Games can be a big distraction during work or study. To block games on a computer, restrict access to installed game apps, game launchers, and gaming websites. Cisdem AppCrypt combines app locking, websites blocking features together and let you block games throughout the day or only during specific hours. This article shows you how to set it up.

 Cisdem AppCrypt

The Best Game Blocker for Computers & Phones

• Lock game apps and launchers with password
• Block gaming websites on Chrome, Edge, Opera, and other browsers.
• Let you add individual websites or import a gaming website list for bulk blocking
• Let you block popular sites in certain categories, like gaming sites, with 1 click
• Offers a Whitelist mode to block all websites except one or a few
• Let you set schedule restrictions for work, homework, or bedtime
• Easy to use
• Hard to bypass
• Help with parental controls, productivity and privacy protection
• Available for Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone and iPad

Free Download Windows 10 or later Free Download macOS 10.15 or later GET IT ON Google Play Download on the App Store

What do you want to block?

Choose the option that matches your needs and you can jump to the steps.

How to block game apps/game launchers

You can block individual game apps installed on your computer (such as Discord, Roblox). You can also block the game launchers (such as Steam and Epic Games Launcher), which are used to download, update, and launch games.

This part shows you how.

Step 1. Install the game blocker.

Download and install AppCrypt on your Windows or Mac computer.

Free Download Windows 10 or later Free Download macOS 10.15 or later

Step 2. Set a password.

Open it and create a password when prompted.

It’s recommended to enable Launch at system startup.

Step 3. Open the main window.

On a Windows PC, click the AppCrypt icon in the taskbar. Choose Open Main Window.

On a Mac, click the lock icon in the menu bar.

Then enter the password to access the main window.

Step 4. Add the game apps/game launchers.

On a Windows PC, go to App Lock. Drag the game’s desktop shortcut into this tab. Alternatively, click the Add button and select its executable file.

On a Mac, click the Add button. Select the game or launcher from the Applications folder. Click Open to add it.

Tip: Can’t find the game’s desktop shortcut or executable file on Windows?

For Windows users, if a certain game doesn’t have a desktop shortcut, you need to manually look for its actual executable file and drag it into the App Lock tab.

• The game apps/game launcher apps that you directly download from their official sites are usually located at “C:\Program Files” or “C:\Program Files (x86)”.
• The games you install from Microsoft Store are stored in "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps”.
• If you want to block a specific game downloaded from Steam, Epic Games, or other game launchers, then you need to find the .exe file that actually runs the game and block it. For example, the game apps downloaded from Steam on PC are usually located at “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common”.

You can also press the Ctrl + Shift + ESC keys together while the app is running to open the Task Manager. Click More Details > Processes to locate the game’s EXE file.

Now the game apps are blocked.

How to block online gaming websites

Browser-based online games can be played directly on gaming websites. This part shows you how to block a specific gaming website, block all popular online games at once, or set up an allowlist so only approved websites are accessible. Since the same game blocker is used, I skip the first three steps.

Step 1. Go to the Web Block tab.

Open AppCrypt’s main window and click Web Block.

On Windows, follow the prompts to install the extension in each browser. Mac users can skip this step.

Step 2. Add the gaming websites.

In the URL field, enter a game website that you’d like to block and click Add.

Alternatively, click Import and choose the Game Sites category, which will automatically add tons of gaming websites to block.

Now the game websites are blocked on Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave, Firefox (on Windows only), and Safari (on Mac only). AppCrypt supports these six browsers and allows you to lock unsupported browsers.

Tip: Allow only the websites you need

For stricter blocking, you can turn on Block all website. Click Exceptions, and add specific websites to the Always Allow list. By doing this, all websites (including all online games) are blocked on your computer, except a few websites you still need such as those necessary for study.

For more details, see How to Block All Websites Except One.

