Chrome is far and away the most popular browser in the world, with roughly 90 percent of the web's traffic flowing through it.
Still, Google has created relatively few methods for funneling the internet through filters or privacy screens on Chrome. By and large, finding a fix to any problem requires an extension.
Jun 12, 2020 Here, we'll show you how to block a website on Chrome, and showcase an app that will help you achieve perfect productivity nirvana on your Mac. How to block inappropriate websites on Chrome. Chrome is its own ecosystem. You can only block sites via an extension within Chrome, but you can use an app to block sites. For this, we like Focus. CONQUER DISTRACTION & DIGITAL ADDICTIONThe Productivity App That FORCES You to Focus!No cheats or workarounds. FocusMe is a fully-customizable tool that “walls off” online temptation to instantly increase personal efficiency and take countless hours of your life back Block, limit, or ration use of time-sucking websites & apps. Build better habits for long-term willpower. Jun 04, 2020 Search your browser's extension store for 'block websites,' 'filter websites,' or 'productivity' to find apps that block websites. Install the app, restart your browser, then open the app settings and add the sites you would like to block. Aug 07, 2019 The app is super easy to use, here’s a quick walk-through of how to block websites with it. Open 1Focus and click the Websites tab. Under Blocked Websites at the top, click the plus button to add one. You can also add Exceptions on the bottom right if you like. Blocked websites with 1Focus on Mac. More than just a website blocker. Any old website blocking extension can block Facebook, Reddit and Youtube. Only Cold Turkey lets you block applications, the whole internet, and even your entire computer.
Block certain websites with ease
Get the best solution for blocking websites and social media. Best utilities in one pack, give it a go!
There are tons of reasons to block a website, but one of the more common is focus. So often our productivity is ruined by open access to apps and websites that distract us. Whatever they are – social media, other productivity apps – there are times when it's best to turn off the rest of the world and focus on being productive.
Here, we'll show you how to block a website on Chrome, and showcase an app that will help you achieve perfect productivity nirvana on your Mac.
How to block inappropriate websites on Chrome
Chrome is its own ecosystem. You can only block sites via an extension within Chrome, but you can use an app to block sites. For this, we like Focus.
Focus can block websites on Chrome and Safari, which immediately makes it a far better solution than just using a Chrome extension. For Safari fans, Focus is almost a must-have.
Focus can control any browser, and blocks any website you like. It comes with some pre-installed options, which you can delete if you like. You can also create a schedule for blocking sites; if you want to be incredibly disciplined and focussed at work, Focus is an excellent way to block distractions during work hours but not when you're enjoying leisure time.
The app is also highly customizable. It comes with preloaded quotes that surface when you try to visit a blocked site, but as you can see below, it's possible to add your own!
When you're done deciding which websites to block, don't forget Focus can also restrict access to certain apps on your Mac. Again, this is all managed by your focus schedule, so you won't lose access to any apps.
If there's one thing to keep in mind, it's that Focus lives in the menu bar. It also defaults to a 25-minute session when you start Focus up, though we think your best bet is to customize Focus to create a routine schedule. There are also analytics markers that show just how much time you've saved with Focus, which gamify the productivity experience.
That's how to block a site on Chrome, but it's definitely not the only way.
How to use Chrome Extensions for blocking websites and social media
As we alluded to, blocking a website on Chrome requires an extension. Google Chrome extensions are found via its Web Store. Here's a step-by-step instruction guide to navigating the Google Web Store and finding a good extension so you can permanently block certain websites on Chrome:
- Open a new tab in Chrome, or open Chrome.
- From the main screen, access the 'apps' icon, or visit the 'Web Store' tab under the Google search bar. You can also navigate directly to https://chrome.google.com/webstore/category/extensions
- Make sure 'extensions' is selected.
- In the search field, enter 'block site'
- Choose a blocker you want to add. We will go with 'Block Site' for this how-to. From there, simply select 'add to Chrome'
- In the ensuing popup, click 'add extension.' You will then have to agree to Block Site's terms in a new window.
- Enter the website you want to block, and select the 'plus' icon
You can add as many sites as you like. Just keep in mind the extension will remember these are blocked sites on Chrome, and will keep you from accessing them. When you try to visit the site, it will remind you the site is blocked.
You can block websites for any reason you like. Safety is likely not your priority; that's not because you don't care about privacy or safety online, it's because modern web browsers like Chrome have settings baked in that make visiting nefarious websites fairly difficult. You'd have to bypass a very distinct popup to visit a 'bad' website.
