There are many reasons why you might want to block certain websites. Maybe it’s because of unproductive habits ruining your day. Or maybe it’s because there are kids around. Regardless, blocking websites on any iPhone or iPad running iOS 13 or iPadOS is more than possible.
Fortunately, you don’t need any third-party apps to block websites on your iPhone or iPad. That’s because the built-in Screen Time controls in iOS 13 and iPadOS are more than enough for the job. Let’s get them moving.
Blocking Sites Using Screen Time
Screen Time functionality allows you to easily block websites using built-in Web Content restrictions. The feature made its debut with iOS 12.
Screen Time supports two ways to block websites: add unwanted sites to block list or block all sites while whitelisting specific sites.
These restrictions apply to any browser on your iPhone or iPad – Safari, Chrome, Firefox or Opera Touch. Therefore, if you have more than one browser installed, you do not need to manage separate sets of restrictions for each.
Screen Time allows you to easily block websites using built-in Web Content restrictions
Screen Time is accessible via the Settings app in iOS 13 and iPadOS. If this is your first time using Screen Time, you will be prompted with a splash screen followed by several steps to set up the functionality. In this case, it’s best to set a Screen Time passcode to prevent others from changing your restrictions.
That said, let’s check out how you can achieve Web Content restrictions within Screen Time.
Stage 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad, then tap Screen Time. Follow this up by tapping Content and Privacy Restrictions.
Note:
Step 2: Turn on the switch next to Content & Privacy Restrictions, then tap Content Restrictions.
Stage 3: Tap Web Content to go to the Web Content restrictions screen.
You can now use the Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites options to block sites on your iPhone or iPad. Let’s check how each option works separately.
Blocking Certain Sites
To block certain sites, you must select the option labeled Limit Adult Websites. Follow this up by tapping Add Website under Never Allow to add the URLs of the websites you want to block.
Note that selecting this option will block all NSFW websites along with those you plan to block. If you want to exclude any site, tap Allow Website under Always Allowed and then add the site’s URL.
To remove sites in the Always Allow or Never Allow sections later, swipe left and then tap Delete.
Every time you go to a blocked site in any web browser, you are restricted from visiting. If you want to unblock the website, tap Allow Website below the ‘You can’t browse this page…’ message. You must then enter your Screen Time passcode.
If you don’t have a Screen Time password set, you can easily remove website restrictions. If you want to enforce restrictions when handing over your iOS device to someone else, it’s better to use a Screen Time passcode.
Block and Exclude
Tap on Only Allowed Websites and you will block all websites except a few kid-friendly ones. Tap Add Website at the bottom of the list to whitelist sites. Tap Done after you’re done adding the URL.
When you come across a blocked website in any browser, iOS restricts you from visiting that site. However, you can always unblock websites using the Allow Website option; they are then whitelisted on the Web Content restrictions screen.
Once again, using a Screen Time passcode can be crucial when handing over your iOS device to someone, especially a child.
Bonus Number — Remote Management
You can also use Screen Time’s remote management features to apply remote restrictions. This is quite useful when it comes to managing your kids’ devices.
Before you start blocking websites, you must add devices using Family Sharing controls by visiting your profile (via the Settings app).
Once you’ve done that, tap the family member’s name in the Screen Time panel and you can add the restrictions using the same Web Content restrictions.
Avoid These Distractions
Blocking websites is a useful measure to prevent yourself from procrastinating or your children visiting harmful websites. It’s good to see native functions built directly into iOS 13 and iPadOS that can help achieve this. But Screen Time can do much more than just block websites. You can set time limits on web browsers, block apps completely, disable private browsing, etc. Definitely worth checking out.
Next: Forgot your Screen Time passcode? Here are two ways to recover easily.
