This wikiHow teaches you how to prevent unwanted access to the YouTube service via a computer, smartphone, or tablet. Blocking YouTube on a computer can be accomplished by modifying system files and using the free OpenDNS service to block YouTube on the network. iPhone users can block YouTube directly from the " Restrictions " section of the device settings menu (“Settings”), while Android users need to download certain apps to keep YouTube blocked.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Blocking YouTube on All Computer Browsers
Step 1. Open the computer hosts file
You can open the On_Windows_sub host file on a Windows computer or a Mac computer. Once you've opened the hosts file and are ready to enter the address, move on to the next step.
Step 2. Enter a new line at the bottom of the hosts file sheet to fill in the YouTube address
Type in 127.0.0.1 and press the Tab key, then type youtube.com and press Enter.
If you're using Chrome, place a space after the YouTube address and type in www.youtube.com
Step 3. Add the YouTube mobile site address
Retype 127.0.0.1 and press the Tab key, then type m.youtube.com and press Enter.
Again, if you're using Google Chrome, insert a space and the "www" version of the YouTube website
Step 4. Save the "hosts" file
To save it, follow these steps:
- Windows - Click “ File ", choose " Save As… ", click " Text Documents ", click " All Files ” from the drop-down menu, click the "hosts" file, click " Save, and select " Yes ' when prompted.
- Mac - Press the key combination Control+X (not Command+X), press Y when prompted, and press Return.
Step 5. Restart the computer
After editing the hosts file, it's a good idea to restart your computer to make sure the changes take effect:
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Windows - Click the menu “ Start ”
click Power ”
and select Restart ”.
-
Mac - Click the menu “ Apple
Macapple1 click " Restart…, and select " Restart ' when prompted.
Method 2 of 4: Blocking YouTube on Network
Step 1. Change the DNS settings of the computer and use the OpenDNS server
Before changing the blocked sites on your home network, you need to set your computer to use the addresses of the DNS servers run by OpenDNS:
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Windows - Right click menu Start ”
click " Network Connections ", click " Change adapter options ”, right click the currently active network, select “ Properties ”, click “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”, select “ Properties ”, check the box " Use the following DNS server addresses ", then type 208.67.222.222 in the top column and 208.67.220.220 in the bottom column. Click " OK ” in both windows that open to save the settings.
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Mac - Click menu Apple
Macapple1 choose " System Preferences… ", choose " Network ”, click the name of the network that is currently active, click “ Advanced… ", click the tab " DNS, click the button " ＋ ” in the lower left corner of the screen, type in 208.67.222.222, click the button again “ ＋ ”, and type in 208.67.220.220. Click " OK, then select " Apply ” to save the settings.
Step 2. Clear the computer's DNS cache
After that, the "remaining" settings that could interfere with the new DNS settings will be removed.
Step 3. Go to the OpenDNS registration page
Visit https://signup.opendns.com/homefree/ through your computer's web browser.
Step 4. Create an OpenDNS account
Fill in the following fields:
- ” Email address” - Type in the email address you want to use to create an OpenDNS account (you must use an active, accessible email address).
- ” Confirm email address” - Re-enter the same email address.
- “Select your country” - Select your home country from the drop-down menu.
- ” Create password” - Type in the password you want to use for the account (this password must be different from the email account password).
- “Confirm password” - Re-enter the password you entered.
Step 5. Click GET A FREE ACCOUNT
It's an orange button at the bottom of the page. After that, an account will be created and a verification message will be sent to your email address.
Step 6. Open your OpenDNS email address
This address is the address used when creating an OpenDNS account.
Step 7. Select the verification message
Click the message with the subject " [OpenDNS] Confirm your OpenDNS registration ".
- You can find this message in the " Updates " folder if you use the Gmail service.
- If the message is not found, check the " Spam " or " Junk " folder.
Step 8. Click the verification link
This link is under the title/text "Click this link to confirm your registration". After that, the email address will be verified and you will be taken to the OpenDNS dashboard page.
Step 9. Click the SETTINGS tab
This tab is at the top of the dashboard page.
Step 10. Click ADD THIS NETWORK
This gray button is below the current IP address. After that, a pop-up window will be displayed.
Step 11. Enter the network name
In the text field above the pop-up window, type the name you want to use as the network name.
Step 12. Click DONE
It's in the lower-right corner of the window.
Step 13. Click the network address
You'll find the address in the middle of the page. After that, the current network settings page will be displayed.
Step 14. Try blocking other video sharing sites
With this step, sites like YouTube, Vimeo, and similar services can be blocked:
- Check the "Custom" box.
- Check the "Video Sharing" box.
- Click " APPLY ”.
Step 15. Enter the YouTube address
In the "Manage individual domains" field, type youtube.com into the text field and click the “ ADD DOMAIN ”.
Step 16. Check the box "Block"
This box is above the “ CONFIRM ”.
Step 17. Click CONFIRM
It's at the bottom of the page. After that, the settings will be confirmed and the YouTube service will be blocked on the computer.
Step 18. Add another computer to the OpenDNS list
If you want to block YouTube on another computer, do the following on that computer:
- Change the DNS settings to use the OpenDNS server.
- Go to https://login.opendns.com/ and enter your OpenDNS account email address and password.
- Click the tab " SETTINGS ”.
- Click " ADD THIS NETWORK ”, then enter a name and click “ DONE ”.
- Click the IP address of the network that has been added.
