How to Block All Websites Except One on Computers & Phones

Blocking access to distracting or inappropriate websites can increase productivity or help with parental control. However, sometimes this may not be enough.

If you want to create an ultimate distraction-free or child-friendly online environment, consider using a stricter strategy - allowing access only to the website needed for work, education, or entertainment.

In this article, I will show you how to block all websites except one (or a few) on computers and phones, and you can find detailed instructions and helpful tips.

 

Part 1. How to block all websites except one on Windows and Mac

In this article, I will discuss three different methods. You can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Method 1. Use Cisdem AppCrypt (Windows & Mac)

Cisdem AppCrypt is a website blocker and app locker in one. It provides two modes for restricting websites: Block Mode and Allow Mode. With the latter, you can easily prevent access to all website except the allowed one for yourself or your kid.

The Schedule feature provides flexibility, and password protection helps prevent restrictions from being bypassed.

Below is how to use this method.

Step 1. Install Cisdem AppCrypt

Download and install the tool on your Windows or Mac computer.

Free Download Windows 10 or later Free Download macOS 10.12 or later

Step 2. Set a password

The first time you open the tool, set a password when prompted.

 

Step 3. Open the tool's main window

On a Windows PC, click the tool's icon in the taskbar. (Alternatively, right-click the icon and choose Open Main Window.) On a Mac, click the tool's icon in the menubar and choose Open Main Window.

Then, enter the password to access the main window.

Step 4. Turn on Allow Mode

In the Web Block tab of the main window, turn on Allow Mode by enabling Block all websites in the bottom left corner.

Step 5. Add a website to the allow list

Click Exceptions in the bottom right corner of the Web Block tab. In the dialog that appears, add one or multiple websites that you allow to the Always Allow list.

Now, all websites except the one on the Always Allow list become blocked and inaccessible on Chrome, Safari (Mac only), Edge, Firefox (Windows only), and some other popular web browsers.

Tip: How to easily turn on or off Allow Mode based on your needs

Here's a scenario. You have followed the steps above to focus on studying, and now you want to watch some YouTube videos to relax. However, you can't open YouTube, since only that allowed educational website is accessible. Don't worry. Just turn off Allow Mode by disabling Block all websites. (If the AppCrypt password is set by someone else, you will need that person's help to make this change, since the password is required to change any settings.)

If you want, you can use the Schedule feature to schedule Allow Mode to turn on or off automatically. Here's how. Click Schedule on the left hand side of the Web Block tab and select times of the day and days of the week when you need Allow Mode to be active.

 

Method 2. Configure internet settings (Windows)

Here is a highly technical but free method for Windows 11 users to block all websites except one or a few on all browsers. It may be confusing for those who aren't tech-savvy, so be sure to follow my steps carefully to avoid errors.

Step 1. Open the Start menu. Search for Control Panel. Open it.

Step 2. Click Category in the upper right corner. Select Large icons.

Step 3. Click on Internet Options.

Step 4. In the pop-up Internet Properties window, click the Connections tab.

Step 5. Below you’ll find the Local Area Network settings. Click on LAN settings.

Step 6. Under Proxy server, select the box next to Use a proxy server for your LAN.

Step 7. In the Address field, type 127.0.0.1. In the Port field, type the port 80.

Step 8. Click on the Advanced button. To allow only certain websites on Windows 11, find the Exceptions section. Enter the websites you want to allow access to. For example, if you want to access YouTube, enter youtube.com. Separate with a semicolon and a space. Then enter www.youtube.com. Click OK.

Step 9. Click OK again.

Now open any browser on your Windows 11 and try to visit website that is not added to the Exceptions list. You’ll find it is blocked by the proxy server.

 

Method 3. Use Screen Time (Mac)

Mac has a built-in set of features called Screen Time, which allows you to control access to websites. However, note that it only affects the Safari browser.

Step 1. Open System Settings on Mac.

Step 2. Choose Screen Time in the left sidebar.

Step 3. Turn on Screen Time.

Step 4. Choose Content & Privacy. Then, turn it on.

Step 5. Choose Content Restrictions.

Step 6. Select Allowed Websites Only from the Web Content menu.

Step 7. Click Customize.

Step 8. In the dialog that appears, click the Add button to add the specific website you allow. Click Done.

