The internet can be a wild place, and it’s definitely not a free-for-all zone for kids. If your child uses your iPhone or has their own, setting some website limits is a smart move. While you can dive into full parental controls, sometimes you just need to block a few specific sites. Good news – iPhones make this surprisingly simple. Once set up, you can rest easy knowing you or your kids won’t stumble onto anything you’d rather avoid.
Blocking Websites on your iPhone
First things first, you’ll need to have Screen Time enabled. If you haven’t used it before, don’t worry. Just go to Settings, then tap ‘Screen Time’.
Next, choose ‘This is My iPhone’ to get the settings configured for the device. You can also create a Screen Time passcode to keep these restriction settings secure from changes.
After you have Screen Time set up, find and tap ‘Content and Privacy Restrictions’.
Then, tap the option for ‘Content Restrictions’.
Now, select ‘Web Content’.
Method 1: Only Allow Certain Websites
This is the most restrictive option, perfect if you only want a user to access a limited set of sites.
Select the ‘Allowed Websites Only’ option.
Apple will provide a basic list of kid-friendly websites which you can keep or delete. To remove a website, just swipe left on it and tap ‘Delete’.
To add a new site, tap ‘Add Website’ and type in both the title and the full URL of the website you want to allow. Repeat for each website you want to include on this list.
Method 2: Block Certain Websites
This method is less restrictive, blocking specific sites while allowing access to the rest of the web.
To begin, choose the ‘Limit Adult Websites’ option. Safari will then start automatically blocking a lot of adult-oriented websites.
To manually block sites, tap ‘Add Website’ under the ‘Never Allow’ section.
You’ll see a new screen to enter the complete URL of the site you want to block. Safari will block this site in addition to its pre-configured blocks. Add as many as you need.
If Safari blocks a site that you want to allow, add it to the ‘Always Allow’ list by tapping ‘Add Website’ and entering the complete URL. This will bypass Safari’s blocking for that site.
Whether you need to avoid stumbling upon inappropriate sites yourself or want to create a safe browsing space for your kids, the iPhone provides easy and effective options. The settings might be a bit hidden, but the setup is pretty straightforward. No need to be a tech pro to get these restrictions working for you. Go ahead and get those websites blocked!