Quick Answer

Go to Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions, turn it on, then App Store, Media, Web, & Games → Web Content → Limit Adult Websites. Tap Add Website under Never Allow and type the address. To block a site only at certain times, use App Limits or Downtime instead. Lock it all with a Screen Time passcode someone else types.

Whether it's a shopping site at midnight, a betting site after work or a feed you can't stop refreshing, blocking it on your phone is the fastest way to put a pause between the urge and the habit. Here are the free ways to do it, from permanent blocks to "only at night".

Block a website completely (free)

  1. Settings → Screen Time. Turn Screen Time on if needed.
  2. Content & Privacy Restrictions → switch it on.
  3. App Store, Media, Web, & Games → Web Content. (Content Restrictions on older iOS versions.)
  4. Choose Limit Adult Websites. This unlocks the custom lists.
  5. Under Never Allow, tap Add Website and type the address, for example example.com.
  6. Lock it. Screen Time → Lock Screen Time Settings, and let someone else type the passcode.
On iOS 27? Apple moved some Screen Time menus around in this year's update. If a step doesn't match your screen, open Settings and search for Web Content to jump straight to the filter.
Tip: add both the main address and the mobile version if the site has one (for example a separate "m." address), and block the site's app too if it has one.

Block a website only at certain times

Sometimes you don't need a site gone forever, just during the hours you slip. Two free options:

  • App Limits: Screen Time → App Limits → Add Limit, then scroll to Websites and pick the site. Set a daily limit as low as one minute.
  • Downtime: Screen Time → Downtime lets you schedule hours when only apps you allow are available, for example 11pm to 7am.

Block apps as well as websites

The web filter only covers websites. If the habit lives in an app (a store, a casino, a social feed), use App Limits on that app, or delete it and remove your saved login so getting back is slower.

Make it harder to undo

The weak spot in every DIY block is that you know how to switch it off. Three ways to fix that:

  • Someone else holds the passcode. Free and very effective.
  • Add a delay. Even a short wait is often enough for an urge to pass.
  • Tell someone. It's a lot harder to undo something another person knows about.

Or do it all in one place with Forge Shield

Forge Shield for iPhone uses the same Apple Screen Time system, so it covers Safari and every other browser on your phone. It adds what the built-in setting doesn't: you can block any site or app you pick, all day or only at night, a 60 second wait before you can switch it off, and an optional email to an accountability partner if you do. Forge never sees which sites you visit. It's part of Forge Pro, with a 7-day free trial.

In Forge you can type in any website, pick apps, choose "always", "nights" or "around my craving time", and add more at any moment. Removing anything goes through the 60 second wait.

Try Forge Shield free for 7 days

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I block a specific website on iPhone?

Settings → Screen Time → Content & Privacy Restrictions → App Store, Media, Web, & Games → Web Content → Limit Adult Websites, then Add Website under Never Allow.

Can I block a website on iPhone without an app?

Yes. Screen Time is built in and free. Use Never Allow for a permanent block, or App Limits for a time limit.

Does blocking a website in Screen Time work in Chrome?

In most countries yes, because iPhone browsers use Apple's WebKit engine and follow Screen Time. In the EU, browsers may use their own engines since iOS 17.4, so test it.

How do I block a website only at night?

Use Screen Time Downtime for a nightly schedule, or set an App Limit on the website. Forge Shield also has a nights-only option.

How do I block shopping or gambling sites on iPhone?

Add each site under Never Allow in Screen Time, then put App Limits on the store or betting apps. Remove saved cards and logins to add more friction.

Why can I still open a site I blocked?

Check you added the exact address (including any mobile version), that Screen Time is locked with a passcode, and that you're not using a browser with its own engine (possible in the EU).

Sources

Related Reading

Disclosure: Forge is published by Forge Freedom Labs, the company that writes this blog. We describe other products using their own public listings and documentation as of October 2026. Prices and features change, so check each app's App Store page before you buy.