4 Ways to Block Websites in All Web Browsers

Table of contents:

4 Ways to Block Websites in All Web Browsers
4 Ways to Block Websites in All Web Browsers

Video: 4 Ways to Block Websites in All Web Browsers

Video: 4 Ways to Block Websites in All Web Browsers
Video: How to Clear Cache on iPhone (6 Ways) 2024, November
Anonim

This wikiHow teaches you how to make certain websites inaccessible through the browser on a Windows or Mac computer by editing the hosts file (“hosts”). In addition, you can also block sites on your iPhone or iPad via the “Restrictions” menu in the device settings. For Android device users, you can use the free BlockSite app to restrict access to certain websites and apps.

Step

Method 1 of 4: Via Windows Computer

987876 1
987876 1

Step 1. Open the Start menu

Windowsstart
Windowsstart

Click the Windows logo that appears in the lower-right corner of the screen or press Win.

In Windows 8, you need to hover over the top right corner of the screen and click the magnifying glass icon

987876 2
987876 2

Step 2. Type Notepad into the Start window

After that, the Notepad program will appear at the top of the Start menu window.

987876 3
987876 3

Step 3. Right click Notepad and select Run as administrator.

With this option, Notepad will be opened using administrator rights. If the program is not running in administrator mode, you cannot edit the hosts file.

On laptops with a trackpad instead of a regular mouse, touch the trackpad with two fingers to replace the right-click mechanism

987876 4
987876 4

Step 4. Click Yes when prompted

The selection will be confirmed and the Notepad program will be opened.

987876 5
987876 5

Step 5. Click File and select Open….

Option " Open " is in the drop-down menu " File ”.

987876 6
987876 6

Step 6. Visit the hosts file folder (“hosts”)

In the window that appears after you click on the option “ Open… ”, follow these steps:

  • Click the tab " This PC ” on the left side of the window.
  • Double-click the computer's hard drive (eg. OS (C:) ”).
  • Double click the folder " Windows ”.
  • Scroll down and double click the folder” System32 ”.
  • Scroll down and double click the folder” drivers ”.
  • Double click the folder " etc ”.
987876 7
987876 7

Step 7. View all file types

Click the “Text Documents” drop-down box at the bottom of the window, then click the “ All Files ” in the drop-down menu. You can see several files displayed in the window.

Step 8. Allow editing of the hosts file

Right-click the hosts file, and then follow these steps:

  • Click " Properties ”.
  • Click " Security ”.
  • Click " Edit ”.
  • Check the "Full Control" box.
  • Click " OK " and select " Yes ' when prompted.
  • Click " OK ” to exit the “Properties” window.
987876 8
987876 8

Step 9. Double click the " hosts " file

The file will open in the Notepad program so you can view and edit its contents.

987876 9
987876 9

Step 10. Swipe to the bottom of the file

You should see two lines of " localhost " text at the bottom of the page.

987876 10
987876 10

Step 11. Click the bottom of the last line of text

The bottom of the page has the line "::1 localhost " or " 127.0.0.1 localhost ". The mouse cursor should be just below the last line of text on the file page.

Be careful not to delete anything already stored in the hosts file

987876 11
987876 11

Step 12. Type in 127.0.0.1 and press Tab key

The address is a loopback address to your own computer that will display an error page in the web browser when someone tries to visit a blocked website.

987876 12
987876 12

Step 13. Type in the address of the site you want to block

For example, to block Google, type www.google.com.

If you want to block a site on Google Chrome, you need to place a space and enter the "www.[site].com" version of the website address after the "[site].com" version. For example, to block Facebook, type 127.0.0.1 facebook.com www.facebook.com

987876 13
987876 13

Step 14. Press Enter key

The cursor will move to a new line. The code entered will tell the computer to redirect the website to the reversal address.

  • You can add as many sites as you want to block (one site per line) using the same number as before (127.0.0.1).
  • If you want to block completely, enter a different variation of the address (eg "google.com" and "https://www.google.com/").

Step 15. Save the hosts file

Changes will not be saved if you only save via the “ File ” > “ Save " Therefore, follow these steps to confirm the changes:

  • Click " File
  • Click " Save As… ”.
  • Click " Text Documents " and select " All Files ” in the drop-down menu.
  • Click the " hosts " file.
  • Click " Save ”.
  • Click " Yes ' when prompted.

Method 2 of 4: Via Mac Computer

987876 15
987876 15

Step 1. Open Spotlight

Macspotlight
Macspotlight

Click the magnifying glass icon that appears in the upper-right corner of your Mac's screen.

987876 16
987876 16

Step 2. Type terminal into the Spotlight window

After that, the Terminal option will be displayed at the top of the search results.

987876 17
987876 17

Step 3. Double-click the Terminal program icon

Macterminal
Macterminal
987876 18
987876 18

Step 4. Open the computer's hosts file (“Hosts”)

Type the following code into the Terminal window and press Return:

sudo nano /etc/hosts

987876 19
987876 19

Step 5. Enter the Mac computer password when prompted

Type in the password you use to log into your computer, then press Return.

The terminal will not display the password characters when you type the entry

987876 20
987876 20

Step 6. Move the blinking cursor to the bottom of the page

Press the key until the cursor is under the last line of text displayed on the page.

987876 21
987876 21

Step 7. Enter the local host address

Type 127.0.0.1 in a blank line. This address is a loopback address to your own computer.

987876 22
987876 22

Step 8. Press the Tab key

Once pressed, the cursor will move to the right.

