How to Block a Website on Chrome (5 Ways, 2026)

Install a Chrome extension, add the site you want blocked, and you're done. That is the fastest way to block a website on Chrome. Open the Chrome Web Store, install a blocker like Bouncer, and type the domain. The page is blocked in under a minute. But extensions are not the only option. You can also edit your hosts file, use Chrome managed policies, set up DNS filtering, or configure Google Family Link. Each method has different trade-offs around permanence, scope, and bypass difficulty. This guide walks through all five, step by step, so you can pick the one that fits your situation.

Which Method Should You Use?

Each method blocks websites at a different level. The table below compares them on the things that actually matter: how hard they are to set up, what they cover, and how easy they are to undo.

How Do You Block a Website with a Chrome Extension?

A Chrome website blocker extension intercepts page requests and shows a block page instead of the site. You add domains to a list, and the extension does the rest. This is the method most people should use because setup takes a minute and you can unblock or adjust at any time.

Step-by-step with Bouncer

1. Go to the Bouncer listing on the Chrome Web Store.
2. Click Add to Chrome → Add extension.
3. Click the Bouncer icon in your toolbar to open the dashboard.
4. Type the domain you want to block (e.g., facebook.com) and hit enter.
5. Done. Navigate to that site and you will see a block page instead.

Bouncer's free tier handles basic blocking. The Pro upgrade ($25 one-time, no subscription) adds scheduled blocking (e.g., block social media from 9am to 5pm on weekdays), path-level rules, and bypass protection. It works on Chrome, Edge, Brave, Arc, Opera, and Vivaldi.

Other extensions worth considering

• BlockSite: Free tier blocks a handful of sites. Subscription ($3-10/month) unlocks redirect blocking and focus mode. Gets expensive compared to a one-time purchase.
• LeechBlock: Free, open source. Six independent block sets with granular scheduling. Powerful but the interface takes time to learn.
• StayFocusd: Free. Gives a daily time allowance per site. Once the timer runs out, you're blocked for the rest of the day.

One thing most guides skip: Chrome extensions are disabled in incognito mode by default. If you can open a blocked site by pressing Ctrl+Shift+N, your blocker is not actually protecting you. See the incognito section below to fix this.

How Do You Block a Website Without an Extension?

Your computer's hosts file maps domain names to IP addresses before the browser checks DNS. Add a line pointing a domain to 127.0.0.1 (your own machine) and the site cannot load. No software needed, works across every browser, and survives Chrome updates.

macOS / Linux

1. Open Terminal.
2. Run sudo nano /etc/hosts and enter your password.
3. At the bottom of the file, add one line per domain:

   127.0.0.1  facebook.com
   127.0.0.1  www.facebook.com

4. Save with Ctrl+O, press Enter, then Ctrl+X to exit.
5. Flush DNS: sudo dscacheutil -flushcache; sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder

Windows

1. Open Notepad as Administrator (right-click → Run as administrator).
2. Open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts
3. Add lines at the bottom:

   127.0.0.1  facebook.com
   127.0.0.1  www.facebook.com

4. Save. Open Command Prompt and run ipconfig /flushdns

Important detail: You need both the bare domain (facebook.com) and the www subdomain. Some sites also use mobile subdomains like m.facebook.com. If you miss a variant, the site loads through that subdomain. This is the biggest gotcha with the hosts file approach.

The hosts file works in incognito, across all browsers, and does not depend on any extension. The trade-off: there is no scheduling, and anyone with admin access can undo it in 30 seconds.

Can You Block Websites Using Chrome Policies?

Chrome supports managed policies that IT departments use to lock down corporate browsers. You can use the same mechanism on your own computer to block specific URLs. The block works in incognito, cannot be changed from within Chrome, and survives Chrome updates and reinstalls.

Windows (Registry)

1. Open Registry Editor (Win+R, type regedit, press Enter).
2. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome. If the Chrome key does not exist, create it.
3. Create a new key called URLBlocklist.
4. Inside URLBlocklist, create a new String Value named 1 with the value facebook.com.
5. For additional sites, create values named 2, 3, etc.
6. Restart Chrome. Open chrome://policy to verify the policy is active.

macOS (Configuration Profile)

1. Create a .mobileconfig file or use a tool like ProfileCreator.
2. Set the URLBlocklist key under com.google.Chrome to an array of URLs.
3. Install the profile via System Settings → Privacy & Security → Profiles.
4. Restart Chrome and check chrome://policy.

When a policy-blocked site is accessed, Chrome shows a built-in "This site is blocked" page with the message "The administrator has blocked access to this page." There is no quick toggle to undo it; you have to edit the registry or remove the configuration profile. This makes it harder to impulsively unblock a site compared to disabling an extension.

This method is free, built into Chrome, and works in incognito and guest mode. The downside: no scheduling, no path-level blocking, and the setup is more technical than installing an extension.

How Does DNS-Level Blocking Work?

