There are lots of reasons why you might want to block Chrome’s access to certain websites. Maybe you want to avoid distractions while you work or you do not want your children visiting certain websites or see certain search results. Regardless of what your reasons are, blocking websites on Chrome on desktop or mobile is very easy. It is also very easy to undo the process so you can access websites like Pinterest when you get home from work.
Blocking Websites on Chrome Desktop
Blocking websites on the Chrome browser on a desktop is as simple as installing an extension. BlockSite comes highly recommended and it is available through the Chrome web store. To install it, you first need to visit the Chrome web store and search for “BlockSite”. After that, you need to click “Add to Chrome” on the top right corner. Note that this extension is also available on other Chromium-based browsers such as Vivaldi.
Next, click on the “Add Extension” button on the pop-up box that appears. A window will appear that shows the extension’s features and if you are satisfied, click the second “Add Extension” button and wait for the extension to be installed. Once this is done, you will see the extension’s orange icon appear at the top of your browser.
If you want to block a website, you start by visiting the website. Next, click on the BlockSite icon, which is an orange shield, at the top of your browser. On the popup that opens, click “Block this site”. Once this is done, you will not be able to visit this website anymore.
If you want to unblock certain websites, click the BlockSite icon and then click on “Edit block sites list”. Each of the websites in this list will have a “minus” sign at the far-right end. Clicking this sign removes a website from the block list.
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Blocking Websites on Chrome Android
If you use an Android phone, you might also need to block some websites to avoid distractions and increase productivity while you work or study. The BlockSite extension that we used above also comes as a handy Android app. This app comes highly recommended and there are thousands of great reviews of BlockSite app all over the internet.
Your Android phone comes with a Google Play app that is also called the Play Store. This is the marketplace where you can find paid and free apps for your Android phone. Once you open it, search for “BlockSite app”. The app has an orange shield as its icon. Click the “Install” button and wait for the app to finish installing.
Once installed, open the app by clicking its icon when it appears on your app drawer. When you open the app for the first time, it will ask for some permissions. These permissions enable the app to control your browsers so it can block websites for you. If the permissions prompt does not come up, tap on “Go to Settings”. This opens your phone’s settings so you can grant BlockSite the necessary permissions.
Tap on the app in your settings list and you will be prompted to enable it or “Use Service”. Either of these options activates the app.
Once the app is enabled, go back to it and tap the “+” icon at the bottom right-hand side of your screen. This opens the page where you can block websites or apps. There are two tabs, one for websites and one for apps, for blocking either of them. The provided search bar on each page makes it easier to find the apps or websites you need to block.
For websites, you will need to enter the full URL and after you are done, a green checkmark will appear. Tapping on it confirms that you have blocked that website. On the screen that appears next, you will see the websites you have blocked and you will be able to remove them at any time.
Digging into the App
There is so much more the app can do in addition to blocking websites and apps. For instance, it can show you usage reports so you can see how much time you have saved. The app also comes with a Pomodoro timer for when you need to be productive, focus, or study.
The app also syncs your settings between your desktop and phone so you can share the list of blocked apps and websites between the two.
Blocking Websites on iOS
BlockSite is also available on the Apple Store for Apple users. Its icon is green with a white shield at the center for easy identification. It offers the same functionalities on Apple devices as it does on Android so you can increase your productivity and manage time better when on an Apple device.
Blocking websites on Chrome can be necessary when you need to focus and get something done Fortunately, there is a neat solution that works for Chrome on desktop and Android as well as for Apple devices through the Apple Store.
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