How to Block Websites on Chrome (Extension or Not)

The quickest way to block a website on Chrome is an extension such as LeechBlock NG or BlockSite: install it, add the site and turn on Allow in Incognito. Without an extension, use Chrome’s URLBlocklist policy or the hosts file. Both need administrator rights on the computer.

What differs between methods is how hard they are to undo and which browsers they cover.

Which method blocks best?

Method	Covers	Incognito	Who can undo it	Limit
Extension	Chrome only	Only if you allow it	Anyone at the keyboard, in two clicks	Doesn’t affect other browsers
URLBlocklist policy	Chrome only	Yes	Someone with admin rights	Google documents it for managed browsers; setup is technical
Hosts file	Every browser on that computer	Yes	Someone with admin rights	No wildcards, one line per name
DNS filter	Every browser on the device or network	Yes	Whoever changes DNS settings	Chrome’s own secure DNS can skip the system’s DNS
Family Link	Chrome while signed in to the child’s account	Turned off	The child, by signing out of Chrome	Doesn’t cover other browsers

How do you block a website in Chrome with an extension?

1. Open the Chrome Web Store and search for the extension.
2. Click Add to Chrome, then Add extension.
3. Open the extension’s options and add the sites you want blocked.
4. Go to chrome://extensions, click Details on the blocker and turn on Allow in Incognito. Google’s documentation confirms users must enable this themselves.

Two extensions are worth knowing:

• LeechBlock NG is free. It offers up to 30 sets of blocked sites with their own times, time limits, a lockdown that blocks immediately for a set duration, and a password or random access code to protect its options page. It also runs in Firefox, Edge and other Chromium browsers.
• BlockSite has a block list, schedule, keyword blocking and password protection, with extensions for Chrome, Safari and Edge. Premium lists unlimited blocking and automated scheduled sessions. BlockSite’s pricing page showed a single premium price of $23.94 under a 50% off banner on 02/11/2026, without saying whether it is monthly, yearly or lifetime, so read the checkout before you pay.

The weakness is the same for both: you can remove an extension from chrome://extensions in two clicks when you want to open the site. A password helps; nothing stops a determined person from using another browser.

How do you block a site on Chrome without an extension?

Chrome reads policies set by the operating system. Google’s URLBlocklist documentation says the policy stops users from visiting the listed URLs, supports up to 1,000 entries across the blocklist and allowlist, and applies to managed Chrome browsers. Check it with chrome://policy after restarting Chrome.

On Windows

1. Press Win + R, type regedit and press Enter.
2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome and create the Google and Chrome keys if they’re missing.
3. Create a key named URLBlocklist under Chrome.
4. Add one String Value per site, named 1, 2, 3, with the domain as its data, such as reddit.com.
5. Restart Chrome and open chrome://policy. URLBlocklist should show status OK.

On a Mac

Google describes a Chrome policy configuration profile (a .plist file) with the URLBlocklist key. That is the normal setup for a company Mac managed with MDM. On a personal Mac there is no setting to flip, so the hosts file or a blocking app is simpler. See how to block websites on Mac for the Terminal steps.

In every browser: the hosts file

Add a line per name to /etc/hosts (macOS and Linux) or C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (Windows), with admin rights:

127.0.0.1    reddit.com
127.0.0.1    www.reddit.com

Then flush the DNS cache and restart the browser. Subdomains need their own lines, and a renamed site such as x.com needs a new entry.

Does Chrome’s secure DNS get around a DNS filter?

It can. Chrome’s help page says secure DNS encrypts the lookup and is on in automatic mode by default, and Chromium’s documentation states that secure DNS requests aren’t made with the system resolver. If a filtered site opens in Chrome but not in Safari, turn off Use secure DNS under Settings › Privacy and security › Security.

How do you block websites on Chrome for a child?

Google Family Link is the official route. In the Family Link app, open your child’s profile, then Controls › Google Chrome and Web, choose a filter level and add sites under Approved sites and Blocked sites. Google lists the limits itself: a child can sign out of Chrome on a computer, iPhone or iPad to leave the controls behind, and other browsers aren’t covered. Google also notes that no filter is perfect.

For phones and tablets, see how to block websites on iPhone and iPad.

What if you want a block you can’t remove in two clicks?

An extension, the hosts file and the policy all depend on a setting you can change. A dedicated blocker with a locked mode is stricter. The best website blockers compares SelfControl, Cold Turkey, Freedom, Focus and others by what you can still undo.

Browwwser is a Chromium-based browser for Mac and Windows that blocks sites in the browser itself, with a lock mode behind a recovery password. It runs Chrome extensions and imports your Chrome data. Its limits: Mac and Windows only, paid after the 7-day trial ($99 a year or $199 once), and website blocking applies only inside Browwwser. If you need Chrome itself blocked, use the methods above.

Frequently asked questions

How do I block a website on Chrome without an extension?

Add it to the hosts file, which blocks it in every browser on that computer, or set Chrome's URLBlocklist policy. Both need administrator rights on the computer.

Why does my Chrome blocker not work in Incognito?

Extensions don't run in Incognito by default. Open chrome://extensions, click Details on the blocker and turn on Allow in Incognito.

Can I block websites on Chrome for a certain amount of time?

Yes, with an extension that has timed or scheduled blocks, such as LeechBlock NG, which offers fixed time periods, time limits and a lockdown mode that blocks immediately for a set duration.

How do I block websites on Chrome for my child?

Use Google Family Link: Controls › Google Chrome and Web, then add the site under Blocked sites. Your child can bypass it by signing out of Chrome on a computer or iPhone, so pair it with a DNS filter.

Does Browwwser block websites in Chrome?

No. Browwwser's website blocking works only inside Browwwser. Its Other Browsers preset can close Chrome while blocking is on, which is a different thing from blocking a site in Chrome.