How to Block Websites on iPhone: A Simple Guide

Blocking websites on an iPhone ensures a safer and more controlled internet experience. Whether your goal is to secure your child’s online activity, reduce social media interaction, or encourage better online conduct, blocking access to specific websites is crucial. If you know how to block websites on your iPhone, you can effortlessly control your online experience. Let’s discuss the most straightforward methods for blocking sites quickly.

In this blog post, you’ll find three quick and practical ways to block websites from your iPhone. We will look at the built-in parental controls and many methods, such as third-party tools and DNS filtering. By the time you’re done, you’ll know how to block websites on your iPhone and have suggestions for making digital engagement more productive and individualized.

Why Block Websites on iPhone?

The following are some reasons for blocking specific websites on your iPhone:

• Protecting Children from Inappropriate Content: Blocking sites prevents children from exposure to offensive or inappropriate Content. As a result, it makes browsing the internet secure and prevents young people from accessing adult material.
• Enhancing Productivity: Blocking sites will eliminate distractions like social media and games, helping people stay more focused. Moreover, it increases productivity and minimizes distractions during work or study hours.
• Preventing Access to Malicious Websites: This feature helps protect your device and personal information by blocking phishing sites and malware. Additionally, it makes browsing safer by shielding you from online threats.

How to Block Websites on iPhone?

If you want to know how to block websites on your iPhone, there are several ways.

Method 1: Using Apple’s Built-in Screen Time Feature

The built-in Screen Time feature on your iPhone allows you to browse more safely by blocking inappropriate websites. Here are the several different ways on how to block websites on iPhone by using this feature:

1. Blocking Adult Content Automatically

• Start with the Settings app. Please open it and then go to Screen Time.
• Now, choose Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn it on.
• Tap Store, Web, Siri & Game Center Content. 
• Now, choose Content Restrictions, click Web Content, and select Limit Adult Websites.

This setting will automatically lock many inappropriate websites on your iPhone. To access a family account, select Family from the Screen Time menu. Next, choose your child’s name. After that, you can set up their device’s Content and Privacy Restrictions. Additionally, this feature allows you to set screen time limits for kids to ensure they don’t spend too much time on any one app.

2. Manually Blocking Specific Websites

Once you have chosen the Limit Adult Websites option by following the previous steps, do the following steps:

1. Select “Add Website” from the “Never Allow” menu.
2. Next, type in the URL of the website you wish to block.

By doing this, your iPhone stops visiting the chosen websites, regardless of the browser you’re using.

3. Allowing Only Specific Websites

Just follow these easy steps to ensure that only approved websites can be accessed on your device.

1. First, Click Settings > Screen Time > Content Restrictions > Web Content> Content Restrictions.
2. Then, select Allowed Websites Only.
3. Finally, click “Add Website” under the “Allowed Websites” section to add a site and enter your desired URL.

By doing this, you can ensure that browsers can only access the websites you input.

4. Setting a Screen Time Passcode

A screen time passcode on an iPhone serves as a double-lock on unsuitable websites, maintaining content limitations and preventing accidental or deliberate changes. Here’s how to create a screen time passcode easily.

1. First, navigate to your iPhone’s “Settings.”
2. Next, locate and tap the ‘Screen Time‘ option. To proceed, choose ‘Use Screen Time Passcode.’
3. Enter a four-digit code once the passcode page is available.
4. Now, once more, re-enter the passcode to confirm.
5. Moreover, you can enter your Apple ID and password to recover the passcode.

With this passcode, you can access and adjust the blocked websites on your iPhone. However, suppose you lose the code or forget where it is written. In that case, you won’t be able to edit the restrictions without erasing data from the device.

Method 2: Using DNS Filtering

To learn how to block websites on iPhone by using DNS filtering, follow these steps:

1. Choose a DNS Filtering Service: First, choose a trustworthy DNS filtering service (like AdGuard DNS or OpenDNS) that enables you to filter Content based on your requirements.
2. Access Wi-Fi Settings: Then, tap the “i” next to the connected Wi-Fi network in Settings > Wi-Fi on your iPhone in Wi-Fi Settings.
3. Manually Set DNS: Next, Scroll down to Configure DNS and switch from Automatic to Manual. Additionally, delete all existing entries.
4. Enter DNS Server Addresses: To begin, you must enter the DNS server addresses from the service of your choice. For instance, Cloudflare’s primary DNS (1.1.1.3) or secondary DNS (1.0.0.3) can filter malware and adult content.
5. Save and Test: Finally, click save to apply the settings. Now, test your configuration by trying to access a site that should be blocked; it should no longer be accessible.