Extensions are fine, but remember that adding lots of extensions on Chrome will ultimately cause your Mac's performance to suffer. Chrome is resource-heavy anyway, so adding more to its mix is a cautious path to traverse.
This is why we prefer Focus. A standalone app, Focus does far more than any extension can. It helps you manage schedules, provides insight on how much time you're saving and – our favorite – can block apps that distract you. Sorry, but your mid-day gaming binges may come to an end!
Best of all, Focus is free as part of a seven day trial of Setapp, the world's best suite of apps for your Mac. In addition to Focus, you'll get immediate and unlimited access to tons of other great apps for just about any use-case you can imagine in Setapp's ever-growing suite of apps. When your week-long trial has ended, Setapp is only $9.99 per month! Give it a try today!
When you want to make sure that inappropriate websites aren’t accessed on your Mac, you have a few different ways to do it. Whether you have young children who share your Mac or a visitor that’s using it as a guest, you can easily block sites you don’t approve of.
In addition to blocking unsuitable websites, you might be interested in blocking sites that tempt you to play instead of work.
Here are three simple ways to block websites on Mac.
Related:
Contents
- 4 Are you ready to block those websites on Mac?
How to block websites using Parental Controls
If you have children, setting up Parental Controls on a shared Mac is the easiest way to keep your kids away from sites and apps they shouldn’t see or touch.
To block websites using Parental Controls, just follow these steps.
- Open your System Preferences from either the button in your Dock or by clicking Apple icon > System Preferences from the menu bar.
- Select Parental Controls.
- Click the lock button on the bottom left, enter your Mac user password, and click Unlock.
- If you have not turned on controls for a particular user, select them from the left and then click Enable Parental Controls. For additional help with the other Parental Control settings, check out our helpful guide.
- On the next screen, click the Web tab at the top.
- You’ll see that you have three options. The middle option is the one that allows you to block specific websites by URL. So, mark the radio button for Try to limit access to adult websites.
- Click the Customize.
- Below the section titled Never allow these websites, click the plus button and enter the URL for the site you want to block. Continue this process to add more sites to the list.
- When you finish, click OK.
How to block websites using Terminal
If you’re comfortable with using Terminal on your Mac for various commands, you can also set up a website block list with it. Just follow these steps.
- Open Terminal with Applications > Utilities from your Dock or with Finder open click Go > Utilities from the menu bar and choose Terminal.
- Copy and paste or type the command below and then hit Return.
- Enter your Mac user password and hit Return.
- Go to the bottom using your arrow key and type: 127.0.0.1 followed by a space and then the website you want to block. Hit Return. List each site on a separate line. (See screenshot below.)
- Press Control + O (capital letter O) and hit Return to save.
- Press Control + X to close nano.
- Close the Terminal window.
Now when you open a browser and go to one of the sites you listed in Terminal, you should be blocked from accessing it.
How to block websites using 1Focus
You can search the Mac App Store for a third-party app to help you block websites, but one recommendation is an app called 1Focus.
Mac Productivity Apps
This is a perfect app for those situations where you want to make sure your mind and your eyes are focused on your work and not hitting up a social media or gaming website. The app is super easy to use, here’s a quick walk-through of how to block websites with it.
- Open 1Focus and click the Websites tab.
- Under Blocked Websites at the top, click the plus button to add one. You can also add Exceptions on the bottom right if you like.
Next, set up a schedule for when and how long you want to block the websites.
- Click the Schedule tab at the top.
- Click the plus button to add a time block in hours and minutes. You can also start a time block immediately by filling in the hours and minutes under Quick Start and then clicking the Schedule Blocking button.
When you or someone else tries to access a blocked website, they will see with a nifty quote instead of that website.
Apple Productivity Apps
1Focus also gives you the ability to block categories like dating or gambling and set a repeating schedule daily or on specific days with an in-app purchase.
1Focus currently works with Safari, Chrome, and Opera. It’s available on the App Store for free with an in-app subscription purchase option for the additional features.
Are you ready to block those websites on Mac?
Each of these ways to block websites on Mac is easy and effective. You can make sure that sites you want to keep away from your children or those you want to remove from temptation as you work will be blocked.
Will you try one of these methods to block websites on your Mac? Let us know which one you choose and how it works for you in the comments below!
Sandy worked for many years in the IT industry as a project manager, department manager, and PMO Lead. She then decided to follow her dream and now writes about technology full-time. Sandy holds a Bachelors of Science in Information Technology.
She loves technology– specifically – terrific games and apps for iOS, software that makes your life easier, and productivity tools that you can use every day, in both work and home environments.
Her articles have regularly been featured at MakeUseOf, iDownloadBlog and many other leading tech publications.