How to limit gaming time by blocking games at certain times

By default, AppCrypt keeps blocking the apps and websites on your block list as long as it’s running. What if you don’t like the idea of blocking games forever? For example, you want to stop your children or yourself from spending too much time playing video games, or block access to certain addicting game during the study time.

The good news is that AppCrypt allows you to schedule the blocking.

Step 1. Add games to the block list.

The previous part of the article shows you how to do this step by step.

Step 2. Schedule the blocking of a specific game.

Go to the App Lock tab or Web Block tab to find the game you wish to set time limits on. Click it, and a clock icon will appear. Click the clock icon to bring up the Custom Schedule dialog. Turn on Custom Schedule.

Click the existing schedule to edit it according to your needs. You can specify times of the day and days of the week. You can add multiple schedules if needed.

This way, you control the amount of time your children or yourself can spend on games and the specific times when games are accessible. There’s lots of flexibility. For example, you can set a one-hour time limit on games on school days or work days and allow more gaming time on weekends.

If you want to set a time limit for all game apps and sites instead of a specific game, click the Schedule button on the top toolbar. The General schedule works on all blocked websites and apps in the block list.

Summary

When one tries to open a blocked game app or game launcher, one will be prompted to enter the password. Without knowing the password, one won’t be able to open the game.

When one tries to open a gaming site, the site won’t open.

There are four ways to unblock a game permanently or temporarily: removing the game app or site from the block list, entering the password when prompted, quitting AppCrypt, and disabling App Lock or Web Block. Any way requires the password.

By following the steps above, parents can make games inaccessible on their children’s computers or other computers like the family computer. The same steps can also help prevent adults from accessing games. If you want to stop yourself from playing games, please ask someone else (like a family member) to set the password for you.

Prefer a video tutorial? Watch the video below.

Advice for parents: How to prevent children from becoming addicted to games?

Blocking games on computer using a game blocker is a coercive way to stop children from playing. Not all games are bad for children. Some age-appropriate games can improve their problem-solving skills, hand-eye coordination, etc. You can allow your children to play games appropriately and take the following measures to prevent game addiction.

1. Play games with your child. In the process, you can evaluate whether the game is safe and how much time your child spends playing the game is healthy and appropriate.

2. Set clear game time limits. Once you’ve determined a reasonable amount of gaming time, set a clear limits to prevent your child addicted to it.

3. Let child engage in other activities. For example, reading, sports, climbing, etc. Maybe your child can find something more enjoyable than games.

4. Set up in-game parental controls. Some games come with built-in parental control features that allow you to manage child’s gaming behavior. Such as Roblox, World of Warcraft, PUBG, and more.

Read the following guides to learn how to set up parental controls for these games:

https://www.cisdem.com/resource/roblox-parental-controls.html

https://www.cisdem.com/resource/pubg-parental-controls.html

FAQs

Is there an easy way to block all computer games?

Yes. Using Cisdem AppCrypt, you can block all popular online games on computer with one click. It’s easy and effective. There isn’t an easy way to block all game apps. But you can still use this game blocker to block access to major game launchers on child’s computer, like Epic Games Launcher. Once these launchers are blocked, many popular games become inaccessible.

Is there a way to prevent games to be executed for myself?

Yes. If you struggle with game addiction, the best way is to use Cisdem AppCrypt to block games on your devices. It includes a password protection feature. You can ask a trusted family member or friend to set the password for you, which prevent you from opening games as well as bypassing the blocking when you can’t control yourself.

How to limit computer time for myself?

Cisdem AppCrypt also comes with a Schedule feature, allowing you to limit game time on PC.

Conclusion

Gaming is not a bad thing. But sometimes you may have to prevent or limit access to games for the sake of parental controls, productivity or digital wellness. Too much gaming can lead to excessive screen time, emotional and even physical health problems, negative effects on study, work or personal life, etc. This article provides instructions on how to block games on computer and talks about the details that you’d probably like to know about the blocking. I hope it’s helpful.