How to Limit YouTube Time on Windows & Mac (3 Easy Ways)

YouTube can be addictive. Sometimes you just open YouTube to watch one video, but the next recommended video keeps attracting you, and you end up watching for hours without realizing it. Setting a YouTube time limit can help you reduce screen time and improve productivity. In this article, we’ll show you several easy ways to limit YouTube time on your computer.

 Cisdem AppCrypt

Easily Set Time Limit on YouTube

• Block websites on Chrome, Edge, Safari, and other browsers
• Let you block specific sites and pages, and URLs containing specific words
• Let you block categories of sites, such as Video sites
• Let you block all websites except the ones you allow
• Also lock apps with password
• Let you block websites and lock apps permanently or at scheduled times
• Easy to use
• Hard to bypass
• Help you set time limits on YouTube and password protect the settings
• Help with productivity, parental controls 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

Quick Comparison

Method 1. Limit YouTube Time on Chrome and Other Browsers with AppCrypt

Available for both Windows and Mac, Cisdem AppCrypt is a website blocker and app lock that helps you control YouTube usage with flexible schedules. Instead of completely blocking YouTube, you can decide when YouTube is available and when it should be restricted.

With AppCrypt, you can:

• Set YouTube schedules to block access during specific hours, such as study time, work hours, or bedtime.
• Create different limits for different days, allowing separate schedules for weekdays and weekends.
• Limit specific YouTube channels that may be distracting or addictive.
• Limit YouTube Shorts to stop endless scrolling.
• Prevent bypass attempts with password protection, so others can’t change the settings without permission.
• Use it with popular browsers, including Chrome, Safari, Edge, Brave, and more.

Below are the steps to set time limit on YouTube.

Step 1. Install AppCrypt.

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.

Set a password to protect your AppCrypt settings.

If you are limiting YouTube for yourself, consider asking someone else to set the password.

It is also recommended to enable Launch at System Startup so AppCrypt can automatically run when your computer starts.

Step 3. Open the AppCrypt main window.

On Windows: Click the AppCrypt icon in the taskbar. Or right-click the icon and select Open Main Window.

On Mac: Click the lock icon in the menu bar.

Then enter your password to access the main window.

Step 4. Go to Web Block

Click the Web Block tab.

For Windows users, install the browser extension when prompted. Mac users do not need to install an extension.

Step 5. Add YouTube to the block list.

In the URL field, enter youtube.com. Click Add.

Step 6. Create a YouTube time limit schedule

Select youtube.com from the block list. Click the clock icon.

Turn on Custom Schedule, then set when YouTube should be blocked.

You can create multiple schedules based on your needs.

For example:

Although there are ways to change or remove a YouTube limit, all settings are protected by the AppCrypt password, making the restriction harder to bypass.

Method 2. Limit YouTube Time on Chrome with a Browser Extension

If you only use Chrome and need a simple way to limit YouTube time, you can install an extension to set daily limits. This method works on both Windows and Mac computers. After testing several YouTube time management extensions, I recommend Limitify for YouTube.

It helps you limit YouTube time by setting the cap on how many YouTube videos you can watch.

Step 1. Go to the Chrome Web Store.

Step 2. Install Limitify for YouTube offered by “Igusaya”.

Step 3. Click the Extensions icon in Chrome toolbar and choose Limitify for YouTube.

Step 4. Click Open Options.

Step 5. Enable Shorts scroll lock, which helps reduce endless scrolling on YouTube.

Under View limit, set the number of YouTube videos you (or your child) can watch every day.

To make the YouTube time limit harder to bypass, you can follow this tip. Click the Extensions icon in Chrome toolbar. Right-click on the 3-dot icon next to Limitify for YouTube. Choose Manage extension. Scroll down and enable Allow in incognito.

Method 3. Limit YouTube Time on Mac on Safari with Screen Time

If you are a user of macOS Catalina 10.15 or later and Safari is your primary or only browser, this method is for you. This method uses Screen Time, which is a set of settings included in macOS Catalina or later. If you are using an earlier macOS that doesn’t come with Screen Time, then Method 1 can help.

Note: If you use Screen Time to set a limit for YouTube, the limit only applies to Safari. Screen Time doesn’t support any non-Safari web browser.

Step 1. Go to System Settings. If you are using macOS Monterey 12 or earlier, please go to System Preferences instead.

Step 2. Choose Screen Time in the sidebar on the left. Turn on Screen Time.

Step 3. This step is optional. Turn on Use Screen Time Passcode and then set a 4-digit passcode.

Step 4. Click App Limits. Turn on App Limits.

Step 5. Click Add Limit to bring up the Create a new app limit window.

Step 6. Scroll down to the end and expand Websites.

Step 7. Click the green Add button that appears. Enter the domain name youtube.com. Press the Return key.

Step 8. Now you are presented with two ways to limit YouTube time on Mac.

• Every Day: With this way, you can specify the amount of time per day during which youtube.com is accessible, regardless of the day of the week.
• Custom: You can also customize the amount of time for each day of the week. Click the Edit button and set the daily time limit. Click Done.

Step 9. Click Done.

Step 3 is recommended if you want to limit your children’s YouTube time.

When you finish setting time limits on websites on Mac using Screen Time, the limits will apply to Safari right away.

If you are looking for a solution for Google Chrome, see Method 1.

To change the time limit you have set on YouTube, in Screen Time, go to App Limits, and select youtube.com from the list of limited websites. Click Edit Limit and make modifications. To remove a limit, select the website and click the minus icon.

Conclusion

YouTube is a great place to spend leisure time. There are numerous great videos there. However, YouTube can be addictive. You may spend hours per day watching videos on this website. To spend less time on YouTube, you can limit time on it.

This article talks about three ways to limit YouTube time on computer on popular browsers like Chrome. Method 1 and Method 2 are useful for both Windows and Mac users. Method 3 is included in macOS and is for Mac users only. If you are looking for an easy way to control YouTube watching time, I hope this article can help.