Key Takeaways
- Android has no built-in browser-level site blocker. Every method here adds one.
- BlockSite from the Play Store is the default answer for most users. 60 seconds to install.
- For tamper-resistant blocking, use DNS filtering (no app required) or router-level blocks.
- Family Link is the right method for blocking sites on a child’s Android device.
You want to block YouTube on your kid’s tablet during homework time. Or you keep opening Twitter when you should be working. Or someone in your household keeps stumbling onto sketchy sites and you’d like a safer default.
Whether the goal is productivity, parental control, or safety, Android has no built-in browser-level site blocker. Every method below adds one. This article covers how to block websites on Android in five practical ways: a free app from the Play Store, browser-level controls in Chrome and Firefox, Google Family Link for a child’s device, DNS filtering for tamper-resistant blocks, and router-level controls for the whole home network. Setting up parental controls on iPhone is the iOS equivalent for mixed-device households.
5 Ways to Block Websites on Android
Five reliable ways to block websites on Android, depending on your device, who you’re blocking sites for, and how tamper-resistant you need the block to be. Method 1 is the answer for most readers. The next four cover specific situations: browser-level blocks, blocking for a child, blocking without any app, and blocking at the network level. Jump to the method that matches your setup.
Method 1: Block Websites on Android with a Free App
The simplest way to block websites on Android is a free app from the Play Store. BlockSite is the most popular, with AppBlock and BlockerX as no-ads alternatives. All three install in under a minute and let you add URLs to a block list.
This is the default Android answer for most readers.
1. Install BlockSite from the Play Store.
2. Open the app and grant accessibility permission.
3. Tap the plus icon, enter a URL, and tap Save.
BlockSite’s free tier covers up to 5 blocked sites. Pick BlockerX for stricter accountability features, or AppBlock for the cleanest no-ads experience.
All Android site-blocking apps require accessibility permission, which lets them read your screen and observe your taps. Stick to known names like BlockSite, AppBlock, Norton, or BlockerX. Avoid newer free apps with vague privacy policies.
Method 2: Block Websites on Android at the Browser Level (Chrome and Firefox)
Chrome on Android doesn’t support extensions, but Firefox does. Install Firefox + LeechBlock NG or uBlock Origin for the closest mobile equivalent to the desktop extension method. For Chrome users, browser-level blocking is limited.
Chrome on Android (limited).
Chrome on Android has no built-in site-blocking and no extension support. The only Chrome-specific control is Settings → Site Settings, which adjusts per-site permissions but doesn’t prevent sites from loading. For the full Chrome walkthrough including desktop, see block websites on Chrome.
Firefox on Android (extensions work).
Firefox is the one mainstream Android browser that supports extensions.
1. Install Firefox from the Play Store.
2. Open Firefox, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Add-ons.
3. Install LeechBlock NG or uBlock Origin.
4. Open the extension and add URLs to your block list.
Browser-level blocking only applies in that browser. A child blocked in Firefox can switch to Chrome. Pair with Method 4 (DNS) for cross-browser coverage.
Method 3: Block Websites on Android for a Child (Google Family Link)
Google Family Link lets a parent block specific websites on a child’s Android device through the child’s Google account. The parent adds URLs from their own phone, and Chrome on the child’s device enforces the block automatically.
Prerequisites: the child must have their own Google account (Family Link can create one if they’re under 13), and the child’s device set up with that account.
1. Install Family Link on the parent’s phone.
2. Tap the child’s profile → Controls → Content Restrictions on Chrome.
3. Choose Allow All Sites, Try to Block Mature Sites, or Only Allow Approved Sites.
4. To block specific URLs: tap Manage Sites → Blocked → Add a Website.
Family Link also enables Google SafeSearch automatically, which removes adult content from search results across all browsers. For blocking adult content without an app at all, see block inappropriate websites on Android.
Method 4: Block Websites on Android Without an App (DNS Filtering)
To block websites on Android without an app, set a filtering DNS service in Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS. Free services like CleanBrowsing Family, NextDNS, or OpenDNS Family Shield block adult content and malware system-wide for any browser.
