How to Block Websites on iPhone (2026 Guide)

Use Settings for a quick, free block, or an app blocker if you want it to stick. In Settings, go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn it on, and add the distracting websites you want blocked. That costs nothing, but anyone who knows the passcode can undo it in seconds. If the goal is to stop yourself from opening a site, an app blocker like BlockMind, with schedules, a turn-off wait and Strict Mode, works better.

Last updated October 20, 2026

BlockMind

Quick answer

Free method: Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > App Store, Media, Web & Games > Web Content, then add sites under "Never Allow".
Best for self-control: a dedicated blocker that covers distracting websites and apps, runs on a schedule, and makes turning it off slow.
Biggest catch with the free method: it relies on a passcode you already know.

Method 1: Block websites with iPhone Settings

Apple includes a website restriction in iOS. Menu names can shift slightly between iOS versions, but the path looks like this:

Open Settings and tap Screen Time. Turn it on if it is off.
Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and switch it on.
Tap App Store, Media, Web & Games, then Web Content.
Choose the option that limits websites, which reveals the Never Allow list.
Tap Add Website and type each site you want blocked, for example a news site or a video site you lose hours to.
Optionally set a Screen Time passcode, ideally one someone else chooses.

Then open the site in Safari to confirm it is blocked.

Where the Settings method falls short

You know the passcode. If you set it yourself, removing a site takes a few taps.
It is all or nothing. There is no built-in way to block a site only during study hours on this list.
It is site by site. You add every address by hand, and mirror or mobile domains can slip through.
It ignores apps. Blocking a website does nothing about the app version of the same service. See how to block apps on iPhone for that side.

Method 2: Use a website blocker app

A blocker app is built for the opposite problem: you are the person you are blocking. BlockMind lets you:

Block distracting websites and apps together, so closing Safari does not just send you to the app.
Run blocks on a schedule, for example weekdays 9 to 5, or every night after 11.
Add a turn-off wait, so disabling a block takes time instead of a reflexive tap.
Turn on Strict Mode when you want the block locked for the session.
Progress through unlockable house phases. Staying on track lets you build your house phase by phase, which gives you a visible reason not to break a streak.

You can read more about the locked-down option in iPhone app blocker with Strict Mode.

Which method should you use?

Situation	Better choice	Why
Block one site, permanently, on a child's phone	Settings	Free, and the passcode is held by a parent
Block distracting websites on your own phone	Blocker app	You cannot keep a passcode secret from yourself
Block only during work or study hours	Blocker app	Schedules are built in
Block a site and its app	Blocker app	Covers websites and apps together
Zero cost, no install	Settings	Built into iOS

How to make a website block actually stick

Blocking tools work best when the block is set up before the urge, not during it.

List your top three time-sink sites. Start small. You can add more later.
Block the app versions too. Most distracting websites have an app that does the same job.
Schedule the block for your weakest hours. For many people that is late at night; see how to stop doomscrolling at night.
Add friction to turning it off. A wait or a strict session gives the urge time to fade.
Give yourself a reward for staying blocked. In BlockMind that is the next house phase.
Review weekly. If one site keeps getting through, add its other domains.

Common problems

A blocked site still opens

Check the exact address. Some services use several domains or a separate mobile domain. Add each one. Also check whether you are opening it inside another app's built-in browser.

The block works in Safari but not another browser

Test every browser you have installed. If one gets around the block, either block that browser app or use a blocker that covers websites and apps together.

I keep switching the block off

That is the normal failure mode of the free method. Move to a blocker with a turn-off wait or Strict Mode so switching it off is no longer instant.

Related guides

Bottom line

For a free block someone else controls, iPhone Settings is enough. For blocking distracting websites on your own phone, use a blocker that pairs websites with apps, runs on a schedule and makes turning it off slow. BlockMind does that and adds house phases you unlock as you stay on track. Download it from the App Store and set your first schedule in a couple of minutes.

FAQ

How do I block a website on iPhone for free?

Open Settings, go to Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn it on, and add the site under the web content setting for Safari. It is free but easy to undo with your passcode.

Does blocking a website in Settings work in every browser?

Apple's web content setting is applied at the system level and mainly targets Safari. Test the block in each browser you use, because behaviour can differ by browser and iOS version.

What is the easiest way to block distracting websites on iPhone?

An app blocker such as BlockMind lets you pick distracting websites and apps once, set a schedule, and add a turn-off wait so the block is harder to switch off on impulse.

Can I block websites only during work or study hours?

Yes. BlockMind supports schedules, so distracting websites can stay blocked during the hours you choose and open again afterwards.

How do I stop myself from turning the block off?

Use a blocker with friction, such as a turn-off wait or Strict Mode in BlockMind. The point is to make undoing the block slower than the urge lasts.