FlowlyHow to block websites on Chrome
Chrome has no blocklist in its settings. Here are four ways to block distracting sites anyway, from a one-minute extension to the hosts file.
If you have searched Chrome settings for a “block this site” button, you have probably noticed it isn't there. Regular Chrome profiles have no built-in blocklist. You can still block any website in a few minutes, and the right method depends on why you want to block it.
Method 1: use a website blocker extension
For most people this is the fastest option. A blocker extension lives in your toolbar, you choose the sites, and they stay closed while you work.
- Open the Chrome Web Store and install a website blocker such as Flowly.
- Pin the extension to the toolbar so it is one click away.
- Pick the sites that distract you. Flowly comes with a ready list: YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Reddit, X, Facebook, Netflix, Twitch.
- Start a focus session or set a schedule.
Extensions work in Chrome and in other Chromium browsers that install from the Chrome Web Store, such as Edge, Brave, Opera and Arc.
Flowly doesn't just show a wall. When you open a blocked site, it asks why. Pick a reason, then go back to work or allow yourself 5 minutes on purpose.
Method 2: block websites on a schedule
If the problem is a time of day, a schedule beats remembering to switch the blocker on. Set your focus hours once, for example 9:00 to 13:00 on weekdays, and the blocklist turns on by itself. Outside those hours Chrome works as usual. Here is how to block websites on a schedule.
Method 3: the hosts file
Your computer has a small text file called hosts that can redirect any domain to nowhere. Adding a line like “127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com” makes the site unreachable in every browser on that computer.
- Pros: free, works in all browsers, no extension needed.
- Cons: needs admin rights, has no schedule or exceptions, and you have to edit a system file every time you change your mind.
The hosts file is a good choice for a site you want gone for good. For sites you only want to avoid during work, it is too blunt.
Method 4: Google Family Link for children
If you want to block websites for a child, use Google Family Link. It lets a parent manage a supervised Google account, including which sites Chrome can open. It is designed for parental control, so it isn't a good fit for blocking your own distractions.
Which method should you choose?
- You want to focus at work or while studying: an extension with focus sessions.
- Your weak spot is a certain time of day: an extension with a schedule.
- You want a site gone from the computer entirely: the hosts file.
- You are a parent: Family Link.
Make blocking stick
The most common reason blocking fails is not the tool. It is turning the blocker off the moment it gets in the way. That is why Flowly asks a question instead of only saying no: opening YouTube becomes a small decision instead of a reflex. Start with the one or two sites that cost you the most time, like YouTube, and add more later.