The simplest way to block a website on Android
The fastest 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, AppBlock, or OpenDNS Home.
If you are blocking sites on your own device, a blocking app takes about five minutes to set up. If you are blocking sites on a child's phone, Family Link is built into Android and requires no separate read. Both approaches work by intercepting web requests before they reach the browser — the site never loads at all, rather than loading and then being hidden.
The method you choose depends on whether you are blocking for yourself, managing a child's device, or trying to reduce distractions during work or study. Each approach has different setup steps and different limits on what you can do later.
Key Takeaways
- Google Family Link is free and built into Android, but only works if you are the parent or guardian managing a child's device.
- Blocking apps like Freedom and AppBlock work on your own device and let you block sites by category or by individual URL.
- Blocking happens at the app level, not the network level, so a determined user can uninstall the app or use a different browser unless you set a PIN.
- DNS-based blockers like OpenDNS Home block sites across all apps and browsers, but require more setup and work best on home WiFi.
- No method is foolproof — blocking is a tool for reducing temptation, not for preventing access by someone with technical knowledge.
Using Google Family Link to block sites on a child's Android device
Family Link is Google's parental control system and comes pre-installed on most Android phones. It lets you block websites and apps, set screen time limits, and see what your child is doing — but only if you set it up on your own device first and link it to the child's phone.
Start by downloading Google Family Link on your own Android phone or tablet (or on a computer at families.google.com). Sign in with your Google account, tap "Create a family group," and follow the prompts to add your child's Google account. Once linked, open Family Link on the child's device and sign in with their account. The system will ask you to set a PIN — this PIN prevents the child from turning off Family Link without your permission.
After setup is complete, open Family Link on your own device, select the child's account, tap "Controls on Google Play," and then "Manage all Google Play content." You can set a content rating level (which blocks apps and games by age), but this does not block websites. To block specific websites, go back to the main Family Link screen, select the child's device, tap "App activity," and look for the browser they use (usually Chrome). You cannot block sites directly from Family Link — instead, you must set up a PIN on the child's device and teach them to use a browser with built-in parental controls, or use a separate blocking app alongside Family Link.
Blocking websites with a third-party app on your own Android device
Apps like Freedom, AppBlock, and Cold Turkey are designed to block distracting websites on your own phone. They work by running in the background and preventing your browser from loading blocked sites. Most are free or low-cost and take about five minutes to set up.
read Freedom or AppBlock from the Google Play Store. Open the app and tap "Add a block" or "New block." Enter the website URL you want to block (for example, reddit.com or youtube.com). Some apps let you block by category instead — for instance, "Social Media" or "News" — which blocks many sites at once. Set a start time and duration (you can make it all day, or just during work hours), then tap "Save" or "Start blocking."
The app will now intercept requests to that site and show a blocked message instead. If you try to visit the site, you will see a screen saying the site is blocked, with an option to "Unlock" — but unlocking usually requires entering a PIN that you set during setup. Without the PIN, you cannot unblock the site until the scheduled block time ends. This works because the blocking app runs with special permissions that let it intercept web traffic before it reaches your browser.
Setting up DNS-based blocking for your home network
DNS blocking is more powerful than app-based blocking because it works across all browsers and apps on your device. Instead of an app intercepting requests, your phone asks a special DNS server (like OpenDNS Home or Cloudflare for Families) to block sites before they load. The downside is that it requires more setup and only works on WiFi networks you control.
To use OpenDNS Home, go to the OpenDNS website on a computer and create a free account. Add your home WiFi network and set up blocking categories (Adult Content, Social Media, Games, and so on). Then, on your Android phone, go to Settings, tap "WiFi," long-press your home network, and select "Modify." Scroll down to "Advanced" and change the DNS servers to the ones OpenDNS provides (usually 208.67.222.123 and 208.67.220.123). Save the settings.
From now on, when you connect to that WiFi network, your phone will use OpenDNS's DNS servers, and any blocked sites will fail to load. This works on any app or browser because DNS blocking happens before the browser even knows which site you are trying to visit. The limitation is that it only works on your home WiFi — once you leave the network, blocking stops unless you set up a VPN, which is more complex.
