The simplest way to block a website on Android

The easiest method is to use your phone's built-in parental controls or a free blocking app. Android does not have a single "block this site" button in Settings the way some computers do, so you will need either Google Family Link (if you manage a child's device) or a third-party app like Freedom, Cold Turkey Blocker, or OpenDNS Home.

If you want to block a site on your own phone without installing anything new, you can change your DNS settings — the system that translates website names into addresses your phone can reach. This method works across all apps and browsers, but it requires a few steps in Settings and works best if you know which sites you want to block before you start.

The method you choose depends on whether you are blocking sites on your own device, managing a child's phone, or trying to prevent yourself from visiting certain sites during work hours.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Family Link is the official way to block websites on a child's Android phone, and it also tracks screen time and app usage.
  • Changing your DNS settings in Android's network menu blocks sites across all browsers and apps without installing a separate program.
  • Third-party blocking apps like Freedom and Cold Turkey work on your own phone and let you set schedules so sites are only blocked during certain hours.
  • Blocking a website does not delete it from the internet or prevent other people from visiting it — it only stops it from loading on your device.

Using Google Family Link to block websites

Google Family Link is Google's official tool for managing a child's Android device. It runs on the child's phone and on your own phone, and it lets you block specific websites, set screen time limits, and see which apps the child is using. To set it up, you need a Google account and the child needs their own Google account.

Install Family Link on both phones. On your phone, open the Google Play Store, search for "Google Family Link," and install it. Then ask the child to do the same on their phone. Open Family Link on your phone, tap the plus sign to add a child, and follow the prompts to link the child's account to yours. Once linked, tap the child's name, scroll down to "Controls on Google Play," and look for the "Manage sites" or "Restricted content" section — the exact wording changes with updates, but it will be in the parental controls area.

Tap "Add a site" and type the web address you want to block. Family Link will block that site in Chrome and most browsers, though some apps that have their own web viewers may not be affected. The child will see a message saying the site is blocked by a parent.

Blocking websites by changing DNS settings

DNS is the system that translates website names (like google.com) into the numerical addresses your phone uses to find them. By changing your DNS provider, you can block sites without installing an app. This method blocks sites across all browsers and apps on your phone, and it works even if someone tries to use a different browser to get around it.

Open Settings on your Android phone and go to Network and Internet (or Connections, depending on your phone's version). Tap Wi-Fi, then press and hold the Wi-Fi network you are connected to. Tap "Manage" or "Edit." Scroll down and look for "Advanced options" or "IP settings." Change "DHCP" to "Static" — this lets you set a custom DNS address instead of using your internet provider's default.

In the DNS fields, enter the address of a DNS service that blocks sites. OpenDNS Home (208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123) is free and blocks adult content and malware by default. Cloudflare's Family DNS (1.1.1.3 and 1.0.0.3) is another free option. Enter both addresses — one in each DNS field — and tap Save.

This method only works on the Wi-Fi network you just changed. If you want to block sites on mobile data (4G or 5G), you will need to use a third-party app instead, because Android does not let you change DNS settings for mobile networks the same way.

Using a third-party blocking app

Apps like Freedom, Cold Turkey Blocker, and AppBlock let you block websites on your own phone and set schedules so sites are only blocked during work hours or study time. These apps run in the background and intercept requests to blocked sites before they load.

read one of these apps from the Google Play Store. Open it and create an account. Most apps will ask you to enable them as a device administrator — this gives them permission to block sites system-wide. Go to Settings, then Security (or Biometrics and Security), then Device Admin Apps, and toggle the blocking app on.

Add the websites you want to block. Most apps let you type in the full address (like reddit.com) or just the domain name (reddit). Set a schedule if you want — for example, you can block social media sites from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. Some apps let you set a PIN so you cannot turn off blocking without entering a code, which is useful if you are trying to stop yourself from visiting a site during work.

What happens when you block a website

When you block a website, your phone straightforward refuses to load it. If you try to visit a blocked site, you will see an error message or a blank page instead of the website. The site itself is not affected — other people can still visit it normally, and the website owner will not know your phone blocked it.

Blocking is not the same as deleting. The site still exists on the internet. If you remove the block later, the site will load normally again. Some blocking apps let you temporarily unblock a site for a set amount of time (like 15 minutes) if you need to visit it in an emergency.

Blocking websites in specific apps

If you want to block a website only in a specific app — like blocking YouTube in the YouTube app but not in Chrome — you will need to use that app's built-in settings rather than a system-wide blocker.

In Chrome, you can use the built-in parental controls by going to Settings, then Safety, then Restricted Mode. Turn Restricted Mode on, and Chrome will filter out adult content. This only affects Chrome, not other browsers or apps. In the YouTube app, open Settings, tap General, and look for "Restricted Mode" — turning it on will hide videos marked as adult content.

These app-level controls are less strict than system-wide blockers and do not let you block specific sites by name. If you need precise control over which sites load in which apps, a third-party blocking app is a better choice.

Troubleshooting blocked websites

If a site you blocked is still loading, the most common reason is that you blocked only the main domain (like reddit.com) but the site is loading from a subdomain (like old.reddit.com). Try blocking the subdomain separately, or block just "reddit" without the .com to catch all versions.

If you are using DNS blocking and a site still loads, your phone may have switched to a different network or your internet provider may be overriding your DNS settings. Check that you are still connected to the Wi-Fi network where you changed the DNS, or switch to a third-party app instead.

If you installed a blocking app and it is not working, make sure you gave it device administrator permission in Settings. Some phones also have a "find Folder" or "Knox" security feature that runs apps in a separate environment — blocked sites may load inside that folder even if they are blocked outside it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone unblock a website I blocked on their phone?

If it is their own phone, yes — they can go into Settings and change the DNS back, or uninstall the blocking app. If it is a child's phone and you set up Family Link, they cannot unblock sites without your permission. If you set a PIN on a third-party blocking app, they cannot turn it off without the PIN.

Will blocking a website slow down my phone?

No. Blocking a website uses almost no processing power. Your phone straightforward refuses to load the blocked address, which is actually slightly faster than loading the site normally.

Can I block a website on mobile data, not just Wi-Fi?

DNS blocking only works on Wi-Fi. To block sites on mobile data, use a third-party app like Freedom or Cold Turkey Blocker, which blocks sites regardless of whether you are on Wi-Fi or 4G/5G.

What if I block a site by mistake and need to unblock it?

In Family Link, open the app, tap the child's name, find the blocked site in the list, and tap the minus sign to remove it. If you changed DNS settings, go back to that Wi-Fi network's settings and change the DNS back to "DHCP" or your provider's default. If you used a blocking app, open the app and remove the site from your blocked list.

Do I need to block a website on each app separately?

No. DNS blocking and third-party apps block sites system-wide, so they work in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and any other app that uses the internet. The only exception is apps that have their own web viewer built in — some social media apps, for example, load web pages inside the app rather than opening a browser.