Are you worried your child might end up on the wrong website?
Or, you had some unpleasant experience on a website and looking to block it permanently.
You can save yourself and the ones you care about from online dangers by blocking sites on Chrome. Sometimes it can also be useful to eliminate distractions like watching Youtube or surfing Facebook the whole day. However, Google Chrome does not have an inbuilt feature for that.
Luckily, it does have an extensive collection of third-party extensions that would help you out in such a situation. Besides, we have a few more techniques for you to block a website on Chrome.
So, without any further ado, let’s get rid of some distractions.
Table of Contents
How to Block Sites on Chrome | Desktop
The quickest way for you to block a website on Google Chrome would be using an extension. Although there are a plethora of them available for free, I recommend using BlockSite. With more than 1000,000 users, it is the most trusted and widely used site blocker extension for Chrome.
Similar to other Chrome extensions, you can install BlockSite in no time by using the above link. Or, you can also search for it in the Chrome web store.
Once installed, it would ask you to agree to the privacy policy and record the browsing-related data, which you can deny. Soon it takes you to the configuration page, where you can add the URL to the block list. Type in any URL you want to restrict like “Facebook.com,” and click o the plus icon. Make sure to enter the correct address.
If you visit the website, a block page would appear, restricting you from accessing the website. You can also choose to redirect yourself to another website by adding the URL in the redirection setting.
One drawback of using this extension is the limited entries in the free version. However, you can quickly upgrade to any paid plan given other benefits in hand. For instance, you get category blocking, block unlimited sites, and customize the blocked page screen.
Some other benefits of using this extension include the whitelist option. It can then allow the mentioned sites and block every other website on Chrome. The best feature is keyword blocking, which will stop any website from opening containing the specified keyword in the domain.
How to Block Websites in Incognito Mode
Chrome disables all the extensions in the incognito mode by default. Therefore, you might open a website in incognito and find no message motivating you to get back to work.
Read our step by step guide on how to enable extensions in incognito mode to allow BlockSite to work throughout Chrome.
Password Protect the Configuration
If you want to block sites on Chrome for a home computer or office computer, adding the URLs in the list might not serve the purpose. Everyone who uses the computer could be smart enough to locate the extension and remove any website from the list. Besides, the extension itself shows the link to the configuration page on the restriction message.
Luckily, BlockSite offers you to create a password that would defend your list from anyone without the credentials. Thus, no one can then open blocked sites.
Block the Sites Temporarily on Chrome
BlockSite has a few more tricks up its sleeve. You can create a “Focus” session where the extension would block the sites for a limited time. Then, you can visit them once the break starts. Afterward, the extension will continue to restrict the sites for the next round. BlockSite gives you the liberty to choose the time for each session and the number of rounds.
How to Block Websites on Chrome Without an Extension
Frankly speaking, no matter how much effort you take, someone can find ways to disable Chrome’s extension. Therefore, it is better to take a better and more trustworthy approach. It would help you block a website from Chrome and any other installed browser.
So, here’s how to do it on a Windows computer.
Block Websites on Windows Computer
If you think blocking sites from inside Chrome isn’t helping much, we have a better solution. You can block sites throughout your computer; no one can access them from any browser so forth.
- You can restrict any site as long as you are the administrator of your computer.
- You can also block websites at your router level. It will prevent anyone from using the same network from accessing those sites.
1. Blocking Websites by Editing the Hosts File
On a Windows computer, you can block websites on Chrome and any other browser by editing the “hosts file.” Enter the following address in your File Explorer to quickly open the destination folder.
C:\Windows\system32\drivers\etc
Now open the “hosts” file using a basic text editor like Notepad. Here, you have to add your localhost IP, followed by the URL you want to block.
While editing the file, Make sure you add the localhost IP and URL in a new line. The command will not work if the string starts with “#” since the Notepad uses it for comments.
It is also worth mentioning that there should be a space after the IP and before the web address.
Now, press “Ctrl+S” or go to the menu to manually save the file. Make sure you don’t keep it with the “.txt” extension.
Usually, users do not have permission to edit this file. In such a case, you will get a prompt that stops you from saving the file.
You can follow the below steps to change your permission and gain the authority to make edits.
- Right-click on the file and open “Properties.”
- Here, go to the “Security” option.
- Choose the user and click on “Edit” to change the permissions.
- Give yourself full permission and hit “Apply.”
That’s all. Now you can make changes to the file without any issue. Try to save the file again, and you should be able to do it.
You can visit Chrome and open the website you added in the file to check if the technique blocks a website on your computer.
If you have followed the process correctly, you could not access any website from the list. The browser window will show some error messages.
2. How to Block Websites at Router Level
Many routers in the market can restrict websites for any device connected to them. It can come under various names like block sites, access control, and similar terms.
The benefit of using this technique is you can restrict the site from mobile phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, or any other device in a single go.
To begin with the process, we first need to identify your router’s IP address. Usually, most routers use 192.168.1.1 as the default one. However, it can be different depending upon various factors. Therefore, it would be best to make sure of the router’s IP address.
To find the router’s IP address on a Windows computer, you have to open the command prompt. Follow the steps to know how to find the router’s IP address on a Windows computer.
- Press “Win key+ R” to open the run box.
- Now enter “cmd” in the field and hit “OK.”
- Type “ipconfig” and hit “Enter” in the freshly opened command prompt window.
You can find the router’s IP address in front of the “Default Gateway” text.
Now copy and paste this address in Chrome, and it should open the router’s login page. You need to have the administrator login information of your wi-fi router to proceed. If you have never changed it, you can find it in the router’s documents or box.
Once you are inside the wi-fi portal, you can do things like changing your wi-fi password or name. Now, depending on your service provider, the location for creating the block list might vary.
It would be best to look for the location by going on the help-page of your wi-fi provider. Or, you can also tinker in the portal to find it. Usually, such lists aren’t hidden much deep.
How to Block Websites on Chrome | Android
The approach mentioned above to block websites on a router level would be the best. However, if you want to access a website from one device and not from another, you might not opt for it.
Therefore, here’s how to block websites on Chrome on an Android device.
The best way to block a website on an Android device is to install the BlockSite application.
After successful installation and agreeing to the privacy policy, the app asks you to give the accessibility permission. The app would guide you through the process.
The app will also ask you to provide app insights to better their performance. However, I highly recommend not to permit the app with your usage statistics. It can provide critical information to third-party buyers who can use it in numerous shady businesses.
You can then add any specific domain name or search for a keyword to block any website containing that word by clicking on the green “+” icon. The app will also show the website for you to make sure you are blocking the correct one. Finish the process by tapping “Done.”
That’s all. If you try to visit the website from Chrome or any browser, the landing page from BlockSite will welcome you.
Conclusion
We often come across websites that we do not want to see. It can be because of untrustworthy or delusional content. Or, you might want to save yourself from time-consuming internet addiction. We mentioned a few techniques to help you out from a similar situation. I hope at least one of them can prove to be useful for you.
