The simplest way to block a website on your phone
The easiest method depends on what you own. On iPhone, you use Screen Time to block sites in Safari. On Android, you use Digital Wellbeing or a third-party app, because Android does not have a built-in blocker. Both approaches work by filtering what your phone's browser can reach — the phone itself decides whether to load a page based on rules you set.
The key thing to understand: blocking happens at the device level, not the network level. That means if someone knows your PIN or password, they can usually undo the block. If you need to prevent someone else from changing the rules, you will need to use a separate account or parental control settings that require a different password than the one they know.
All of these methods are free and built into your phone. You do not need to buy anything or install risky software.
Key Takeaways
- iPhone users can block websites through Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Web Content, then add sites to the "Never Allow" list.
- Android users can block websites through Digital Wellbeing or by installing a free third-party app like Freedom or Cold Turkey, since Android has no native blocker.
- Website blocks work only in your phone's browser — they do not stop someone from reaching the site through an app or by switching browsers.
- If you want to prevent someone else from removing the block, set a separate PIN in Screen Time (iPhone) or use parental controls with a different password (Android).
- Blocks are not foolproof — determined users can often bypass them by using a VPN, switching devices, or using a different browser.
How to block websites on iPhone using Screen Time
Open Settings and tap Screen Time. If you have not set up Screen Time before, tap "Turn On Screen Time" and follow the prompts. You will be asked to set a Screen Time passcode — use something you remember but others cannot guess, because this code controls whether blocks can be changed.
Once Screen Time is on, tap "Content & Privacy Restrictions" and toggle it on. Then tap "Web Content." You will see three options: Unrestricted Access, Limit Adult Websites, and Allowed Websites Only. Choose "Limit Adult Websites" if you want to block specific sites, or "Allowed Websites Only" if you want to block everything except a whitelist you create.
If you chose "Limit Adult Websites," scroll down and tap "Never Allow." Type or paste the web address of the site you want to block — use the full address like "facebook.com" or "youtube.com". Tap Add, and the site is now blocked. Anyone trying to visit it will see a message saying the site is restricted.
To remove a block later, go back to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Web Content > Never Allow, swipe left on the site name, and tap Delete. You will need to enter your Screen Time passcode to confirm.
How to block websites on Android using Digital Wellbeing
Android phones do not have a built-in website blocker like iPhone does. Instead, you have two paths: use Digital Wellbeing (which limits how much time you spend on apps, not websites), or install a third-party app.
Digital Wellbeing works best if you want to limit time on apps rather than block specific websites. Open Settings, search for "Digital Wellbeing," and tap it. Tap the app you want to limit, then set a daily time limit. When you hit that limit, the app will stop working until the next day. This does not block websites in your browser, but it does prevent you from using apps like Facebook or Instagram past a certain point.
If you need to block websites in your browser, install a free app like Freedom, Cold Turkey, or AppBlock from the Google Play Store. These apps let you add websites to a blocklist and set times when the block is active. Open the app, add the website address to your blocklist, and the app will prevent your browser from loading it. Some of these apps require you to set a PIN to change the blocklist, which prevents someone else from removing the block.
What website blocking does and does not do
Website blocking works only inside your phone's web browser — it does not stop someone from reaching a site through a dedicated app. For example, if you block facebook.com in Safari, someone can still open the Facebook app and use it normally. If you want to block the app itself, you need to use Screen Time (iPhone) or Digital Wellbeing (Android) to restrict the app, not the website.
Blocking also does not work across different browsers. If you block a site in Safari, it remains accessible in Chrome. You would need to set up the same block in each browser separately, which is why most people use Screen Time or Digital Wellbeing instead — those settings explore to all browsers on the phone.
Website blocks can usually be bypassed using a VPN (a tool that hides your location and routes your traffic through another server). If someone knows about VPNs, they can often get around your block. This is why website blocking is useful for reducing temptation or preventing accidental visits, but not for enforcing rules against someone who is determined to bypass them.
