Safari has a built-in blocker that stops you from visiting certain websites

You can prevent yourself or someone else from reaching specific websites in Safari using Screen Time on iPhone and iPad, or Parental Controls on Mac. These tools let you create a list of blocked sites that Safari will refuse to load, even if you type the address directly into the search bar. The block stays in place until you remove it or enter a password to override it temporarily.

The method you use depends on what device you have and whether you are blocking sites for yourself or for someone else on a shared device. All three approaches work the same way in practice — you name the websites you want blocked, and Safari stops loading them — but the steps to set them up are different.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Time on iPhone and iPad lets you block websites by adding them to a restricted list under Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  • On Mac, you use Parental Controls in System Settings to block websites for a managed account.
  • Blocked websites will not load in Safari even if typed directly into the address bar, but you can temporarily override the block with a password.
  • You need to set a Screen Time or Parental Control password before the blocks take effect, and that password is required to change or remove them.
  • Blocking websites does not prevent someone from using a different browser unless you also restrict app installation.

Blocking websites on iPhone and iPad using Screen Time

Open Settings and tap Screen Time. If you have not set up Screen Time before, tap Continue and follow the prompts to create a Screen Time passcode — this is the password you will need to change any blocks later. If Screen Time is already on, skip to the next step.

Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn it on if it is not already. Then tap Content Restrictions, scroll down to Web Content, and tap Limit Adult Websites. You will see a list of websites that are already blocked by default. Below that list, tap Add Website under the "Never Allow" section.

Type the web address of the site you want to block — for example, example.com — and tap Add. Repeat this for each website you want to block. Once a site is in the Never Allow list, Safari will refuse to load it, and the person using the device will see a message saying the page is restricted.

To remove a blocked website later, go back to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content > Limit Adult Websites, find the site in the Never Allow list, swipe left on it, and tap Delete. You will need to enter your Screen Time passcode to confirm.

Blocking websites on Mac using Parental Controls

Parental Controls on Mac work differently than Screen Time on iPhone — they explore to a specific user account rather than the whole device. You need to set up a managed account first, or convert an existing account to a managed one.

Open System Settings and go to General > Parental Controls. Click the lock icon in the bottom left and enter your admin password. Click the plus sign to add a new managed account, or select an existing account from the list and click the pencil icon to edit it. Make sure the account is set to Managed.

In the Parental Controls window, click the Web tab. Check the box next to "Limit adult websites" and you will see a list of sites that are blocked by default. Click the plus sign under "Never Allow" and type the web address of the site you want to block. Repeat for each site. Click OK to save your changes.

When someone logs into that managed account and tries to visit a blocked website in Safari, they will see a message saying the page is restricted. To remove a block, go back to Parental Controls, select the account, click the Web tab, find the site in the Never Allow list, select it, and click the minus sign.

What happens when someone tries to visit a blocked website

When Safari encounters a blocked website, it stops loading the page and shows a message saying the site is restricted. The person using the device cannot click through or bypass the block by refreshing the page or trying a different link to the same site.

If you set a Screen Time or Parental Control password, the person can ask to override the block temporarily. They will see a button that says "Ask for More Time" or similar, and if they tap it, a notification will go to the account holder asking permission. If you approve it, Safari will load the page for a set amount of time — usually 15 minutes — before blocking it again.

On iPhone and iPad, you can also allow a one-time override by entering the Screen Time passcode directly on the device. On Mac, only the account holder can approve overrides through the notification system.

Blocking websites does not prevent other browsers

If you block a website in Safari, that block only affects Safari. Someone can still visit the same website using Chrome, Firefox, or any other browser installed on the device. If you need to block a website across all apps, you have to use a different method.

On iPhone and iPad, you can restrict app installation entirely by going to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Apps and setting it to "Don't Allow". This prevents anyone from downloading or using other browsers. On Mac, Parental Controls do not have a built-in way to block websites across all browsers, so you would need to use third-party software or restrict app installation at the system level.

Changing your Screen Time or Parental Control password

If you forget your Screen Time passcode on iPhone or iPad, you will need to use your Apple ID to reset it. Go to Settings > Screen Time, tap Change Screen Time Passcode, and select "Don't have your passcode?" You will be asked to sign in with your Apple ID, and then you can create a new passcode.

On Mac, if you forget your Parental Control password, you can reset it using your admin account password. Open System Settings, go to General > Parental Controls, click the lock icon, enter your admin password, select the managed account, and click the pencil icon to edit it. You can then change the Parental Control password.

Keep your passcode somewhere safe but separate from your device. If you lose it and do not remember your Apple ID password or admin password, you may not be able to change your website blocks without resetting the device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone remove a blocked website if they know the passcode?

Yes. If they have the Screen Time or Parental Control passcode, they can go into Settings or System Settings and remove any website from the blocked list. This is why it is important to keep your passcode private and different from passwords someone might guess.

Will blocking a website in Safari block it on other devices?

No. Screen Time and Parental Controls are set up on each device separately. If you block a website on your iPhone, it will not be blocked on your iPad or Mac unless you set up the same block on those devices too. You can use iCloud to sync Screen Time settings across devices if you turn on that option in Screen Time settings.

What if a website changes its address after I block it?

You will need to block the new address separately. If a site moves from example.com to newexample.com, the old block will not affect the new address. Add the new address to your Never Allow list to block it.

Can I block a website temporarily without removing it from the list?

Not directly. Screen Time and Parental Controls keep websites blocked until you remove them. If you want to temporarily allow a blocked site, you can ask for an override, which gives access for a set time before the block returns automatically.

Does blocking a website in Safari stop notifications from that site?

No. Blocking a website in Safari only prevents the page from loading in the browser. It does not stop push notifications, emails, or messages from that website. You would need to manage notifications separately in Settings or within each app.