How to block websites on iPhone

Screen Time suits a small list of websites you want to keep unavailable. Its website restrictions are part of a broader content filter, so choosing Limit Adult Websites can also affect sites you did not add yourself.

BlockTheNews suits the habit of opening a news site before deciding whether you want to read it. It starts with 670 news domains and lets you add your own blocked and allowed sites. A pause gives you a moment to choose, with temporary access when you need it. Read about the news website blocker to see how that works.

If your main distraction is a native app, use that app’s notification settings or Screen Time’s app controls. A Safari extension does not block Apple News, social apps, or every browser on your phone.

Apple changes menu names between iOS versions. Older versions may show Content Restrictions where newer versions show App Store, Media, Web, & Games.

1. 1.1 Open Settings → Screen Time. Complete setup if prompted. To manage a child’s device through Family Sharing, select their name first.
2. 1.2 Open Content & Privacy Restrictions. Turn restrictions on and enter your Screen Time passcode if asked.
3. 1.3 Find Web Content. On current versions, open App Store, Media, Web, & Games, then Web Content.
4. 1.4 Select Limit Adult Websites. Under Never Allow, tap Add Website and enter the address you want to restrict. Repeat for the sites on your list.
5. 1.5 Check the result in Safari. Open a fresh tab and visit the address you added. Confirm that Screen Time stops the page before considering setup finished.

A Screen Time passcode can protect changes to these settings. If you control the passcode and account, the restriction remains something you can change. For a child’s device, follow Apple’s Family Sharing instructions for parental management.

BlockTheNews supports Safari on iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 15.4 or later. Open the app after installing it and follow its setup flow. Check the app for its monthly and yearly Pro subscription options.

1. 2.1 Enable the extension. In Safari, open the page menu, choose Manage Extensions, and switch on BlockTheNews for the profile you use.
2. 2.2 Allow website access. Follow the app’s guidance and Safari’s permission prompts. Some versions offer Always Allow on Every Website; newer versions may use a different flow.
3. 2.3 Verify a real block. Use the news site offered in the app’s setup flow, or open a site on your blocked list in Safari. You should see the BlockTheNews pause screen.
4. 2.4 Adjust your lists. Open BlockTheNews from Safari’s page menu. Add other distracting domains and allow any sites you want to keep available.

You can also find extension controls in Settings → Apps → Safari → Extensions on recent iOS versions. Older versions place Safari directly in Settings. Installing the app alone does not finish Safari setup.

BlockTheNews asks you to wait six seconds. If you still want to read, enter a reason of at least six characters to get ten minutes of access. Your reason is not saved. Website blocking decisions happen on your device.

The pause interrupts a reflex while keeping intentional reading possible. Decide when you want to read the news, then let it help you notice visits outside that time.

Check where the page opened

A link may open in another browser or inside an app. Test BlockTheNews directly in Safari and confirm it is enabled for your current Safari profile.

Check permissions and your lists

An enabled extension still needs access to the website. Follow the setup flow again, check that the domain is blocked and not allowed, then reload the page. If you recently continued through a pause, wait until the ten-minute access period ends before testing again.

Check the Screen Time restriction separately

If you chose Screen Time, confirm Content & Privacy Restrictions is still on and the address is under Never Allow. Check the final address after any redirect; the site may use another domain that needs its own entry.

Remove news shortcuts you tap automatically, reduce news notifications, and choose a stopping point for intentional reading. Our guide to taking a break from the news helps you turn the setting into a workable routine.

The same Screen Time approach and Safari extension setup apply on iPad, with menu placement varying by iPadOS version. Set up and verify blocking on each device. For your computer, follow the Safari guide for Mac.