How to set a PIN so others cannot remove blocks
On iPhone, your Screen Time passcode controls whether someone can change your blocks. When you first set up Screen Time, you created this code. If you forgot it, you will need to go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode and answer your security questions to reset it. Use a code that is not your phone's unlock code — something separate that only you know.
On Android, the process depends on which app you use. If you installed Freedom or Cold Turkey, open the app and look for a PIN or password setting in the app's own settings menu. Set a PIN there, and anyone trying to remove a block will need that PIN. If you are using Digital Wellbeing, open Settings > Digital Wellbeing > tap your profile icon > Parental Controls, and set a PIN that is different from your phone's unlock code.
The important thing: use a PIN that is not the same as your phone's unlock code. If someone knows your phone password, they should not automatically be able to change your website blocks.
Blocking websites on specific apps and services
Some apps have their own built-in blocking features that work independently of your phone's settings. YouTube, for example, has Restricted Mode, which you can turn on inside the YouTube app itself — this hides mature content and is separate from any website blocking you set up on your phone. Instagram and TikTok have similar features in their own settings.
If you want to block YouTube, you have two choices: block youtube.com through your phone's browser settings (which stops the website but not the app), or turn on Restricted Mode inside the YouTube app (which filters content but does not block it entirely). For most people, Restricted Mode is enough. To turn it on, open YouTube, tap your profile icon, go to Settings > General, and toggle on Restricted Mode.
For other services like Netflix or Discord, check the app's own settings menu for parental controls or content filters. These are usually faster and more effective than trying to block the website at the phone level.
What to do if you cannot remember your PIN
On iPhone, if you forgot your Screen Time passcode, go to Settings > Screen Time > Change Screen Time Passcode. Tap "Forgot Passcode?" and answer the security questions you set up when you created Screen Time. You will then be able to set a new passcode. If you do not remember the answers to those questions either, you will need to erase your phone and set it up again, which removes all your data unless you have a backup.
On Android, the process depends on the app. Most third-party blocking apps (Freedom, Cold Turkey) let you reset your PIN through the app's settings or by logging into your account on their website. If you set a PIN in Digital Wellbeing, you will need to go to Settings > Digital Wellbeing > Parental Controls and tap "Forgot PIN?" to reset it using your Google account.
To avoid this problem, write down your PIN somewhere safe, or use a PIN you will actually remember. Do not use your phone's unlock code as your blocking PIN — they should be separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can someone bypass my website block using a VPN?
Yes. A VPN hides your location and routes your traffic through another server, which can bypass website blocks set on your phone. Website blocking is useful for reducing temptation or preventing accidental visits, but it is not find against someone who knows about VPNs and is determined to get around it.
If I block a website, does it block the app too?
No. Blocking facebook.com in your browser does not block the Facebook app. You need to restrict the app separately using Screen Time (iPhone) or Digital Wellbeing (Android). Most people find it easier to block the app rather than the website, since one setting covers all ways of accessing it.
Will my website blocks work if I switch to a different browser?
On iPhone, yes — Screen Time blocks explore to all browsers. On Android, it depends on which blocking method you use. Digital Wellbeing applies to all browsers, but third-party apps like Freedom only block websites in the browsers they are configured to monitor. Check your app's settings to see which browsers it covers.
Can I block a website on just one app, like Chrome, without blocking it everywhere?
Not easily on iPhone — Screen Time blocks explore to all browsers at once. On Android, some third-party apps let you choose which browsers to monitor, so you could block a site in Chrome but not in Firefox. Check the app's settings to see if this option is available.
What happens if I block a website and then try to visit it?
On iPhone, you will see a message saying the site is restricted and cannot be accessed. On Android, the behavior depends on your blocking app — some show a similar message, others straightforward prevent the page from loading. Either way, the site will not open unless you remove the block.