Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers, accounting for more than 90% of all web traffic. Is it, however, safe to use? Google does provide a few techniques for enabling filters or increasing user privacy. One of these capabilities is the ability to block websites.
You may want to block websites on your browser for a variety of reasons. You might want to avoid being sidetracked or prevent your children from viewing inappropriate websites. However, there is no natural option in Chrome to restrict a website.
To block websites on Chrome, most users will need to utilize third-party software or an add-on. This article will go over how to block a website in Chrome on various devices such as PC, Android, and iOS. Continue reading to learn everything there is to know about blocking websites in Google Chrome.
How to Block a Website in Google Chrome?
To block a page on Chrome for desktops, download a blocker extension and enter the website(s) you wish to ban into the app’s settings.
How to Block Websites in Chrome on a Desktop Computer
On Chrome, there are essentially two ways to block websites by default. The first approach for blocking sites in Chrome makes use of Google Chrome extensions and is quite easy to set up. The second option, while not requiring an extension, requires a little more effort.
Here’s how it works:
Chrome Extensions to Block a Website
Because Google Chrome has no built-in options for blocking websites, utilizing an extension is one of the best methods. There are numerous extensions available, including BlockSite and StayFocused.
We chose BlockSite for this instance, but you are free to choose another add-on that serves the same function. Some apps can run on multiple platforms, including Safari and Chrome.
Here’s how to use BlockSite to block a URL in Chrome:
Step 1: Go to the Chrome Web Store and search for BlockSite, or click here to go to the add-ons page. Click Add to Chrome on the page, and the add-on should begin downloading.
Step 2: After the installation is complete, restart the browser. Then, in your browser window, click on the Puzzle piece icon in the upper-right corner. Then, to start the extension, click on it.
Step 3: The extension will demonstrate an agreement on the initial startup. Click Agree, then the Gear icon in the top right corner of the extension window. This will take you to a website where you may configure the sites you want to block.
Step 4: In the first text box, enter the URL of the website or webpage you want to block, and then click the + Add Item button. The website that you want to block will be added to the list below. Please keep in mind that the free version of this tool only allows you to add up to six websites.
If you try to open a website that you added to the extension’s blocked list, you will get a notification informing you that it is blocked. The free version is a terrific way to test the waters and determine whether you want to upgrade to the full version later.
In Incognito Mode, You Can Block Websites
When you enter Incognito mode in Chrome, all extensions are disabled by default. However, you may enable BlockSite to block URLs in Chrome during private browsing sessions by enabling it in the extension’s options.
How to Block a Website in Google Chrome Without Using Extensions?
There is no explicit function in Chrome that allows you to block a website. However, there are a few ways to ban websites in Chrome. These include utilizing a Google Admin account or the internal router settings:
Step 1: Sign in to your Google Admin account and navigate to the Homepage. From there, select Devices, followed by Chrome.
Step 2: Select Users & Browsers from the Settings menu. You can select the Top organizational unit to prohibit a website for all users or the Child organizational unit to restrict website access to child accounts exclusively.
Step 3: Regardless of the option you select, scroll down to discover the URL Blocking setting. Enter the URLs of the websites you want to block in Chrome there. You can add up to 1000 websites simultaneously.
Step 4: Once you’ve entered the website URLs, simply click Save.
How to Block Websites in Chrome on a Mobile Device?
As with the desktop version of Chrome, there is no option to block a website in the mobile version. However, there are numerous Android applications that will allow you to do so. The feature is built into iOS.
How to Restrict Websites in Chrome for Android?
We can achieve comparable outcomes on Android by using applications from the Play Store, similar to how we restricted websites on Chrome for desktop using the extension. Stay Focused, the free version is being employed in this scenario. Here’s how to disable a website in Chrome on Android:
A snapshot of the Stay Focused Android app displaying the location of the black sites.
Step 1: To launch the app, tap on its icon. When you initially run the app, you will be asked to grant some permissions in order for it to function properly. After allowing these permissions, scroll down and select the Block Sites option from the Quick Actions menu.
Step 2: You can either select some well-known websites from the list or write in the URL of the website you want to block. Simply type the website’s address into the textbox to do so.
Step 3: A snapshot of the lock symbol in the Stay Focused app for Android To block the website, click the Lock icon. Because the software is system-wide, the website will be blocked in all browsers installed on the Android device.
When you open the prohibited website on your device, a notification will appear informing you that it has been blocked on the browser.
Block a Website in Chrome on iOS Using Screen Time
Newer iOS versions can ban websites from the iPhone’s privacy settings without the use of third-party software. Here are the methods for blocking a page in Chrome for iOS:
Step 1: Go to Settings on your iPhone and select Screen Time. Click on Content & Privacy Restrictions from the menu screen.
Step 2: In the Content & Privacy Restrictions menu, select Content Restrictions. This will display a new menu where you can pick Web Content and select the website you want to restrict.
Step 3: In this menu, click Add Website under Never Allow and enter the URL of the website you want to block. This works nicely because it is system-wide and blocks the website in all browsers.
Unblock Websites on Google Chrome
You now know how to permanently ban a website in Chrome, but there may be occasions when you need to unblock a website in Chrome simply because you changed your mind about it, or perhaps you want to block another website in its place.
Whatever the reason, you can unblock a website in Chrome by following these steps:
Desktop
Step 1: To visit the extension’s settings page, click on the Puzzle piece icon in the upper right corner of the browser window, then click on the extension’s name and then click on the Gear icon.
Step 2: Navigate to the extension’s settings page and seek the website you want to unblock in the Blocked Sites list. To remove a website from the list, simply click the Trash button on the right side of the list. In this scenario, we are deactivating facebook.com.
iOS
To remove a website from the prohibited list, simply follow the steps outlined above. Rather than blocking the website, simply remove it from the list, and you should be able to visit it normally again.
Android
To remove a website from the list of blocked websites. Navigate to the blocklist in the app you’re using to block the website. Simply remove the website you want to unblock from the list, and you should be able to visit it normally.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to block websites in Google Chrome, you can avoid distractions and boost your productivity. If you want to learn more about increasing your productivity, we have a plethora of guides available.
Please let us know in the comments if you have any queries or topics you’d want us to explore in future posts.