DNS-level blocking intercepts domain lookups at the network layer. Instead of the real IP address for facebook.com, the DNS server returns nothing (or a block page). Every device on your network is affected. Two practical options:

Option A: NextDNS

NextDNS offers a free tier (300,000 queries/month) and a paid plan ($20/year, unlimited). You get a dashboard where you add domains to a blocklist, enable pre-built filter lists, and see real-time query logs. Setup takes about 10 minutes:

1. Create a free account at nextdns.io.
2. Add domains you want to block under the Denylist tab.
3. Change your router's DNS settings to NextDNS's assigned addresses (shown on the Setup tab).
4. Blocked sites now return an error on every device connected to your WiFi.

NextDNS also supports per-device configuration and time-based rules on the paid plan.

Option B: OpenDNS

OpenDNS Home is free and lets you block sites by category (social networking, gambling, adult content) or by individual domain. Point your router's DNS to 208.67.222.222 and 208.67.220.220, then manage your blocklist at opendns.com/dashboard.

Trade-off: DNS blocking applies to everyone on the network. If you block Instagram, your partner loses access too. Anyone can bypass it by switching to mobile data or using a VPN that routes DNS elsewhere. Best used for household-wide policies or when you control all the devices.

How Do You Block Websites for a Child on Chrome?

Google Family Link creates a supervised Google account that a parent controls. The child cannot modify blocked sites, install unapproved extensions, or access incognito mode. This is the most tamper-resistant option for parental controls on Chrome.

1. Download the Family Link app on your phone and create a supervised account for your child.
2. Open Family Link → Controls → Content restrictions → Google Chrome.
3. Choose "Only allow certain sites" (allowlist) or "Block certain sites" (blocklist).
4. Add the sites you want to block or allow.

Family Link also disables incognito mode on the supervised account, so the child cannot bypass the block by opening a private window. The blocks apply wherever the child is signed into Chrome, including on Chromebooks.

Limitation: Family Link requires a managed Google account. It is designed for children under 13 (or under the age of consent in your country). It is not practical for blocking your own browsing because you are the admin and can undo anything instantly.

Can You Block a Specific Page Without Blocking the Whole Site?

Yes, but only some methods support it. If you want to block reddit.com/r/gaming while keeping the rest of Reddit accessible, or block youtube.com/shorts while watching regular videos, you need path-level blocking.

Path-level blocking is useful when a site has both productive and unproductive content. Blocking all of YouTube to avoid Shorts is overkill if you watch educational content there. An extension like Bouncer or a Chrome URLBlocklist policy entry like youtube.com/shorts handles this cleanly.

Does Blocking Work in Incognito Mode?

This is the most overlooked detail in website blocking. Chrome extensions are disabled in incognito mode by default. If your entire blocking setup is an extension, anyone (including you) can open an incognito window and visit the blocked site freely.

How to enable an extension in incognito

1. Open chrome://extensions in your address bar.
2. Find your blocker extension and click Details.
3. Toggle "Allow in Incognito" to on.

After this, the extension runs in incognito windows and the block applies everywhere.

The hosts file, Chrome policies, and DNS-level blocking all work in incognito automatically because they operate outside the browser. If incognito bypass is a concern, these methods are stronger out of the box.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I block a site on Google Chrome?

Install a website blocker extension like Bouncer from the Chrome Web Store. Click the icon, type the domain, and it is blocked. For methods that do not require an extension, edit your hosts file or set a Chrome managed policy. Both are free and covered step-by-step above.

Can I permanently block a website on Chrome?

Yes. Chrome extensions stay active until you remove them. For stronger permanence, use the hosts file (survives Chrome reinstalls) or Chrome managed policies (cannot be changed from within Chrome). DNS-level blocking via your router persists until the DNS settings are changed.

How do I block websites on Chrome without an extension?

Three options: (1) Edit your hosts file to redirect the domain to 127.0.0.1. (2) Add a Chrome URLBlocklist policy through the Windows Registry or a macOS configuration profile. (3) Use DNS filtering by changing your router's DNS to NextDNS or OpenDNS. All three are free and work without any Chrome extension.

How do I block websites for my child on Chrome?

Google Family Link is built for this. Create a supervised account, set content restrictions under Controls → Content restrictions → Google Chrome, and add blocked or allowed sites. The child cannot modify the settings, access incognito mode, or install unapproved extensions.

Does blocking a website on Chrome work in incognito?

Extensions do not run in incognito by default. Go to chrome://extensions, click Details on your blocker, and toggle "Allow in Incognito." The hosts file method, Chrome policies, and DNS blocking all work in incognito automatically.

Can I block a website on Chrome on my phone?

Chrome mobile does not support extensions. Use Google Family Link (Android), Screen Time (iOS), or a DNS app like NextDNS to block sites on mobile. On Android, Firefox supports extensions, so you can install a blocker there and use Firefox instead of Chrome.

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