4 Ways to Block YouTube

Table of contents:

4 Ways to Block YouTube
4 Ways to Block YouTube

Video: 4 Ways to Block YouTube

Video: 4 Ways to Block YouTube
Video: Block ALL Ads! Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, Tab S8 Ultra, S22 Ultra (all android devices) 2024, November
Anonim

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

Block YouTube Step 1
Block YouTube Step 1

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.

Block YouTube Step 2
Block YouTube Step 2

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

Block YouTube Step 3
Block YouTube Step 3

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

Block YouTube Step 4
Block YouTube Step 4

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.
Block YouTube Step 5
Block YouTube Step 5

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:

  • Windows - Click the menu “ Start

    Windowsstart
    Windowsstart

    click Power

    Windowspower
    Windowspower

    and select Restart ”.

  • Mac - Click the menu “ Apple

    Macapple1
    Macapple1

    click " Restart…, and select " Restart ' when prompted.

Method 2 of 4: Blocking YouTube on Network

Block YouTube Step 6
Block YouTube Step 6

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:

  • Windows - Right click menu Start

    Windowsstart
    Windowsstart

    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.

  • Mac - Click menu Apple

    Macapple1
    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.

Block YouTube Step 7
Block YouTube Step 7

Step 2. Clear the computer's DNS cache

After that, the "remaining" settings that could interfere with the new DNS settings will be removed.

Block YouTube Step 8
Block YouTube Step 8

Step 3. Go to the OpenDNS registration page

Visit https://signup.opendns.com/homefree/ through your computer's web browser.

Block YouTube Step 9
Block YouTube Step 9

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.
Block YouTube Step 10
Block YouTube Step 10

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.

Block YouTube Step 11
Block YouTube Step 11

Step 6. Open your OpenDNS email address

This address is the address used when creating an OpenDNS account.

Block YouTube Step 12
Block YouTube Step 12

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.
Block YouTube Step 13
Block YouTube Step 13

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.

Block YouTube Step 14
Block YouTube Step 14

Step 9. Click the SETTINGS tab

This tab is at the top of the dashboard page.

Block YouTube Step 15
Block YouTube Step 15

Step 10. Click ADD THIS NETWORK

This gray button is below the current IP address. After that, a pop-up window will be displayed.

Block YouTube Step 16
Block YouTube Step 16

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.

Block YouTube Step 17
Block YouTube Step 17

Step 12. Click DONE

It's in the lower-right corner of the window.

Block YouTube Step 18
Block YouTube Step 18

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.

Block YouTube Step 19
Block YouTube Step 19

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 ”.
Block YouTube Step 20
Block YouTube Step 20

Step 15. Enter the YouTube address

In the "Manage individual domains" field, type youtube.com into the text field and click the “ ADD DOMAIN ”.

Block YouTube Step 21
Block YouTube Step 21

Step 16. Check the box "Block"

This box is above the “ CONFIRM ”.

Block YouTube Step 22
Block YouTube Step 22

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.

Block YouTube Step 23
Block YouTube Step 23

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

Block YouTube Step 24
Block YouTube Step 24

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.
Block YouTube Step 25
Block YouTube Step 25

Step 2. Open iPhone settings menu

Iphonesettingsappicon
Iphonesettingsappicon

(“Settings”).

Touch the settings menu icon which looks like a gray box with gears.

Block YouTube Step 26
Block YouTube Step 26

Step 3. Swipe screen and touch

Iphonesettingsgeneralicon
Iphonesettingsgeneralicon

"General".

This option is at the top of the “Settings” page.

Block YouTube Step 27
Block YouTube Step 27

Step 4. Swipe the screen and touch Restrictions

It's in the middle of the “General” page.

Block YouTube Step 28
Block YouTube Step 28

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.
Block YouTube Step 29
Block YouTube Step 29

Step 6. Scroll down and tap the green "Installing Apps" switch

Iphoneswitchonicon1
Iphoneswitchonicon1

The switch color will change to white

Iphoneswitchofficon
Iphoneswitchofficon

which indicates that you can no longer download apps on your iPhone.

Block YouTube Step 30
Block YouTube Step 30

Step 7. Scroll down and tap Websites

It's at the bottom of the " ALLOWED CONTENT " section.

Block YouTube Step 31
Block YouTube Step 31

Step 8. Touch Limit Adult Content

This option is in the " Websites " menu.

Block YouTube Step 32
Block YouTube Step 32

Step 9. Tap Add a Website… in the "NEVER ALLOW" section

This segment is at the bottom of the page.

Block YouTube Step 33
Block YouTube Step 33

Step 10. Enter the YouTube address

In the “Website” text field, type www.youtube.com and tap the “ Done ” is blue on the keyboard.

Block YouTube Step 34
Block YouTube Step 34

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

Block YouTube Step 35
Block YouTube Step 35

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

    Androidgoogleplay
    Androidgoogleplay

    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 ”.
Block YouTube Step 36
Block YouTube Step 36

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.

Block YouTube Step 37
Block YouTube Step 37

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

    Android7switchoff
    Android7switchoff
  • Touch " OK ” when prompted, then enter the device PIN.
Block YouTube Step 38
Block YouTube Step 38

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.

Block YouTube Step 39
Block YouTube Step 39

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")

Block YouTube Step 40
Block YouTube Step 40

Step 6. Touch

Android7done
Android7done

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

Block YouTube Step 41
Block YouTube Step 41

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

Block YouTube Step 42
Block YouTube Step 42

Step 8. Touch the APP tab

This tab is at the top of the screen. After that, a list of applications will be displayed.

Block YouTube Step 43
Block YouTube Step 43

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.

Block YouTube Step 44
Block YouTube Step 44

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.

Block YouTube Step 45
Block YouTube Step 45

Step 11. Touch Agree & Launch when prompted

After that, the Norton Lock application will run.

Block YouTube Step 46
Block YouTube Step 46

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

    Android7switchoff
    Android7switchoff
  • Touch " OK ' when prompted.
Block YouTube Step 47
Block YouTube Step 47

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.

Block YouTube Step 48
Block YouTube Step 48

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

Block YouTube Step 49
Block YouTube Step 49

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.

Tips

You can also block YouTube via the BlockSite extension on Google Chrome and Firefox if necessary. However, this extension cannot block YouTube on browsers such as Safari, Edge, or Internet Explorer

Recommended: