How to Block Websites on Mac: Safari, Chrome, and More

To block websites on a Mac, use Screen Time for supported web-content restrictions, a browser extension for selected browser rules, or DNS filtering for broader domain restrictions. The right method depends on whether you need Safari, Chrome, or several apps covered.

For Chrome or Brave on a Mac, Bouncer can block chosen sites without editing system files. For Safari, start with Screen Time. Bouncer does not run in Safari. Use the checks below to confirm which routes your chosen method covers.

Which Mac website blocking method should you use?

Start with the smallest control that meets your need. A browser rule is convenient for your own focus. A family or managed device can need controls outside one browser. A list of blocked domains does not automatically restrict every app that uses the internet.

How do you block websites with Screen Time on Mac?

Open System Settings → Screen Time and find the web-content restrictions for the correct person or account. Apple's current Apps & Websites Restrictions guide places these controls under Apps & Websites, Restrictions, then Websites filtering. Names differ between macOS versions.

1. Open Screen Time and select the account you intend to restrict.
2. Open the website filtering controls. On older versions, look under Content & Privacy or Content Restrictions.
3. Select Limit Adult Websites to access the restricted-site customisation controls.
4. Use Customize to add the website to the restricted list, then save.
5. Open Safari and visit the exact address in a fresh tab.

Record the macOS version if the setting is hard to find. The current Apple guide has a version selector. Use the instructions for your version, then check every browser where you need the restriction.

Do not select an allowed-sites-only setting unless you intend to restrict access to a short approved list. That can also stop sign-in pages, document tools, and references you need for work.

How do you block websites in Chrome on a Mac?

Install a compatible blocker in the Chrome profile you use for work. The extension runs in that browser; it does not add a rule to Safari.

1. Open the Bouncer Chrome Web Store listing in Chrome.
2. Add the extension after you review its permissions.
3. Open Bouncer and select Open Full Dashboard.
4. On Blocklist, enter a domain such as reddit.com and select Block.
5. Open the domain in a new tab. Check a page inside the site as well as its home page.

Bouncer's free plan lets you block up to five sites. Pro costs $25 once and adds schedules, daily allowances, focus mode, categories, and more. Use a domain rule when you want a whole site. Read about URL keyword rules before using a broad word that can match unrelated addresses.

For Brave, install the compatible extension in Brave itself. The Brave blocking guide explains private-window checks. Installing in Chrome does not activate the extension in another browser.

Can you block Mac websites at certain times?

Use a scheduled blocker when you want a site closed during work and available later. For example, block video and social sites during your morning writing period. Use a daily allowance when the aim is a total browsing budget instead.

Bouncer Pro has separate Schedule and Allowances sections. After you set a schedule, check the site during an active period and again after the period ends. For a daily budget, check what happens when the allowance runs out. See the time limit guide for a worked example.

Test access to work sites before you start a long focus session. If you need a video for a task, choose a rule that permits the work you need. A broad block that interrupts necessary work is harder to keep using.

When should you use DNS filtering on a Mac?

A filtering DNS service can refuse to resolve selected domains or categories. You can configure a device or, where supported, a router. A router rule can cover several devices on that network.

For category filtering, use the provider's current setup guide and check its coverage. For example, Cloudflare documents separate family-filtering DNS addresses. Its standard DNS service has no content filtering.

DNS rules work with hostnames. They do not provide a reliable way to allow a site's home page while blocking one path such as a feed. Devices using another resolver, a VPN, or another network can follow different rules. Check the actual connection you use.

Why does a blocked website still open on your Mac?

• Different browser: the rule may run only in Chrome while you opened Safari.
• Different profile: the extension may be absent from the profile that opened the link.
• Private window: check whether the extension is permitted in that mode. Google's extension guide describes Chrome's Allow in incognito control.
• Different domain: the link may open a separate hostname that needs its own rule.
• Separate app: the app can have a different access route from the browser website.

After any change, use a fresh tab and repeat the same test. Keep one work site as a control: it should still open. This helps you find a rule that is too broad before it interrupts a work session.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block a website on my Mac for free?

Yes. Screen Time is built into macOS. For supported desktop browsers, Bouncer’s free plan lets you block up to five sites. Check the method in every browser you use.

Does Bouncer work in Safari on a Mac?

No. Bouncer supports Chrome, Brave, Vivaldi, Edge, and Opera on desktop. Use Screen Time or a Safari-compatible control for Safari.

Will blocking a website also block its Mac app?

Do not assume it will. A browser extension controls browser access. A separate Mac app needs a control that supports that app or its network access.

Related Guides

• How to Block Websites on Windows: 4 Methods and Checks
• How to Block Adult Websites: Chrome, DNS, and Device Rules
• How to Limit Time on Websites in Chrome: Daily Budgets