aggressive blocking approach. There are a lot of controls with Google Family Link, so be sure to do some exploring.
How to block websites in Chrome with the Hosts file
One of the most effective ways to block websites in Google Chrome is with the Hosts file. This is a plain text file that translates domain names into IP addresses. We can edit the Hosts file to block websites, and it’s pretty easy to do.
We have a comprehensive guide to editing the Hosts file on Windows, Mac, and Linux. To block a website, you simply add a line of text to the end of the file. For example, to block Facebook, add the following line to the end of the Hosts file:
0.0.0.0 www.facebook.com
It should look like this in the text file:
Save the document and you will no longer be able to access Facebook in any browser, including Chrome. If you still can, try clearing your DNS cache (Windows, Mac, Linux) or restart your computer.
Why does this work? We are telling the computer to route all requests for “www.facebook.com” to the IP address “0.0.0.0”. Since that is not a routable address, the site cannot be loaded.
How to block sites in Chrome through your router
Perhaps the most “nuclear” option to block websites in Chrome is to do it at the router level. This will not only block websites in Chrome, but also any browser on any device on your Wi-Fi network.
If your router has a companion app, it most likely has a feature to block websites for everyone and specific people. You can create a profile for someone in your household, assign devices to that profile, and limit what they can access. Google Wi-Fi and Eero are two popular examples.
For more old-school routers, you’ll probably need to access the settings through a browser. Usually, the control panel of the router can be accessed through an IP address like http://192.168.1.1 . This is often labeled on the router itself.
Once in the control panel of the router, look for some kind of parental control section. Some routers only have general settings, while others will allow you to block specific websites of your choosing. You can also install custom firmware with additional features.
How to block sites as a Chrome Enterprise administrator
If you’re a Chrome Enterprise administrator, you can block (or allow) certain websites for users in your organization. You can configure it to block certain URLs, allow only certain URLs, and define exceptions to a block list. See the Chrome Enterprise support page for more information on how to set this up for your organization.
Website blocking is sometimes necessary for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, there are also a variety of ways to do it. Privacy and security are important parts of the Chrome browsing experience, but there’s a lot more to think about. Make sure Chrome is running at peak performance and isn’t too annoying.
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