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How to Blacklist Sites in Chrome

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome doesn’t have a built-in feature to blacklist websites, but you can use extensions or admin policies to block access
  • The easiest way for individuals is to install a website blocker extension like BlockSite
  • Organizations can use the Google Admin console to centrally manage URL blocklists and allowlists

As a software engineer with over 8 years of experience in web development, I understand the importance of productivity and focus when working online. Distracting websites can severely hamper our ability to get things done. Fortunately, Chrome offers several methods to blacklist or block access to specific websites, helping us stay on track. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through the different approaches to blacklisting sites in Chrome, both for individual users and organizations.

Using Website Blocker Extensions

The simplest solution for individuals to blacklist websites in Chrome is by installing a website blocker extension. These extensions allow you to create a custom list of blocked URLs, preventing you from accessing those sites during specified time periods or indefinitely.

One of the most popular and highly-rated website blocker extensions for Chrome is BlockSite. Here’s how you can set it up:

  1. Open the Chrome Web Store and search for “BlockSite”
  2. Click “Add to Chrome” to install the extension
  3. Once installed, click the BlockSite icon in the top-right corner of your browser
  4. Click the gear icon to open the settings
  5. In the “Block Sites” section, start adding the URLs you want to block

BlockSite offers several advanced features like password protection, whitelisting specific sites, and scheduling block times. You can also choose to display a motivational message or a “blocked site” page when attempting to access a blacklisted URL.

Other popular website blocker extensions include StayFocusd, WasteNoTime, and FocusMe. Most of these extensions work similarly, allowing you to create and manage your own blocklist.

Using Google Admin Policies (For Organizations)

If you’re an administrator managing Chrome browsers for an organization, you can leverage Google’s admin policies to centrally blacklist websites across all managed devices and user accounts.

For Chrome OS Devices

  1. Sign in to your Google Admin console
  2. Navigate to Devices > Chrome > Settings > Users & browsers
  3. Select the organizational unit you want to apply the policy to
  4. Scroll down to the “URL Blocking” section
  5. In the “Blocked URLs” tab, enter the URLs you want to block (up to 1,000)
  6. Click “Save”

This policy will block the specified URLs for all users and devices under the selected organizational unit.

For Windows, Mac, and Linux

  1. On the managed machine, navigate to the /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/ folder
  2. Create a new JSON file (e.g., url-blacklist.json)
  3. Add the following content to the file:
{
  "URLBlocklist": ["*"],
  "URLAllowlist": ["mail.example.com", "wikipedia.org", "google.com"]
}

Replace the URLs in the URLAllowlist with the sites you want to allow. This example blocks all sites except mail.example.com, wikipedia.org, and google.com.

  1. Save the file and restart the Chrome browser

This policy will block all URLs except for the ones specified in the allowlist.

Blocking Sites on Router Level

Another way to blacklist websites, although less flexible, is by configuring your router’s parental control or website filtering settings. This approach blocks the specified sites for all devices connected to your network, regardless of the browser used.

The exact steps vary depending on your router’s make and model, but generally, you’ll need to:

  1. Access your router’s admin interface (usually by entering 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1 in your browser)
  2. Look for a “Parental Controls” or “Website Filtering” section
  3. Enable website blocking and add the URLs you want to blacklist

Keep in mind that this method may not be suitable for blocking specific pages within a website, as most routers only allow blocking entire domains.

Exceptions and Limitations

While blacklisting websites can be an effective productivity tool, there are a few exceptions and limitations to keep in mind:

  • Chrome’s built-in pages like chrome://settings and chrome://os-settings cannot be blocked, as they are considered part of the operating system.
  • Determined users may find ways to bypass URL blocking, such as using JavaScript commands or proxy servers.
  • Blocking an entire website may still allow access to subdomains or specific pages, depending on the blocking method used.

It’s also important to note that while website blocking can be a useful tool for productivity or parental control, it should be used responsibly and ethically. Excessive blocking of legitimate websites or censorship should be avoided.

Conclusion

Blacklisting distracting or inappropriate websites in Chrome can significantly boost your productivity and focus, whether you’re an individual user or managing devices for an organization. By leveraging website blocker extensions, Google Admin policies, or router-level filtering, you can tailor your browsing experience to suit your needs. Remember to strike a balance between blocking and allowing access, and always use these tools responsibly.

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