1. Open Settings → Network & Internet → Private DNS.
2. Select Private DNS provider hostname.
3. Enter a DNS hostname. For CleanBrowsing Family, use family-filter.cleanbrowsing.org.
4. Tap Save. The block takes effect immediately.
Three free providers: CleanBrowsing Family (simplest), NextDNS (most customizable), and OpenDNS Family Shield (most-established).
DNS filtering blocks at the network level, so it can’t be bypassed by switching browsers. The trade-off: DNS blocks whole categories rather than specific URLs. For specific-URL blocking, combine DNS with Method 1.
On Android 9 and earlier, Private DNS is under Settings → Network & Internet → Advanced.
Method 5: Block Websites on Android at the Router Level (Network-Wide)
Router-level blocking covers every device on the home network, not just one Android phone. Configure URL blocking in the router admin panel, or set the router’s DNS to a filtering service for whole-network coverage.
1. Open the router admin panel (usually 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1) and sign in.
2. Find Parental Controls, URL Filter, or Access Control in the menu.
3. Add URLs to block. Most routers accept 10 to 20 URLs at a time.
4. Save and reboot the router if prompted.
Router blocks only apply on Wi-Fi. Once the phone switches to mobile data, the block doesn’t apply. Pair with Method 1 (app) or Method 4 (DNS) for full coverage.
For Parents: When Blocking Sites Isn’t the Real Answer
For older kids and teens, blocking sites is a useful layer in a larger setup. For younger children handed a tablet for a video session, an endless block list often loses to the next unknown site they discover.
Instead of building and maintaining a block list, some parents skip the browser-level controls for younger kids and use a closed environment. An app where every piece of content has been pre-reviewed for safety, so there’s no list to maintain.
That’s what Jellies does. A video app for kids where every video is hand-reviewed by our team for safety, with no ads, no autoplay, and no comments. For parents with young kids, browsing what’s safe by design at jelliesapp.com is worth a look. It works alongside any block-list setup you have on the rest of the device.
Common Mistakes When Blocking Websites on Android
Three things commonly trip people up.
- Relying only on the BlockSite app. Anyone with access to Android Settings can revoke accessibility permission and disable the block. Pair the app with Family Link for a child’s device, or DNS filtering for tamper-resistant blocking. Our kids bypass Screen Time post covers the workarounds children actually use.
- Blocking only the main URL. Many sites have mobile subdomains (m.example.com) or country versions (example.co.uk). Add all known variants to the block list, or use a DNS service that blocks categories rather than specific URLs.
- Forgetting about mobile data. Router-level blocking only applies on Wi-Fi. Pair router blocking with DNS at the device level (Method 4) so the block follows the phone onto cellular networks.
Wrapping Up
Five methods, depending on your setup. A free app like BlockSite for the standard answer on Android. Browser-level controls in Chrome (limited) and Firefox (extensions work). Google Family Link for managing a child’s account. DNS filtering for tamper-resistant blocks without any app. And router-level controls for blocking sites across every device on your home network.
The fastest action right now: open the Play Store and install BlockSite. 60-second test, and you’ll be blocking your first site within two minutes. For the iOS equivalent if your household has both platforms, see block websites on iPhone with Screen Time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does blocking a website also block its mobile app?
No. Blocking instagram.com on Android doesn’t block the Instagram app, since native apps use their own API connection. To block the app itself, use BlockSite’s app-blocking feature or Family Link’s daily app limits.
How do I unblock a website I’ve blocked on Android?
Open the tool you used to block it (BlockSite, Family Link, the router admin panel, or Settings → Private DNS), remove the URL from the block list or revert the DNS hostname, and save.
Can a VPN bypass these site blocks?
A VPN can bypass DNS filtering and router-level blocks by routing traffic through a different network. App-based blocks like BlockSite still apply since they intercept at the device level, not the network level.
Does Chrome Incognito mode bypass these blocks?
For BlockSite and DNS filtering, no. Both apply across all browsing modes including Incognito. For Family Link’s Chrome-managed blocks, Incognito is disabled entirely on the child’s account, so there’s no bypass route.
Can I block sites on Android only during specific hours?
Yes. BlockSite has a built-in scheduler (Settings → Schedule) and Google Family Link supports daily app and site limits by hour. Set the time windows and the block activates only during those hours.