How to block distracting websites in your browser

You open a new tab to check one thing, and twenty minutes later you're still scrolling. Trying harder rarely fixes it, because your fingers type the address before you've decided anything. What does help is putting a small obstacle in the way.

The short answer

Add the sites to Blocked sites in Web Lock, a free browser extension. They stop opening in that browser. If you like, each attempt can land you on a page you choose instead, such as your to-do list.

Set up the block

1. Add Web Lock to Chrome.
2. Setup asks for a password and a recovery email. The password matters here too: your blocked list sits behind it, so changing the list takes a deliberate step.
3. Finish setup, then open Web Lock from its icon by the address bar and go to Blocked sites.
4. Tick the usual suspects, which are listed for you: youtube.com, facebook.com, instagram.com, tiktok.com, reddit.com and x.com. Type in any others.
5. Try opening one. You should get the Blocked page.

A blocked site is different from a locked one. There's no password box on the Blocked page, so there's nothing to type out of habit.

Send yourself somewhere better

Under When a blocked site opens there are two choices. Show the Blocked page is the default. Send me to another address instead takes you to a page of your choosing each time you try a blocked site.

Some addresses that work well:

• Your task list or calendar, so the slip turns into a reminder of what you meant to do.
• The document you're supposed to be writing.
• A plain page with nothing on it, if any content at all is a risk.

Make it hard to undo

You know the password, so you can always remove a site from the list. That's the weak spot of every blocker you set up yourself. A few ways to shore it up:

• Let the steps do the work. Unblocking means opening Web Lock, typing the password and deleting the entry. Most urges don't survive that.
• Block for part of the day. A block that ends at 5 pm is easier to respect than one that never ends. Web Lock Pro's Schedules come with three to start from: Work hours (Monday to Friday, 9 to 5), Bedtime (11 pm to 7 am) and Social media (30 minutes a day).
• Hand the password to someone else. Ask a friend or partner to type the Web Lock password during setup and not tell you. It's drastic, and it means you need them for every change, but it works when nothing else has.

When another tool is the better choice

• Most of your scrolling is on your phone. Then start there, with Screen Time on an iPhone or Digital Wellbeing on Android. A browser blocker won't touch it.
• You want it blocked for the whole household. Many home routers can block sites for every device on the Wi-Fi, which no extension can do.
• You want quiet, not blocking. Focus on a Mac and Do Not Disturb on Windows silence notifications. They don't stop a site from opening, so they pair well with a blocker.

Good to know

• If a site is on both your locked and blocked lists, blocking wins.
• The block applies to the browser where Web Lock is installed. Add it to your second browser too, or you'll simply switch.
• Private windows only get the block once you allow Web Lock in them, from its Browser Lock page.

Blocking just YouTube, or setting it up for a child? There's a separate guide for locking or blocking YouTube.

Questions people ask

Is blocking websites free in Web Lock?

Yes. You can block as many sites as you want, all day, at no cost. Blocking only at set hours, or after a daily time limit, is part of Web Lock Pro.

Can I block a site only during work hours?

With Web Lock Pro, yes. A schedule has days and a start and end time, and there's a ready-made one for Monday to Friday, 9 to 5. Outside those hours the site opens as normal.

What's the difference between a schedule and a daily time limit?

A schedule blocks by the clock, such as 9 to 5. A time limit gives you an allowance, such as 30 minutes a day shared between the sites you put in it, and blocks them once it's used up. The allowance starts again at midnight.

Can I still open a blocked site if I really need it?

Yes. Open Web Lock, type your password and take the site off the Blocked sites list. It's a few steps on purpose, and that pause is often enough to change your mind.

Does it block the apps on my phone?

No. It works in the computer browser it's installed in. For a phone, use Screen Time on an iPhone or Digital Wellbeing on Android.