How to Block Websites on Google Chrome

With more than 60% of global Internet users browsing the web on Chrome, Google’s web browser is far and away the most popular way to surf the net. And with millions of users comes millions of hours spent on websites that may be better off blocked.

If you’re one of those Chrome users who needs to make a site inaccessible—whether it’s to increase your productivity or prevent inappropriate websites from popping up—you’re in luck. However, if you need a solution for dire situations, consider looking for the best firewall to prevent hackers. We’ve designed this guide to show you how to block websites on Chrome on all of your devices.

How to Block a Website on Google Chrome on a Desktop

Although Google Chrome’s desktop version doesn’t come with a built-in “block website” feature—at least not yet—they’ve made it easy to add your own with Chrome browser extensions.

An extension is a Google Chrome add-on that modifies the browser’s behavior. There are thousands of free and premium extensions available, and some of them allow you to block websites with a click. We’ll discuss some of our favorite website-blocking extensions later on, but for now, let’s look at how to install a Chrome extension to block a site.

For this example, we’ll use BlockSite, a freemium Chrome extension that over a million people trust to keep them focused.

Start by opening a new Google Chrome tab. If you use Chrome with your Google account, log in now, as extensions are account specific. In other words, if you start using Chrome with another profile or open an incognito tab, your installed extensions won’t carry over.

Once you’ve logged in, head to the Extensions section of the Google Chrome Web Store. Search for BlockSite (or the site blocker of your choice) in the toolbar at the top left. Click the first result, then hit the blue Add to Chrome button at the top right. Press Add extension on the pop-up window.

After you click I Agree, you’ll be taken to the page that lets you block sites. Type in the website you want to block, click Add Item, and the website will be marked as a blocked site and become inaccessible (instead, you’ll see a cute picture if you type in the site’s URL).

Is There a One-Click Option for Blocking Websites on Google Chrome?

Chrome may be user-friendly, but it has yet to devise a one-click method for blocking websites. As of right now, the easiest—and quickest—way to block websites is to use a free Google Chrome extension.

How to Block a Website on Google Chrome on an iPhone

First, open the Settings app, then navigate to Screen Time then Content & Privacy Restrictions. Scroll down and tap Web Content. The default option here is Unrestricted Access.

In the tab that opens, you can change your settings to Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only (which acts as an allowlist feature). However, if you want to block multiple websites, scroll down to the Never Allow section and tap Add Website. Type in the URL of the unwanted website you wish to block, then tap Done. Repeat this step as many times as you need.

Chrome may not be the default web browser on an iPhone, but many Apple users choose to download the Google Chrome app to sync the blocked URLs for mobile and desktop browsing.

With that said, when you go through this process on an iPhone, you don’t just block websites on Chrome—you block them on all browser apps, including:

• Safari iOS
• Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• DuckDuckGo

How to Block a Website on Google Chrome on an Android

The easiest way to block a website on Chrome on an Android is to install a third-party app. Once again, we’ll use the BlockSite app for our example, though there are many other options on the Google Play Store that you can try.

To begin, open the Google Play Store on your device and search for BlockSite. Tap the app icon and click INSTALL.

After the app finishes downloading, open it and follow the prompts. BlockSite will ask for access to your privacy settings—you’ll have to allow this for the app to work.

The final step is to click the plus sign and start typing in the website you want to block. When the right website comes up, tap it to select it, then hit Done. Repeat as many times as you need.

As with the iPhone, this process blocks websites across all browsers on your device—not just Google Chrome.

The 4 Best Extensions for Blocking Websites on Google Chrome

While blocking websites on a mobile device is handy, most of us rely on a laptop or desktop computer for work. To that end, let’s dive deeper into desktop Chrome extensions that block websites and work on both Macs and PCs.

Here are our top four extensions for blocking websites on Chrome.

1. BlockSite

We’ve used BlockSite for our examples, and there’s a reason—it’s the most widely used website blocker in the game. The highly-rated extension allows you to schedule your lockouts, block all adult content, and protect your settings with a password (that you may or may not be privy to).

With the free version of BlockSite, you can add six sites to your block list. To add more—and unlock features like site redirection and cross-device syncing—you can pay for the premium version ($10.99/month).

2. Freedom

As the name suggests, Freedom is an extension that frees you from those sites you just can’t stop visiting.

We like Freedom for its positive spin on site blocking. When you visit a blocked website, you see a green screen with a butterfly that reads “You are free from this site.” No negativity, no judging you for trying to spend your lunch break on a blocked website—just freedom.

The one aspect of Freedom that isn’t free is the extension itself. After your free trial runs out, Freedom costs $8.99/month.

3. WasteNoTime

WasteNoTime is a free extension that allows you to customize your web browsing with ease. You can either block a site 24/7 or choose to block it at specific times.

Additionally, the extension comes with a time tracking function that can tell you how long you spend on each website. It even tracks your time spent on links that lead away from each website.

Unlike some of these other solutions, WasteNoTime requires minimal permissions to do its job—it only needs access to your browser navigation history. If you’re a privacy-conscious web user, this extension may be the one for you.

4. StayFocusd

With over 600,000 users, StayFocusd is another free favorite that focuses on, well, focus. The extension helps you block out the sites that encourage procrastination while allowing the ones you need to be productive.

StayFocusd is highly customizable, giving you the ability to block subdomains, specific web pages, or even types of media (like images or videos). And unlike WasteNoTime, StayFocusd makes it clear that it never tracks the sites you visit or how long you spend there.

Why Block a Website on Google Chrome?

Now that you know how to block a website, you may be wondering why you may require a site-blocking extension. While everyone has their reasons for denying access to sites, there are a handful of common motives for shrinking the Internet by a few web pages.

1. Safety and Security

First and foremost, you may want to block a site to keep you, your personal information, and your devices safe. Some sites masquerading as legitimate web pages may be spreading viruses and malware. And legitimate sites may also be harvesting your data.

By blocking any unsafe sites altogether, you eliminate the risk of accidentally stumbling upon a virus. For extra security, you can pair your favorite website blocker with a pop-up- and tracker- blocking extension like uBlock Origin.

2. Parental Controls

If you share your devices with family members, website blockers can keep your loved ones safe from unexpected and inappropriate content. Many website-blocking extensions include built-in “adult content” filters, allowing you to hand your iPad to your child without worry.

3. Minimize Distractions

Whether you need to reduce distractions for yourself, your family, or your organization, blocking websites is an excellent way to do it.

With a site blocker on Google Chrome, you can:

• Lock social media sites to minimize mindless scrolling
• Keep your favorite online shops from showing up to resist temptations
• Block gaming or gambling sites to keep you on track

Maximize Your Productivity With Chrome Website Blockers

When you open your browser, you want to make the most of your time at the computer and ensure that it’s protected—no matter where you go.

Blocking websites on Google Chrome is one of the best ways to stay focused, especially if you’re prone to “just five more minutes” on your favorite site. From a security perspective, blocking websites can prevent the spread of viruses that may steal your personal data. And if you work with websites of your own, you know how important it is to prioritize safety.

You may have heard the term ‘firewall’ being thrown around and wonder, “What is a firewall?” That’s handled separately from your web browser and manages all incoming and outgoing traffic based on your security network settings.

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