How to block websites on Windows 10

There are many good reasons to block a specific website. If you work from home, browsing some pages can interfere with your productivity. Maybe you’re a parent trying to protect your kids from explicit content, or maybe you want to make sure they don’t visit websites that can spread viruses.

If you are a Windows 10 user, there is more than one way to block websites on your device. Sometimes it is enough to adjust the browser settings.

However, you can also customize your computer to block specific websites. It’s essential to know all your options, so we’ll look at all the ways you can block websites while using a Windows 10 PC.

Block Websites on Windows 10 PC with Hosts File

One of the most efficient ways to ensure that a website is blocked regardless of the browser you are using is to modify the host file.

By doing so, you can override DNS and redirect URLs and IPs to different locations. The process is quite simple and the steps are as follows:

1. Click the Start menu and select “Windows Accessories.”
   
2. Right-click on Notepad, select “More” followed by “Run as administrator.”
   
3. When Notepad opens, select “File” from the toolbar and “Open” from the drop-down menu.
   
4. Go to the location “C:\Windows\System32\Drivers\etc”.
   
5. Make sure you select the “All Files” option for the files to appear. Then open the “host” file.
   
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the last line. Make sure you create space.
7. Enter the URL you want to block.
   
8. Go to File and select “Save.”
   

For this to work, you must have permission to access the host file. Also, be sure to restart your computer to ensure the website is blocked.

How to block websites in Windows 10 Defender Firewall

Windows 10 has proven to be very efficient at filtering and blocking harmful applications from harming computers. It’s also a great tool to rely on when using public networks.

But did you know that you can improve Windows 10 Defender Firewall by blocking specific websites?

If your firewall allows access to questionable sites, you can configure it so that no one at your home, school, or work opens it either. Is that how it works:

1. Launch Control Panel on your computer.
   
2. Select “Windows Defender Firewall” followed by “Advanced Settings” in the left side panel.
   
3. Right click on “Outbound Rules” in the left menu and select “New Rule.”
   
4. When a new window appears, select the “Custom” option followed by “Next.”
   
5. In the next window, select “All Programs” and again select “Next.”
   
6. Select the “These IP addresses” option under “Which remote IP addresses does this rule apply to?”
   
7. Click “Add” and enter the IP addresses you want to block. Then select “Next.”
   
8. Make sure you choose the “Block connection” option and click “Next.”
   
9. Choose whether the rule applies to Domain, Private, or Public. You can also select all three.
   
10. Select “Next,” add a name or description for this rule, and select “Finish” to complete the action.
    

The IP addresses you blocked will not be available through any browser.

How to find the IP address of a website

To successfully use Windows Defender Firewall to block websites, you must have accurate IP addresses. For example, let’s say you want to block Facebook on your computer to avoid getting distracted while you work. Before configuring a new rule through Defender, locate the IP by following these steps:

1. Open Command Prompt Manager by entering “CMD” in the search box.
   
2. Get into “nslookup www.facebook.com” and press the Enter button.
   
3. You will see two IPs listed, IPv4 and IPv6. You will need to copy both when entering the information in Windows Defender settings.
   

How to Block Websites in Chrome on Windows 10 PC

If you manage a business and have Google administrator account privileges, you can block specific websites. If organization members use Chrome, they won’t have access to websites you’ve blocked. Here’s how to block websites in Chrome as an administrator:

1. Sign in to Google Workspace as an administrator account.
2. On the home page, click “Devices,” followed by “Chrome,” and then “Settings.”
3. From there, select “Users and Browsers.”
4. Choose an organizational unit to block websites.
5. Select “URL Blocking” and enter the addresses you want to block. You can add up to 1000 websites.
6. Select “Save.”

If you want to block websites on your personal computer in Chrome, you need to choose the right extension.

1. Go to Chrome Web Store.
   
2. Get into “BlockSite”or search for other options in the “Productivity” section in the search box.
   
3. Click “Add to Chrome” followed by “Add Extension.”
   

How to Block Websites in Firefox on Windows 10 PC

Many Windows users prefer to browse the web with Firefox. You can filter unwanted content by restricting access to specific websites.

To do this, you will need to use one of the designated add-ons for Firefox. You can download and configure the extension in a few minutes. That is how:

1. Launch Firefox on your Windows 10 computer.
   
2. Go to the official plugin website for Mozilla Firefox.
   
3. Search for “Block site” or search for extensions in the “Privacy and security” category.
   
4. Select the add-on and click “+Add to Firefox”.
   
5. When a permissions window appears, click “Add” followed by “Okay, I’ve got it.”
   

Once the extension is added to your browser, you can use it to block unwanted domains, schedule blocking of websites, and even choose custom messages on blocked pages.

How to Block a Website in Edge on Windows 10 PC

Microsoft Edge is a native browser for Windows 10 and does not have built-in website blocking features.

Like other browsers, users will need to find an effective extension to block access to specific websites. Fortunately, secure browsing is just a few clicks away. Here’s how to do it:

1. Launch Microsoft Edge on your Windows 10 computer.
   
2. Click on the three horizontal dots in the upper right corner of the screen.
   
3. From the drop-down menu, select “Extensions.”
   
4. Select the “Get extensions for Microsoft Edge” button.
   
5. Look for “Block site” or look in the “Productivity” section.
   
6. When you make a choice, click “Get” next to the extension.
   
7. When a pop-up window appears, select “Add extension”.
   

After the installation is complete, go to the website you want to block and click the “Block Site” icon on the browser toolbar.

Remember to make sure you confirm the action.

From that moment on, when you access that website, you will see the extension logo and the message that the website is blocked.

Block adult websites Windows 10

If you are a parent or caregiver and are concerned about the content your children have access to online, there is a way to minimize this problem.

To get started, you need to change your Microsoft account settings and create a designated profile for the child. Then you can access the filter feature that blocks adult websites. It’s not a complicated setup. Here are all the steps:

1. Go to the Microsoft Family Safety page and sign in to your account.
   
2. Click on the “Add a family member” option.
   
3. Enter the child’s email address. Make sure it is an Outlook or Hotmail account.
   
4. If your child already has an account, click on the “Content Filters” section.
   
5. Select the “Web & Search” tab and turn on the “Filter inappropriate website” switch.
   

Microsoft refers to this as the “SafeSearch” feature and blocks all adult content when it is activated. Additionally, when this filter is activated, it will block the use of all other browsers except Microsoft Edge.

Browse safely on your Windows 10 computer

We still don’t have a single built-in button that activates the website blocking feature in Windows 10. Until that is possible, users must use various methods to block a website that they want to avoid or do not consider safe.

Organizations have a few more options, but each approach has its limitations. You can block websites using a host file, Windows Defender Firewall, or downloading the website blocking extension to your browsers.

Regarding content leaking for children, you can fix the issue through Child Safety in your Microsoft account. That will ensure that adult websites are blocked and you will also be able to block certain apps and even impose time restrictions.