I need help blocking a specific website on my iPhone for personal reasons. I’ve looked through settings but can’t seem to find the right option. Does anyone know how to do this? Please share steps or advice. Thanks!
Oh boy, blocking a website on your iPhone isn’t rocket science, but Apple sure makes it feel like it sometimes. Here’s how you can do it without pulling your hair out:
- Open Settings.
- Scroll down to Screen Time (if you haven’t set it up, you’ll need to do that first).
- Tap on Content & Privacy Restrictions. Toggle it ON.
- Go to Content Restrictions > Web Content.
- Choose Limit Adult Websites (even if the site isn’t adult-related, stay with me).
- Under the “Never Allow” section, you can manually add the URL of the website that’s driving you insane.
Boom, website blocked. Wanna unblock it in the future? Just go back in there and remove the URL. Annoying, I know, but it works. Thanks, Apple, for making us jump through hoops.
If y’all going the Apple route with “Content & Privacy Restrictions” like @vrijheidsvogel said (which works fine, sure), lemme toss in another option for ya: using a third-party app. Plenty of apps out there can block websites without the whole ‘dig through settings’ game. Apps like Freedom or even parental control apps like Bark let you customize what gets blocked and when. Plus, they can block apps and not just websites—whaddya know?
That said, ever consider just tweaking DNS settings? Open Wi-Fi settings, tap the (i) next to your network, and change the DNS to something like OpenDNS. You can use that to filter specifics—kinda techy but works wonders for blocking certain websites entirely across your connected devices, not just the iPhone.
Or… and I’m just throwing this out there as Devil’s Advocate—do you really need to block it? Sometimes self-control apps like StayFocused give you a reminder pop-up instead of hardcore blocking. Might save you some stress if you’re the type to block then immediately second-guess.
If you’re still looking for alternatives to block a website on your iPhone, here’s another less-traveled road you might want to explore—focus mode. Apple’s native Focus Mode isn’t just for silencing notifications; you can customize it to block apps and websites during specific times. It’s not as comprehensive as the hardcore DNS edits or third-party apps some users mentioned, but it’s pretty straightforward:
- Go to Settings > Focus and create a new Focus.
- Under ‘Allowed Apps,’ exclude browsers like Safari/Chrome to indirectly limit web access.
- Pair it with screen time controls (already outlined earlier), and you can weave a tighter net around distractions.
Pros:
- You don’t need extra apps or new DNS—keeps the changes local to your phone.
- Works on a schedule if you’re looking for temporary restrictions.
Cons:
- Not the best for outright blocking unless you’re okay limiting access to entire apps.
- Won’t stop someone tech-savvy from bypassing.
Alternatively, if you’re down for a paid tool, you might find Qustodio a competitor to apps like Bark or Freedom. Pro: it doubles as robust parental control software. Con: monthly fees and less intuitive layout for quick setup.
And hey, while I appreciate the elegance of manual DNS edits, they can shift settings across all connected devices—a deterrent if you’re co-sharing a network. Some of us don’t want the whole family asking, ‘Why can’t I access YouTube?’
In all seriousness, it comes down to your persistence. If the block needs to be airtight, third-party apps are solid picks. Otherwise, Apple’s in-built methods will do fine for basic situations—pick your poison!