01Using the Hosts File

  • Open Terminal on your Mac. You can find it in the Utilities folder, which is inside the Applications folder.
  • Type the following command in Terminal and press Enter: sudo nano /etc/hosts
  • Enter your administrator password when prompted.
  • Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to navigate to the bottom of the hosts file.
  • Add a new line at the bottom of the file and type the following: 127.0.0.1 www.example.com
  • Replace 'www.example.com' with the website URL you want to block.
  • Press Control + O to save the file, then press Control + X to exit nano.
  • Flush the DNS cache by typing the command: sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
  • The website is now blocked on your Mac. Any attempts to access it will be redirected to the local host.
  • To unblock the website, open the hosts file again and delete the line you added. Then flush the DNS cache again.

02Using Parental Controls

  • Go to the Apple menu and select System Preferences.
  • Click on 'Parental Controls'.
  • Click the lock icon in the bottom left corner and enter your administrator password.
  • Select the user account for which you want to block websites.
  • Click on the 'Web' tab.
  • Click 'Customize' next to 'Allowed Websites'.
  • Click the '+' button to add a new website to the 'Never allow these websites' list.
  • Enter the URL of the website you want to block and click 'OK'.
  • Click 'OK' to save the changes.
  • The selected website is now blocked on the specified user account.
  • To unblock the website, follow the same steps and remove it from the 'Never allow these websites' list.

03Using Third-Party Software

  • There are several third-party applications available for blocking websites on a Mac.
  • One popular option is Focus, which allows you to block distracting websites and improve productivity.
  • To use Focus, download and install it from the developer's website.
  • Launch Focus and add the websites you want to block to the blacklist.
  • Set the desired time limits and schedule for blocking the websites.
  • Focus will automatically block the websites during the specified times.
  • To unblock the websites, simply remove them from the blacklist in the Focus app.

Conclusion

Blocking websites on a Mac can help you stay focused, prevent distractions, and protect yourself or others from accessing inappropriate content. Whether you choose to use the hosts file, parental controls, or third-party software, you now have the tools to control your browsing experience on a Mac.

MethodsDetails
Step 1Open Terminal and type 'sudo nano /etc/hosts'
Step 2Add a new line with '127.0.0.1 www.example.com'
Step 3Save the file and flush the DNS cache
Step 4Go to System Preferences and click on 'Parental Controls'
Step 5Select the user account and click on the 'Web' tab
Step 6Add the website URL to the blocked list
Step 7Save the changes and the website is blocked
Step 8Consider using third-party software like Focus
block website
website restriction
Mac