- Block YouTube (and other video sharing services if necessary) via the “Web Content Filtering” menu.
Method 3 of 4: Blocking YouTube on iPhone
Step 1. Delete the YouTube app if it is still installed
By deleting the app, other people can't access YouTube through the app:
- Touch and hold the YouTube app icon.
- Release the app icon once it starts to wiggle.
- Touch the icon “ X ” in the top left corner of the icon.
- Touch " Delete ' when prompted.
Step 2. Open iPhone settings menu
(“Settings”).
Touch the settings menu icon which looks like a gray box with gears.
Step 3. Swipe screen and touch
"General".
This option is at the top of the “Settings” page.
Step 4. Swipe the screen and touch Restrictions
It's in the middle of the “General” page.
Step 5. Enter the restrictions passcode
Type in the PIN used to open the “Restrictions” menu.
- The restriction passcode may be different from the iPhone screen lock code.
- If you do not enable restrictions, touch “ Enable Restrictions ” first, then enter the passcode you want to use twice.
Step 6. Scroll down and tap the green "Installing Apps" switch
The switch color will change to white
which indicates that you can no longer download apps on your iPhone.
Step 7. Scroll down and tap Websites
It's at the bottom of the " ALLOWED CONTENT " section.
Step 8. Touch Limit Adult Content
This option is in the " Websites " menu.
Step 9. Tap Add a Website… in the "NEVER ALLOW" section
This segment is at the bottom of the page.
Step 10. Enter the YouTube address
In the “Website” text field, type www.youtube.com and tap the “ Done ” is blue on the keyboard.
Step 11. Close the settings menu
YouTube will now be blocked on any browser installed on the iPhone. Because the App Store can't be opened, the YouTube app can't be downloaded again.
Method 4 of 4: Blocking YouTube on Android Device
Step 1. Install the required apps
To block YouTube websites and apps on an Android device, you must already have the YouTube app itself. However, you can also delete the YouTube app and lock the Google Play Store so that other people can't download it again. You'll also need to download an app called BlockSite to block YouTube, as well as the Norton Lock app which allows you to password protect BlockSite from being hacked:
-
open
Google Play Store.
- Touch the search bar.
- Type blocksite, then tap the " Search " or " Enter " button.
- Touch " INSTALL ” under the “BlockSite” heading.
- Touch the search bar, then delete the text in the column.
- Type norton lock, then touch “ Norton App Lock ” in the drop-down menu.
- Touch " INSTALL ”.
Step 2. Open BlockSite
Press the “Home” button to close the Google Play Store, then tap the BlockSite app icon which looks like an orange shield with a white cancellation sign.
Step 3. Enable BlockSite in Android accessibility settings
In order for BlockSite to access and control the app, you need to enable it in the settings first:
- Touch " ENABLE ”.
- Touch " GOT IT ' when prompted.
- Touch " Block Site ” (You may need to scroll to see this option).
-
Touch the gray “OFF” switch
- Touch " OK ” when prompted, then enter the device PIN.
Step 4. Touch
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen.
If BlockSite doesn't open after you touch the “ OK ”, you need to manually re-open the app afterwards.
Step 5. Enter the YouTube address
In the text field at the top of the page, type youtube.com to indicate that you want to prevent access to YouTube through your device's default browser.
Unlike other content blockers, you don't need to block the mobile version of the YouTube website through this app ("m.youtube.com")
Step 6. Touch
It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. After that, YouTube will be blocked on Chrome and other built-in internet browsing apps.
If you have a third-party browser on your device (eg Firefox), you will need to lock your browser with Norton Lock to prevent children from accessing YouTube as BlockSite doesn't cover apps like this
Step 7. Touch the button again
It's in the lower-right corner of the screen.
If you don't have the YouTube app on your Android device, skip this step and the next two
Step 8. Touch the APP tab
This tab is at the top of the screen. After that, a list of applications will be displayed.
Step 9. Swipe the screen and touch YouTube
This option is in the list of applications. After that, the YouTube app will be added to the list of blocked apps on the device.
Step 10. Open Norton App Lock
Press the “Home” button, then tap the Norton Lock app icon which looks like a yellow and white circle with a black icon inside.
Step 11. Touch Agree & Launch when prompted
After that, the Norton Lock application will run.
Step 12. Enable Norton Lock on the accessibility menu (“Accessibility”)
As with BlockSite, you need to grant access to the Norton Lock app:
- Touch " Setup ”.
- Touch " Norton App Lock Service ” (You may need to scroll to see this option).
-
Touch the gray “OFF” switch
- Touch " OK ' when prompted.
Step 13. Generate unlock code
When the Norton Lock application is opened again, generate a pattern code, then repeat the pattern when prompted. This pattern is the code used to unlock the app that you will lock later.
If you want to use a passcode instead of the pattern code, touch “ SWITCH TO PASSCODE ” and enter the desired passcode twice.
Step 14. Touch Continue
It's at the bottom of the screen.
This option lets you know that the Norton Lock passcode can be reset via your Google account if necessary
Step 15. Block the desired application
Swipe and touch each of the following apps so they can't be accessed without a passcode:
- Block Site
- Play Store
- Other web browsers that are outside the scope of BlockSite (eg browsers other than Chrome or built-in devices such as Firefox or UC Browser)
- Norton Lock will also lock the settings menu (“Settings”) and the Norton Lock app itself by default. As long as the Play Store is locked, other people can't access YouTube without a passcode.
