How to Block Websites on Chrome without Extension: 7 Ways

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Rosa Reyes
May 05, 2023 Preview 12.1K Preview 1
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Blocking distracting websites on Chrome can help reduce distractions. Blocking inappropriate websites on Chrome can help keep children safer online. Is using a website blocker extension a good way to do the blocking? Not really. Anyone can easily remove the extension so the blocking is easy to bypass. That’s why many people want to know how to block websites on Chrome without extension. 

This article will show you how to ban websites on Google Chrome on desktop and mobile without using an extension.

 

Method 1. How to block a website on Chrome on Mac with AppCrypt

Cisdem AppCrypt, a website blocker and app locker rolled into one, is the best tool to block access to websites on browsers on Mac. With this efficient and straightforward tool, you can effortlessly make unwanted websites inaccessible.

Steps to block websites on Chrome via AppCrypt:

1. Download and install AppCrypt.

Free Download macOS 10.12 or later

2. When you open this Chrome website blocker for the first time, it’ll ask you to set a password.

a message asking first time users to set a password

3. Click AppCrypt’s icon in the menu bar. Choose Open Main Window.

open main window

4. Enter the password, and you are in the main window. Click Web Block.

5. Under the Web Block tab, add specific URLs or import categories of websites to block.

block websites on Chrome mac

Now the added or imported websites are blocked on Google Chrome and other browsers, including the incognito browsing mode. When you or someone else such as your child tries to open a blocked site on Chrome, the site won’t open, and a message will show up saying that it’s blocked.

the message saying that a website is blocked

To access a blocked website, one needs to quit AppCrypt, or disable WebBlock, or remove the website from the Block list. Each and every of the three actions requires the password. The blocking is hard to bypass, unlike with using an extension.

Tips

How to block websites on Chrome permanently or during certain times

As long as AppCrypt is running, the websites will be blocked all the time. It’s recommended to select the Launch at system startup checkbox in Preferences.

the Preferences window providing the Launch at system startup option

If you want to block a specific website for certain hours of the day, the Schedule feature can help. Select the website, click the clock icon next to it, enable Custom Schedule and click Add Schedule to schedule the blocking of the website.

a schedule is added

To block all websites for certain hours, you can set a General Schedule by clicking Schedule in the toolbar. Note that the General Schedule will also apply to app locking.

a general schedule is added

How to only allow access to certain websites on Chrome

This website blocker for Chrome also lets you block all websites except a few. In the Web Block window, Enable the option of “Block all websites” in the bottom-left corner. Click Exceptions. Go to Always Allow tab and add one or more websites to allow.

allow access to certain websites on Chrome

Get AppCrypt for Mac to easily block access certain websites to limit the time spent on them!

 

Method 2. How to block websites on Chrome on Windows 10

Note: AppCrypt is also available for Windows PC, and the steps are almost the same. But it requires you to install the Chrome extension. If you are interested, you can check it out.

Here’s a scenario. Your son needs to use Chrome for homework, and want to use your computer. You allowed it. However, he spends hours on YouTube when not supervised. The good news is that you can use a tool called FocalFilter offered by Deanna G. and Shan Naziripour to effortlessly block YouTube and other unwanted websites for hours. This tool is work with all popular web browsers on Windows, including Chrome, Edge and Firefox. And you can also finish the blocking in only several simple steps.

1. Download Focal Filter. Open it.

2. Click Edit My Site List.

edit site list

3. Enter your list of websites you want to block in the box. Click Save.

enter websites to block

4. Set the blocking time to 1 hour, 2 hours or more.

5. Click Block My Site List.

The blocking will take place immediately on Google Chrome and other browsers you may have. You are not able to access the tool during the blocking time.

Note that FocalFilter will remove the website blocks once the time is up. You may need to enter the unwanted websites to the block list again. And if your child restarts the computer, the block won’t work.

In fact, this Chrome blocker tool blocks websites using the hosts file. If you are computer savvy, you can directly block any websites on Chrome by editing the hosts file on computer.

 

Method 3. How to block sites on Chrome on Android via Family Link

You may have heard about Google Family Link, a parental controls service by Google. It’s available as an Android app and can help parents control what websites and content their children can access on Android devices. Below are the steps to use this app to restrict children’s access to websites.

1. Download and install Google Family Link to your device.

2. It will ask you who is using this phone. Select Parent.

select Parent

3. Click on Next > Continue.

4. Tap on No to create a Google account for your child.

5. Google Accounts for children under 13 need to be linked to a parent. Then enter your email or phone number to be linked.

6. Agree to the Parental Consent. Then you will be asked for credit card info to verify that you are a parent.

7. Click Next. Now your child’s account has been created. Sign in this account on child’s device.

9. On your device, go to Family Link Settings.

10. Tap Filters on Google Chrome.

the Filters on Google Chrome settings

11. Enable Try to block mature sites and then tap Manage Sites.

12. Tap Blocked and manually add the sites that you don’t want your child to access.

Now the websites are blocked on your child’s Google account.