Do not press the Return key at this stage

987876 23
987876 23

Step 9. Type in the address of the site you want to block

For example, if you want to block Google, type in www.google.com.

  • The line you entered should look like this: 127.0.0.1 www.google.com.
  • If you want to block completely, enter different address variations (eg "google.com" and "https://www.google.com/").
  • If you want to block the site in question on Google Chrome, place a space and add the "www.[site].com" version of the desired website address after the "[site].com" version. For example, to block Facebook, type 127.0.0.1 facebook.com www.facebook.com.
987876 24
987876 24

Step 10. Press the Return key

With this command, the computer will redirect the blocked website to the reversing address.

You can add as many websites as you want to block (one address per line) using the same number as before (127.0.0.1)

987876 25
987876 25

Step 11. Press the key combination Control+X

With this command, the hosts file will be closed in the text editor window. You will be prompted to save changes afterwards.

987876 26
987876 26

Step 12. Press Y to save changes

After that, the computer will ask for the name of the file you want to use. Since you will be overwriting the original hosts file, you do not need to rename the file.

987876 27
987876 27

Step 13. Press Return

Changes will be saved to the original hosts file. The text editor window will close and you will be taken back to the main Terminal window. Now the added website cannot be accessed through any web browser on the computer.

Method 3 of 4: Via iPhone

987876 28
987876 28

Step 1. Open the device settings menu (“Settings”)

Iphonesettingsappicon
Iphonesettingsappicon

This menu is indicated by a gray gear icon. Usually, you can find this menu icon on your device's home screen.

987876 29
987876 29

Step 2. Swipe the screen and touch General

It's at the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or the top-left corner of the screen (iPad).

987876 30
987876 30

Step 3. Scroll down and select Restrictions

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

987876 31
987876 31

Step 4. Enter the restriction code

This code is the passcode used to enable restrictions on the iPhone or iPad.

If restrictions have not been activated, touch the option “ Enable Restrictions ” first, then enter the desired passcode twice.

987876 32
987876 32

Step 5. Scroll down and tap Websites

This option is the last entry under the " ALLOWED CONTENT " heading.

987876 33
987876 33

Step 6. Select Limit Adult Content

You'll see a blue tick to the right of this option once it's selected.

987876 34
987876 34

Step 7. Touch Add a Website under the "NEVER ALLOW" heading

This option is the last option displayed on the page.

987876 35
987876 35

Step 8. Type in the web address of the site you want to block

Addresses must begin with "www" and end with a domain marker (eg ".com" or ".net"). However, you can omit the "https:" segment if possible.

  • For example, if you want to block Facebook on your iPhone or iPad, type

    www.facebook.com

  • .
987876 36
987876 36

Step 9. Touch the Done button

It's a blue button in the lower-right corner of the keyboard. The selected site is now inaccessible via the Safari browser.

This setting also applies to other popular mobile browsers, such as Chrome and Firefox

Method 4 of 4: Via Android Device

Step 1. Download the BlockSite app

BlockSite is an app that allows you to block websites and apps from being used on Android devices. open

Androidgoogleplay
Androidgoogleplay

Google Play Store ” and follow these steps:

  • Touch the search bar.
  • Type blocksite and tap the " Search " button.
  • Touch the button “ INSTALL ” under the "BlockSite - Block Distracting Apps and Sites" heading.
  • Touch the button “ ACCEPT ' when prompted.

Step 2. Open Block Site

Touch the button “ OPEN ” in the Google Play Store window, or tap the Block Site app icon which looks like a shield on the device's page/app drawer.

Step 3. Touch the ENABLE button

It's a green button at the bottom of the screen.

Step 4. Select GOT IT when prompted

The device's “Accessibility” accessibility menu will open in the settings app (“Settings”), but if not, follow the following procedure:

  • Open the settings menu (" Settings ”).
  • Scroll down and select " Accessibility ”.

Step 5. Enable Block Site in Android device settings

Follow these steps on the “Accessibility” menu:

  • Touch " Block Site ”.
  • Touch the gray " BlockSite " switch

    Android7switchoff
    Android7switchoff

Step 6. Reopen Block Site

If the Block Site app is closed or hidden, re-show the app before continuing.

Step 7. Touch the button

It's in the lower-right corner of the screen. After that, you will be taken to the website blocking page.

Step 8. Enter the website address

Tap the text field at the top of the screen, then type in the address of the website you want to block (eg facebook.com).

Step 9. Touch the button

Android7done
Android7done

It's in the upper-right corner of the screen. The website will be added to the list of blocked sites in Block Site. After that, you can't visit the site in question via Google Chrome.

You can unblock it at any time by tapping the trash can icon to the right of the site's name

Step 10. Block apps on Android device

If you need to temporarily block an app, touch the “ ” in the lower right corner of the Block Site screen, select “ APPS ”, and touch the name of the app you want to block.

As with websites, you can unblock an app at any time by tapping the trash icon to the right of its name

Step 11. Block adult content on Android devices if necessary

If you want to prevent children from visiting adult sites or viewing prohibited content, read this article for further instructions on blocking adult content.

Tips

  • You need to clear the computer's DNS cache after editing the hosts file to prevent interference/conflict between the hosts file and browser.
  • To unblock a site from the hosts file, reopen the file and remove the added site line. Make sure you save changes after deleting the added rows so that the site can be accessed again.
  • iPhone restriction settings will apply to both Safari and other browsers.

Recommended: