The simplest way to block sites on Safari

Safari has a built-in content filter called Restrictions (on iPhone and iPad) or Parental Controls (on Mac) that lets you block specific websites or entire categories. The filter works by preventing Safari from loading the blocked site — the page straightforward will not open when you try to visit it.

On iPhone or iPad, you turn this on in Settings under Screen Time. On Mac, you use System Settings under Parental Controls. Both methods require you to set a restrictions password, which is separate from your device password. Once the password is set, anyone trying to unblock a site will need that password.

This approach works across all apps on your device, not just Safari. If a site is blocked, it stays blocked whether you visit it through Safari, email links, or other apps.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone and iPad users turn on content restrictions in Settings under Screen Time, then add sites to the blocked list under Content & Privacy Restrictions.
  • Mac users open System Settings, choose Parental Controls, select the user account, and add sites to the blocked list.
  • You must set a restrictions password to prevent someone from straightforward unblocking the sites.
  • Blocked sites will not load in Safari or any other app on that device.
  • If you forget your restrictions password, you will need to reset your device or contact Apple Support to regain access.

Blocking sites on iPhone and iPad

Open Settings and tap Screen Time. If you have not set up Screen Time yet, tap Turn On Screen Time and follow the prompts. You will be asked to set a Screen Time password — this is the password you will need to change restrictions later, so write it down somewhere safe.

Once Screen Time is on, tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Toggle the switch to turn it on. Now tap Restricted Websites under the Content section. You will see three options: Unrestricted Websites, Limit Adult Websites, and Allowed Websites Only. Choose Limit Adult Websites if you want to block known adult sites but allow most others. Choose Allowed Websites Only if you want to block everything except sites you specifically add to a whitelist.

If you chose Limit Adult Websites, scroll down and tap Add a Website Under "Never Allow". Type the web address of the site you want to block — for example, example.com — and tap Add. Repeat for each site. If you chose Allowed Websites Only, tap Add a Website Under "Always Allow" and add only the sites you want to permit.

Blocking sites on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. Scroll down and click General, then click Parental Controls (or Family in newer macOS versions). Click the lock icon in the bottom-left and enter your Mac password to make changes.

Select the user account you want to restrict. Click the Content tab. Under Restrict Movies, Music, Books & Apps, you will see a checkbox for Restrict Websites. Check that box. Below it, you will see options to Limit Adult Websites or Manage Websites.

Click Manage Websites. A window will open showing two lists: Always Allow and Never Allow. Click the plus sign under Never Allow and type the web address of the site you want to block. Click Add. Repeat for each site you want to block. When you are done, close the window. The restrictions are now active.

What happens when someone tries to visit a blocked site

When a blocked site is visited, Safari displays a message saying the site is restricted and cannot be opened. The message will say something like "This website is blocked" or "You do not have permission to access this website." No part of the site loads — not even the header or images.

The person viewing the device will see an option to request permission. If they tap it, a notification is sent to whoever set up the restrictions (usually a parent or account owner). That person can approve or deny the request from their own device. If denied, the site remains blocked.

Changing or removing blocked sites later

To add or remove sites from your blocked list, follow the same steps you used to set it up. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Restricted Websites. On Mac, go to System Settings > Parental Controls > Content > Manage Websites. You will need to enter your restrictions password.

To remove a site, find it in the Never Allow list, click the minus sign next to it, and confirm. The site will be unblocked when ready. To add a new site, click the plus sign and type the address.

Why blocking at the device level is stronger than browser extensions

Some people try to block sites using Safari extensions or add-ons. These work only in Safari and can usually be turned off by anyone with access to the device. Device-level restrictions are harder to bypass because they work across all apps and require a password to change.

However, device-level blocking is not foolproof. Someone with technical knowledge might use a VPN, switch browsers, or factory reset the device. If you are trying to block sites for a child, device-level restrictions are a reasonable first step, but they work best combined with open conversation about why certain sites are off-limits.

If you forget your restrictions password

On iPhone or iPad, you will need to reset your device to remove the restrictions. Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings. This will wipe your device, so back up your data first if you can. After the reset, you can set up the device again without the old password.

On Mac, you can reset the password by going to System Settings > Parental Controls, clicking the lock, and entering your Mac password. You should then be able to change the restrictions password. If you cannot access this, you may need to contact Apple Support or take the device to an Apple Store.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone unblock a site by using a different browser?

No. Device-level restrictions block sites across all browsers and apps on that device. Whether someone uses Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or any other browser, the blocked site will not load. The restriction is enforced by the device itself, not by Safari.

Will blocking a site stop it from sending notifications?

Blocking a site in Safari will not stop notifications from that website if the site already has permission to send them. You need to revoke notification permission separately. Go to Settings > Notifications, find the site name, and toggle off Allow Notifications.

Can I block a site on my own device without a password?

No. Safari's blocking feature requires a restrictions password for security reasons. The password prevents someone from straightforward unblocking sites you have blocked. If you are blocking sites on your own device, you set the password yourself and keep it private.

What if a site changes its web address?

You will need to add the new address to your blocked list separately. If a site moves from example.com to newexample.com, blocking the first address will not block the second. Add both addresses to your Never Allow list to block both versions.

Does blocking a site use more battery or data?

No. Blocking a site actually saves battery and data because Safari does not load the page at all. The restriction is checked before the page request is sent, so there is no wasted network activity.