This service can also be used to block or allow certain sites for kids on Chrome browser on Chromebook.

 

Method 4. How to prevent access to certain websites on Chrome on iPhone

Sometimes you may want to block yourself or your kid from certain websites on iPhone. Luckily, iOS provides a solution. It’s called Screen Time and can be found in Settings. Let’s take a look at how to block a website on Chrome mobile using Screen Time:

1. Go to Settings on your iPhone. Scroll down to find Screen Time.

2. Choose Content & Privacy Restrictions. Enable it.

content and privacy restrictions

3. Go to Content Restrictions > Web Content > Limit Adult Websites.

limit adult websites

4. Under Add Websites, enter the URLs that you want to block in Chrome. Then these websites will be restricted on your browsers on iPhone including Google Chrome. But this is not enough since the blocking can be easily bypassed. Just click on Allow Websites on the pop-up blocking window. The sites can be easily accessed again.

allow websites

5. Choose Use Screen Time Password on Screen Time window and ask your friends to set a password for you. After that, you can’t bypass the blocking or change Screen Time settings without the password.

6. If you want to limit your child’s Screen Time on his iPhone and restrict him from accessing inappropriate websites on Chrome mobile, you can click on Set Up Screen Time for Family. Create an account for your child. And manage his online activities using this Family Sharing function.

set Screen Time for child

 

Method 5. How to prohibit websites on Chrome Enterprise

Google Chrome Enterprise by Google is a solution to manage Chrome browsers and devices. It’s designed for business use. Unlike the standard version of Chrome, Chrome Enterprise comes with a built-in way to block URLs. But only an admin can set up the blocking.

1. Sign in to Google Admin console.

2. Go to Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers.

3. Choose to apply the website blocking to all users and browsers or specific ones of them.

4. Go to URL Blocking.

the URL Blocking settings

5. Add individual website addresses.

6. Click Save.

7. Ask the affected users to restart their Chrome browser for the blocking to take effect.

It’s a great way to minimize distracting websites and improve workplace productivity.

 

Can you block websites on Chrome by configuring a router?

Website blocking extensions can be easily bypassed. Also they can’t be used on Chrome mobile. Therefore, many people don’t take them into consideration when looking for a way to restrict access to websites on Chrome.

In addition to the five methods talked about above, there are a few other ways, which, however, require you to change Internet or computer settings. If you are not tech savvy or not confident with such methods, you can ignore them. One method is to change the settings on a router that has parental controls.

1. Access the settings of the Wi-Fi router in your home or office.

2. In settings, find a feature named Block Sites or Parental Controls or alike. If you can’t find it in basic settings, try the advanced settings.

3. There should be an option for you to add websites to block. Some routers also let users block websites by category.

router settings that let users block websites

4. Add website URLs and save your settings.

This should block the added websites on all browsers including Google Chrome on all or selected devices connected to this particular network.

 

Can you prohibit access to websites by editing the hosts file?

The hosts file on your computer is an operating system file. It’s possible to limit access to websites by modifying this file. With this method, the blocking takes place at the device level. In other words, all web browsers (e.g. Google Chrome) installed on your computer will prevent the prohibited websites from loading. You can follow the detailed steps below to edit the hosts file on Windows:

1. Type NotePad in the Windows search box.

2. Right click on NotePad and select the option says Run as administrator.

3. Click on File > Open. Navigate to the hosts file. On a Windows PC, it is normally located in c:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc\hosts.

4. Change the file type from Text Document to All Files on the bottom right.

5. Open the hosts file.

6. Scroll down to the last line. Type the specific website name and then type 127.0.0.1 before the name.

For example, if you want to block Facebook on Chrome, type the following text:

127.0.0.1 facebook.com

127.0.0.1 www.facebook.com

Windows hosts file

Now Facebook is blocked on Chrome. If you no longer want to block the site, go back to hosts file and delete those texts.

On a Mac, the hosts file is located in /private/etc/hosts. It can be opened and modified through Terminal.

 

Conclusion

Despite being easily accessible and usable, site blocker extensions are not effective enough. This article shows seven methods on how to block websites on Chrome. Some are built-in free ways, and some are powerful third-party software. The first five methods are easy for everyone to use. I hope the article can help parents find a way to keep children away from addictive or inappropriate websites. It can also help block oneself from certain websites.

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Rosa Reyes
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Rosa has worked in Mac software industry for more than eight years. She believes that the purpose of software is to make life better and work more productively. In addition to writing, Rosa is also an avid runner.

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  • Betriebswirtin Karola Beil

    Extremely helpful for me. I was always worried about my child seeing something inappropriate online now this problem is solved!

    0 months ago commonReply

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