Block Websites

Best Methods for Blocking Websites on iPhone in 2024

Block websites on iPhone using a variety of different methods based on the desired level of strictness. Prevent users from bypassing blocks so that websites remain blocked.

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Tech Lockdown Team
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Updated September 17, 2024

In 2024, there are a few effective ways to configure an iPhone to block websites. In this guide, I'll help you choose a website blocking approach, like using a content filtering VPN to assign a website blocking content policy to a personal iPhone. You'll learn how to specify the websites that should be blocked, such as by category, keyword, or by manually specifying domains to block. We'll also look at some strategies for preventing intentional or accidental bypass of iPhone website blocking rules, since this is one of the biggest challenges.

In 2024, blocking websites is not just a concern for parents or employers - adults want to block themselves from accessing certain websites. An adult might want to self-restrict from unknowingly accessing a phishing website or to build healthier online habits by blocking porn .

Block Websites on an iPhone with a Content Filtering VPN

The most effective way to completely control which websites can be visited on your iPhone to is to configure a VPN to connect to a DNS Content Policy . A Content Policy lets you specifically block websites you definitely don't want allowed, or limits websites that you don't want continuous access to.

There are a couple of different ways that you can connect your iPhone:

  1. Install an Always-on website blocking VPN (recommended): This routes all of your internet traffic through your filter and is designed to be tricky to disable. You can make this content filtering VPN connection nearly impossible to bypass using the Supervised VPN Enforcement that we discuss later on.
  2. Install a DNS Config File: Most iPhones let you change DNS settings, but you will have to change these settings for each Wi-Fi network and cellular connection. Installing a Config file on your iPhone allows you to set the DNS servers for all networks automatically.

Once connected to your Content Policy, you can choose exactly what your iPhone has access to.

Block Domains Associated with a Website

If you have your own list of domains that you want to block, do the following:

You can add your own custom domains or websites to a blacklist, which blocks the website entirely:

Block Website Domains Containing Keywords

You can also block websites containing keywords by using the domain selector to specify the words you want to match against.

If an iPhone is used to browse to a website with the matching keyword, the website will be blocked. 

Block website categories

To cover more ground, you can instead block entire website or app categories:

With over 120+ categories available, you can heavily control what your iPhone has access to without manually specifying thousands of domains.

Schedule when a website is blocked

Sometimes, you don't want to block a website completely. Instead, you can choose to schedule when you have access to it, for example, if you want to reduce distractions at night:

You can also apply a schedule to a specific website or app.

Use the Default-Deny approach

One of the most effective approaches is called the Default-Deny approach. It works like this:

  1. Choose a category of website or app: This could be social media, entertainment, or anything else.
  2. Block the category on your Content Policy: This ensure that, by default, a website of this category will be blocked on your devices.
  3. Enable exceptions individually: Specifically choose which websites you want to have access to. This can be done with the help of a whitelist.

For example, say you want to reduce how much time you spend on social media. You may still want access to a specific platform, like LinkedIn. Following the Default-Deny approach, here's what rules you would enable:

This is the most comprehensive way to block websites on your iPhone.

Create a DNS Content Policy
Create a DNS Content Policy
Enforce content filtering rules on all your devices.

Block Websites with Built-in iPhone Features

Fortunately for iPhone users, Apple provides several options for blocking websites using its built-in filtering capabilities. This can work alongside a DNS Content Policy as a backup website blocking layer for the iPhone.

Most people might be somewhat familiar with Screen Time for iOS devices (like an iPhone or iPad). In the Web Content of Screen Time, you can specify a Never Allow list of URLs to block.

However, Apple actually provides a more effective alternative to Screen Time called supervised mode.

In contrast with Screen Time, you can't easily disable this built-in filter even if you are the Apple ID owner, so this approach is more ideal if you are preventing yourself from accessing websites or restricting websites for another adult.

If you want to enforce the built-in Adult content filter for iOS, you can enable Supervised Mode on the iPhone and then download our supervised config presets to force on the built-in filter and prevent it from being turned off.

Enforcing a Website Blocking VPN Connection on iPhone

One of the biggest challenges that must be overcome in order to block websites on an iPhone is preventing intentional or accidental bypass of your website blocking VPN. This is especially true if you are trying to block porn on an iPhone . Luckily, there are some bypass prevention techniques that are incredibly effective, but you won't be able to download.

If you download a website blocker from the Apple App Store, it's usually easily toggled off within Screen Time settings.

Enforcing a website blocker that depends on Screen Time can't be done reliably. However, if you're using an app that blocks websites using a VPN, it won't depend on Screen Time and can be reliably enforced.

If you're using a website blocking VPN like we discussed earlier, this connection can be enforced reliably. Here's how:

Normally apps on an iPhone can be deleted easily.

If the underlying app for your website blocking VPN connection is deleted, the associated VPN connection will be removed as well, leaving the device unprotected.

Once the Supervised config is added to the device, the option to uninstall existing apps will be unavailable.

Normally a user could download another VPN app or manually add a VPN connection in the iPhone's settings. Then, the user could switch to this VPN and completely bypass a website blocking VPN. This config file ensures that doesn't happen.

Normally, a VPN connection is easily deleted with the iPhone's settings. Once you enable supervised mode and install the VPN Enforcement config, the option to delete that website blocking VPN is completely disabled.

With these 3 layers of bypass prevention implemented, website on the iPhone is effectively enforced and nearly impossible to bypass.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I block apps as well as websites?

There are a few effective ways to restrict apps on an iPhone. Our app blocking guide for iPhone showcases a few key points:

  1. Disabling internet-dependent apps with a DNS Content Policy using the same website blocking VPN referenced in this guide.
  2. Use Supervised App Blocklists to natively restrict apps from the App Store or any other place that an app can be downloaded.

What's an iPhone Config File?

A Config file allows you to make sweeping changes to your iPhone's settings. In our case, it allows you to change your DNS settings across all networks you phone connects to at once. Normally, you would have to change this for each Wi-Fi network you connect to individually.

Plus, a Configuration file is a bit harder to disable than an app. Unless you have an AppLocker, it's normally pretty easy to uninstall any apps that block websites. A Configuration file can't be disabled in this same way.

Is Screen Time an effective way to block websites on an iPhone?

Screen Time can be effective, but it has several drawbacks you should consider:

  1. It's relatively easy to disable Screen Time if you are the owner of the Apple ID used on the iPhone. This makes it an ineffective for adults who are trying to restrict themselves from accessing addictive websites.
  2. Screen Time doesn't provide website categories other than the Limit adult websites option. It can be tedious to add your own list of URLs to block, whereas as DNS Content Policy is much more comprehensive with its use of categories.
  3. Screen Time is designed for productivity, not necessarily blocking content. There are certain features that aren't possible with Screen Time alone, such as blocking images on social media, that are possible with more advanced methods.

What is Supervised mode exactly?

Supervised mode allows you to enable more restrictions for an iPhone.

There are a bunch of restrictions that supervising your iPhone unlocks for you, such as:

We highly recommend this option, since it's the most reliable approach available on the iPhone.

Can I block websites on other devices?

Yes, you can block websites on all kinds of devices, especially if you are using a DNS Content Policy . In fact, one of the biggest benefits of a content policy is that you can add website blocking rules and manage them from a central dashboard. Then, you just need to connect your devices for them to benefit from those rules.

For example, you can connect your home router to your content policy to block content across all devices connected to your home's Wi-Fi. You can also install a website blocking VPN on your devices to connect them to your content policy when roaming away from home.

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