How to Block YouTube on Your Devices and Network

What blocking YouTube actually means

Blocking YouTube means preventing access to YouTube.com and the YouTube app so that they will not load or play. The method you choose depends on what you are trying to block it from — your own device, a child's device, a work computer, or your entire home network — and how determined you want the block to be.

Blocking is not the same as logging out or closing the app. A blocked site or app will not open at all, even if someone tries multiple times or restarts the device. The block stays in place until you remove it.

There are four main ways to block YouTube: through your device's built-in parental controls, through your web browser, through your router, or through third-party software. Each method works differently and blocks YouTube in different situations.

Key Takeaways

Device-level blocking (through parental controls or app settings) stops YouTube on that one device but can be bypassed if someone knows the password.
Browser-level blocking (through extensions or settings) only works in that specific browser, so switching browsers will bypass the block.
Router-level blocking stops YouTube across your entire home network on all devices, and is harder to bypass without the router password.
Third-party software like OpenDNS or Bark adds monitoring and logging on top of blocking, but costs money and requires installation.
No blocking method is completely bypass-proof — determined users can find workarounds, especially on devices they control.

Blocking YouTube on a single device using parental controls

Most devices come with built-in parental controls that let you block specific apps or websites. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn on restrictions, then go to Allowed Apps and toggle YouTube off. You will need to set a Screen Time passcode first — this is what prevents someone from turning the block off.

On Android phones and tablets, go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing & parental controls > Parental controls, turn it on, then find YouTube in the app list and block it. You will need to set a PIN. On Windows computers, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users, select the account you want to restrict, click Parental controls, then go to App and game restrictions and block YouTube. On Mac computers, go to System Settings > General > Parental Controls, select the user, then restrict access to YouTube.

The weakness of device-level blocking is that someone with the password or PIN can turn it off. If you are the only person who knows the password, this method works well. If the person being blocked knows or can guess the password, they can disable it.

Blocking YouTube in your web browser

If you want to block YouTube only in a specific browser, you can use a browser extension. Freedom, Cold Turkey, and LeechBlock NG (free) are common choices. Install the extension, add YouTube.com to the blocked list, and set a password so the block cannot be turned off without it.

This method only works in that browser. If someone opens a different browser — Chrome instead of Firefox, or Safari instead of Chrome — they can still access YouTube. On phones, most browsers use the same underlying engine, so a browser-level block is less useful.

You can also block YouTube through your browser's native settings without an extension. In Chrome, go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Additional content settings > Notifications, find YouTube, and block it. This prevents notifications but does not prevent access to the site itself. For a real block in Chrome, you need an extension.

Blocking YouTube across your entire home network

If you want to block YouTube on all devices in your home at once — phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs — you block it at the router level. Log into your router's admin panel (usually by typing 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 into a browser address bar, then entering your router username and password). Look for a section called Parental Controls, Content Filtering, or Access Control.

Add YouTube.com and the IP addresses associated with YouTube to the blocked list. You can find YouTube's IP ranges on Google's documentation page. Set a strong admin password on your router so that someone cannot log in and remove the block.

Router-level blocking is stronger than device-level blocking because it stops YouTube before it even reaches the device. However, someone with the router password can still remove the block, and tech-savvy users can bypass it using a VPN (a tool that hides your internet traffic and makes it look like you are in a different location).

Using third-party filtering software

OpenDNS, Bark, and Cloudflare for Families are services that sit between your devices and the internet. They filter traffic before it reaches your devices, so they block YouTube across your entire network without needing to change your router settings. Most of these services cost money — OpenDNS starts at around $20 per year, Bark at around $100 per year.

The advantage of third-party software is that it usually includes logging and reporting, so you can see what sites were accessed and when. Some services also let you set different rules for different devices or different times of day. The disadvantage is that they require installation and ongoing payment, and they can still be bypassed with a VPN.

Understanding VPNs and why they bypass blocks

A VPN (virtual private network) is a tool that encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a server in another location. When you use a VPN, websites see the VPN server's location instead of your real location, and your internet provider cannot see which sites you are visiting.

VPNs bypass almost all YouTube blocks because the block happens at the network level, but the VPN hides the traffic from the network. If you have blocked YouTube at the router or through a filtering service, someone using a VPN can still access it. The only way to prevent VPN use is to block VPN traffic at the router level, which requires more advanced configuration and can break other services.

If you are trying to block YouTube for a child, understand that VPN bypass is possible but requires technical knowledge. Most children will not know how to use a VPN. If you are trying to block YouTube at work, your IT department can block VPN traffic, which is more practical at an organizational level.

Blocking the YouTube app specifically

If someone is using the YouTube app instead of the website, you may need to block it separately. On most devices, you can uninstall the app or disable it through your device settings. On iPhone, you can use Screen Time to block the app (as described above). On Android, go to Settings > Apps, find YouTube, and tap Disable or Uninstall.

Disabling is better than uninstalling if you want to prevent reinstallation. On some Android devices, you can also go to Settings > Parental controls and block the YouTube app there. On Windows and Mac, you can uninstall the YouTube app or use parental controls to prevent it from opening.

The limitation of app-level blocking is that YouTube still works through the web browser. If you block only the app, someone can still watch YouTube by going to YouTube.com in a browser. For a complete block, you need to block both the app and the website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone bypass a YouTube block if they know the password?

Yes. If you set a password on parental controls or your router, someone who knows that password can turn off the block. Use a password that is not straightforward to guess and do not share it. If you are blocking for a child, do not use a password they can find written down or guess from your other passwords.

Will blocking YouTube at the router block it on all devices?

Yes, router-level blocking stops YouTube on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs all at once. However, it only works on your home network. Someone can still access YouTube on a mobile device using cellular data instead of WiFi, or on any device outside your home.

What is the difference between blocking and just deleting the YouTube app?

Deleting the app removes it from the device, but YouTube still works through a web browser. Blocking prevents access through both the app and the website. If you want a complete block, you need to block the website, not just delete the app.

Can I block YouTube only during certain hours?

Yes. Most parental control systems let you set schedules. On iPhone, go to Screen Time > Downtime to set hours when apps are blocked. On Android, Digital Wellbeing has a similar feature. On routers and third-party services, you can usually set time-based rules in the admin panel.

Does a VPN really let someone watch YouTube if it is blocked?

Yes. A VPN hides your traffic from network-level blocks, so it bypasses router and filtering service blocks. Device-level blocks still work because they prevent the app or browser from opening, not the network connection. Blocking VPN traffic requires advanced router configuration.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.