Did you know you can block websites on a Mac by using the Screen Time feature? Whether you’re aiming to reduce your own distractions or you’re aiming to restrict a kids access to particular websites, blocking specific websites is easier than ever on the Mac.
Apple’s Screen Time is a handy feature that’s built into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS devices that helps users keep track of their device usage, and offers a lot of parental control tools to restrict the content that children and other users are able to access. The ability to block websites is one such tool that could prove to be useful when you don’t want users to access adult content, social media, social networking websites, or anything else you wish to restrict access to on a given Mac.
If you’re looking to limit web access on a Mac, read on to learn the necessary steps to block websites on a Mac by using Screen Time.
How to Block Websites on Mac with Screen Time
To take advantage of Screen Time, your Mac needs to be running macOS Catalina or later. So, make sure the software is updated and simply follow the steps below to get started.
- Head over to “System Preferences” on your Mac from the Dock.
- This will open a new window on your Mac. Here, choose “Screen Time” to proceed further.
- Next, click on the “Content & Privacy” option located in the left pane.
- Now, you’ll need to enable Content & Privacy Restrictions as it’s turned off by default. Click on “Turn On” to access all the settings here.
- Here, select the option “Limit Adult Websites” to automatically block several adult websites that are on Apple’s database. To add any specific website, like a social networking platform or anything else, click on “Customise”.
- Now, under the “Restricted” section, click on the “+” icon as indicated in the screenshot below.
- Type in the website URL and click “OK” to add this site to the blocked list.
- Similarly, you can add multiple websites to the blocked list and click “OK” to save the changes.
That’s pretty much all there is to it. Now you’ve learned how to block websites on Mac with Screen Time.
It’s worth noting here that the user will not be able to access these blocked websites using a different browser either. When they open a third-party browser like Chrome or Firefox, they’ll be notified regarding the blocked websites and they cannot be added to the approved list unless the Screen Time passcode is entered.
If the Mac is used by multiple people, it’s a good idea to use a Screen Time passcode to make sure users don’t fiddle around with Screen Time settings and make unnecessary changes.
Apart from restricting websites, Screen Time can also be used to block apps, set time limits on app use, iTunes & App Store purchases, playback of explicit music, limit social networking use, app installations, and a lot more, not only on the Mac, but also on iPhone and iPad. This functionality has made it a lot easier for parents to keep a check on their children’s device usage, and to limit access to certain materials and content.
If your kid is using an iOS or iPadOS device, you can use Screen Time to block websites on iPhone and iPad in Safari and other web browsers in a very similar way. You can also use Screen Time to turn off in-app purchases on an iOS or iPadOS device too, in order to avoid unauthorized charges to your credit card.
Have you managed to successfully block websites in Safari on your kid’s Mac using Screen Time? What other parental control features do you use to restrict the device usage? Do let us know your thoughts and opinions on Apple’s Screen Time in the comments section down below.
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