Step 9. Click Done.

 

Part 2. How to block all websites except a few on Android

This method shows you how to block all website except a few on Android phones using an app called Lock Me Out. Like AppCrypt, it is not only a website blocker but also an app locker. Although its interface may seem a bit complex, you can easily follow my detailed steps to set up the restrictions successfully.

I recommend this tool because it’s free to use and has an impressive 4.5 rating based on 10.4K user reviews. Obviously, most users are highly satisfied with it.

Step 1. Download and install Lock Me Out

Open the Play Store. Search for Lock Me Out. Install it. It’s compatible with Android 7.0 or higher.

Step 2. Set a password

This step is optional but recommended. Open the app. In the upper right corner, click the Settings icon. Select the Require a password to open Lock Me Out option. Then set the password. Click OK.

Step 3. Use Regular Lockouts

On the main window, there are 2 options for you. To block all website except one on Android, just select the first one: Regular Lockouts. Click the plus icon under it.

Step 4. Edit Lockout

On the next screen, set a name for the rule. Go to the Website Blocking section at the bottom. Select the Allow 0 website option. In the pop-up Permission Required window, click OK. Allow Lock Me Out to have full control of your phone.

Step 5. Set the Allow list

Then go back to the Edit Lockout window. Click Allow 0 websites. Enter the URL of the website that you allow to access. Click the Add icon.

Step 6. Save the settings

Click on the button in the upper right corner. Click OK.

Now, all websites except the one you added to the allowed list are blocked on your Android.

 

Part 3. How to allow only certain websites on an iPhone or iPad

In addition to Mac, Screen Time is available on iPhone and iPad. It can be used for free and does not require downloading any apps. If your or your child’s iPhone is running iOS 12 or later, then Screen Time is available for you to control web content in several ways, such as allowing only few websites.

Step 1. On your iPhone, go to Settings > Screen Time.

Step 2. Tap Lock Screen Time Settings. Set a password. This is optional but recommended.

Step 3. Under LIMIT USAGE, click Apps & Website Activity. Then click Turn on App & Website Activity.

Step 4. Under Restrictions, click on Content & Privacy Restrictions. Turn on the feature.

Step 5. Select App Store, Media, Web, & Games.

Step 6. In the next window, tap Web Content.

Step 7. Under WEB CONTENT, choose Only Approved Websites.

Step 8. By default, only those websites listed in the Only allow these approved websites section are accessible. You can remove the site by selecting it and swiping right.

Tap Add Website at the bottom to add specific websites to allow.

 

FAQs

Can you block all websites except one using hosts file?

The hosts file is a system file named “hosts”. You can find it on a Windows or macOS computer, an iPhone or an Android phone, etc. You may already know that it’s possible to block certain websites by editing the hosts file.

It’s also possible to use the hosts file to restrict Internet access to only certain sites. But it’s not recommended to do so unless you are confident with this method.

Step 1. Open the hosts file with Notepad or other file editor.

Step 2. In the hosts file, list the IP address of each allowed website, followed by the website name.

Step 3. To block all sites excluding the listed ones, you need to block all TLDs (top-level domains).

For details, please see this post.

Again, if you are not confident or familiar with this method, don’t try it.

 

Can you block all websites except one in router?

If your Wi-Fi router comes with parental controls containing a whitelist feature, then the answer can be yes.

It takes certain setup to apply the blocking. And the setup can be different, depending on the router brand and model.

If you don’t want to mess up with your router’s settings, please ignore this.

Step 1. Access your router’s settings by logging in.

Step 2. Find the parental controls, web filtering or similar settings. On some routers (such as ASUS ZenWiFi AX), the settings can be hidden in the firewall settings.

Step 3. There should be two filtering types: the blacklist and the whitelist. Enable the latter.

Step 4. Add specific websites or URLs to the whitelist one by one.

Step 5. Save your settings.

Now the blocking should be implemented on your web browser, be it Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Edge or Safari, etc.

 

Conclusion

We block certain websites to get rid of distracting, addictive, violent, explicit, drug or other unwanted websites. But there are numerous potentially bad or distracting websites out there. They may be just a click away from your children or yourself. It’s a good idea to block all websites except one or a few needed ones. This article shows how to easily allow only few websites on computers and phones. I hope it helps.