How to Block a Website on Google Chrome

Whether you are trying to stop yourself from endlessly scrolling social media during work hours, or you want to prevent your children from accessing inappropriate content, you might assume Google Chrome has a built-in button to block specific websites.

Surprisingly, it does not. Google removed native website blocking from Chrome several years ago. To block a website today, you must either use a third-party extension (for productivity) or modify your computer’s hosts file (for absolute security). Here is how to block a website on Google Chrome using both methods.

Method 1: Use a Chrome Extension (Best for Productivity)

If you just need a gentle reminder to stop checking Reddit when you should be working, downloading a free Chrome extension is the easiest solution.

1. Open Google Chrome and navigate to the Chrome Web Store.
2. In the search bar, type BlockSite (this is currently the most popular and reliable blocking extension).
3. Click the blue Add to Chrome button next to the BlockSite extension.
4. A pop-up will ask for permission to read and change your data. Click Add extension.
5. Once installed, click the puzzle piece icon in the top-right corner of Chrome, and click the pin icon next to BlockSite to keep it visible on your toolbar.

To use it, simply navigate to the website you want to block (e.g., facebook.com). Click the BlockSite shield icon in your toolbar, and click the big red Block this site button. The next time you try to visit that page, you will be greeted by a humorous image and a message telling you the site is blocked.

Method 2: Edit the Windows Hosts File (Best for Permanent Blocking)

If you are trying to block a website for a child, they can simply right-click an extension and uninstall it. To permanently block a website so that no browser on the computer can access it, you must edit the Windows “hosts” file.

1. Click the Windows Start button and type Notepad.
2. Right-click on the Notepad app and select Run as administrator. (You must do this, or Windows will not let you save the file).
3. In Notepad, click File > Open.
4. Navigate to this exact folder path: C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
5. In the bottom right corner of the open window, change the file type drop-down from “Text Documents (*.txt)” to All Files (*.*).
6. Double-click the file named hosts.

The file will look like a wall of text with hashtag (#) symbols. Scroll to the very bottom, below the last line of text.

1. Type the local loopback IP address: 127.0.0.1
2. Press the Spacebar once.
3. Type the URL of the website you want to block (e.g., www.tiktok.com). The complete line should look exactly like this: 127.0.0.1 www.tiktok.com
4. Click File > Save.

Now, whenever Google Chrome tries to look up www.tiktok.com, your computer will route the request into a dead end, and the browser will display an error saying the site cannot be reached.