Why blocking apps can be bypassed and what to do about it
A blocking app only works if the person using the phone does not uninstall it. If you are trying to block sites on your own device, this is not a problem — you control the phone. But if you are managing a child's device, they can uninstall the app unless you prevent it.
To prevent uninstallation on a child's device, use Google Family Link to set app restrictions. Open Family Link on your device, select the child's account, tap "App activity," find the blocking app, and tap the lock icon next to it. This prevents the child from uninstalling the app without your PIN. You can also set a screen time limit in Family Link, which forces the device to lock after a certain number of hours — this reduces the window of time the child has to find workarounds.
Another bypass is switching to a different browser. If you block sites in Chrome but the child installs Firefox, they can use Firefox to visit blocked sites. To close this gap, use Family Link to restrict which apps can be installed, or combine app-based blocking with DNS blocking on your home network so that sites are blocked regardless of which browser is used.
Comparing blocking methods: which one to use
Choosing the right blocking method depends on your situation and how much control you need. The table below shows the main differences between the four most common approaches.
| Method | Best for | Setup time | Works across all apps | Can be bypassed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Family Link | Managing a child's device | 10 minutes | No (browser only) | Yes, if app is uninstalled |
| Freedom or AppBlock | Blocking distractions on your own device | 5 minutes | No (browser only) | Yes, if app is uninstalled |
| OpenDNS Home | Blocking on home WiFi for the whole household | 15 minutes | Yes | Yes, by switching networks |
| Browser settings (Chrome parental controls) | Light blocking in a specific browser | 2 minutes | No (Chrome only) | Yes, by using a different browser |
If you are blocking sites on your own device to reduce distractions, Freedom or AppBlock is the fastest choice. If you are managing a child's phone, combine Family Link with a blocking app and set a PIN to prevent uninstallation. If you want to block sites across your entire home network, OpenDNS Home is the most comprehensive option, though it requires a computer to set up.
What happens when you try to visit a blocked site
The experience depends on which blocking method you use. With an app-based blocker, you will see a full-screen message saying the site is blocked, usually with the app's logo and an "Unlock" button. Tapping "Unlock" prompts you to enter a PIN — if you do not know the PIN, you cannot proceed. The blocked message appears when ready, before any part of the site loads.
With DNS blocking, the browser shows an error message similar to a "site not found" error — it looks like the site is down or does not exist, rather than being intentionally blocked. This is less obvious to a child, but also less likely to prompt them to look for workarounds. The page fails to load because the DNS server refused to translate the site's name into an IP address.
With Family Link alone (without a separate blocking app), you cannot block specific websites — Family Link only blocks apps and games by age rating. If you want to block websites through Family Link, you must set up a separate blocking app and lock it with a PIN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I block websites on Android without an app?
Not easily. Android does not have a built-in website blocker in Settings. Your options are Google Family Link (if managing a child's device), DNS blocking through your router or a service like OpenDNS, or a third-party app. DNS blocking is the closest to a "no app" solution, but it requires setting up a DNS server, which is more technical than installing an app.
Will blocking work if someone uses a VPN?
App-based blockers will still work because they run on the device itself. DNS blockers will not work if the VPN has its own DNS settings, because the VPN bypasses your home network's DNS. If you are managing a child's device, use Family Link to restrict which VPN apps can be installed.
Can I block sites on Android without the person knowing?
DNS blocking is invisible — the site straightforward fails to load with no message saying it was blocked. App-based blockers show a visible "blocked" message. If you are managing a child's device, be transparent about what you are blocking and why — blocking without their knowledge damages trust and teaches them to hide their activity rather than make better choices.
What if I forget the PIN I set for a blocking app?
Most blocking apps have a "forgot PIN" option that sends a reset link to your email. If that does not work, uninstall the app and reinstall it — this resets all settings, but you lose your block list. For Family Link, you can reset the PIN from your parent account on families.google.com.
Do blocking apps slow down my phone?
Minimally. Blocking apps run in the background and use very little battery or processing power — you will not notice a difference in speed or battery life. DNS blocking uses even less power because it happens at the network level, not on the device.