By filtering DNS, you force your iPhone to send its internet traffic through the DNS servers you specify, preventing it from connecting to any undesired website. However, this only works for the one Wi-Fi network you set up. Therefore, if you want the filtering to apply to other networks or your cellular data, configure DNS filtering on your home router or enrol in a VPN service that offers to filter.

Method 3: Using Parental Control Apps

Parental control apps can help with monitoring and management. They offer real-time location tracking, detailed activity reports, and brilliant website filtering, which is helpful for anyone who wants to know how to block websites on an iPhone for safer browsing.

Here’s a simple guide on how to block websites on iPhone using parental control apps:

1. Download the App: First, download and install the app on your iPhone from the App Store. Mobicip, Norton Family, and Net Nanny are well-liked choices with superior online filtering capabilities.
2. Set Up an Account: After installing the app, you must create a parent account using your email address.
3. Configure Child Profiles: Next, set up a profile for your child within the app, providing details like their age and any other necessary information.
4. Install on Child’s Device: Now, to install the app on your iPhone, follow the setup steps and grant any required permissions.
5. Adjust the Settings: Lastly, you can set time limitations for the content filter screen and easily track activity using the app’s dashboard.

How to Block Websites on iPhone: Additional Tips and Tricks 

Here are some more ways to prevent access to websites on the iPhone.

1. With Safari Content Blocker: The “Content Blocker,” a function with Safari, can be made more effective by adding particular websites to a block list. First, download a reliable content-blocker app from the App Store that can use Safari’s content-blocking capabilities to limit your access to specific websites on your iPhone. Afterwards, head to Settings > Safari > Content Blockers and activate the installed blocker to prevent access to those selected websites whenever you click them.
2. Block Websites with Focus Mode: This feature lets you easily limit the websites you can access by tweaking your screen time settings. Go to Settings > Focus > Custom Focus, and select Apps or People. With this setup, you can control which sites are available during your focus time, ensuring a more distraction-free experience by adjusting the Allow Notifications option.
3. Leverage Router-Level Website Blocking: To control your internet usage more effectively, set your Wi-Fi router to block certain websites. This will ensure that all devices connected to your network are restricted from accessing the sites. Additionally, this method provides comprehensive control over internet activity within your home, making it a reliable solution for managing online access.
4. Update iOS and Apps Regularly: Updating iPhones and apps will give you the most recent security and parental control options.

• Look for newer IOS versions by tapping  Settings > General > Software Update.
• To update everything at once, open the App Store, tap the profile icon, and then tap Update All.

By taking these simple steps, you may significantly maintain the security and anti-website blocking features.

Troubleshooting: What to Do If Blocking Doesn’t Work

Occasionally, you may face issues where blocked websites are still accessible. Here’s how to troubleshoot this problem effectively:

1. Double-Check Restrictions: Make sure Content & Privacy Restrictions are turned on in Screen Time Settings.
2. Update iOS: An outdated operating system can cause some features to malfunction. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install any pending updates.
3. Set a Secure Passcode: Ensure others haven’t shared or easily guessed your Screen Time passcode.
4. Restart Your Device: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve minor glitches.

If none of the above steps work, consider contacting Apple Support for additional assistance.

Tips to Protect Yourself from Harmful Websites

• Exercise caution when clicking misspelled links, unusual-looking domain names, or pop-up ads.
• Install a reputed antivirus or security tool if necessary.
• Continually review your web filtering settings.
• If a website appears suspicious or unsafe, exit it without a second thought. 
• Never divulge sensitive passwords or credit card information unless you trust the site. 
• Always check for “https://” in the website URL; this signifies a secure connection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, blocking websites on an iPhone is a simple method that is highly effective for enhancing focus, keeping personal data safe, and creating a safer online environment. If you’re looking at how to block websites on iPhone, you have Apple screen time, with third-party apps and DNS filtering. As a result, they can minimize distractions, protect kids from harmful Content, and prevent access to fraudulent sites. Consequently, you can have a much safer and more effective experience online.

Furthermore, combining these techniques with additional security improves digital safety. Avoiding dubious links, turning on content blocks in Safari, and updating iOS frequently all help reduce online risks. Therefore, being proactive is crucial for protection as digital hazards change. Ultimately, properly controlling website access and blocking websites on iPhones can preserve a safe and distraction-free browsing environment.

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