ScreenSafe Kids

How to Block Websites on iPhone (Full Blacklist Method)

Summary

This guide shows how to block specific websites on an iPhone using Screen Time. You can create a custom blacklist of sites (such as social media and streaming platforms) and prevent access across Safari and most apps.

What this blocks

  • Websites in Safari
  • Websites opened from links in apps (in most cases)
  • Common social media and streaming sites

What you need

  • An iPhone or iPad
  • Access to device settings
  • A Screen Time passcode

Step 1 — Enable Screen Time

If not already enabled:

  1. Open Settings
  2. Tap Screen Time
  3. Tap Turn On Screen Time
  4. Select This is My Child’s iPhone
  5. Set a Screen Time passcode

Make sure this passcode is not known to your child.

Step 2 — Enable content restrictions

  1. Go to Settings → Screen Time
  2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions
  3. Turn it ON
  4. Tap Content Restrictions

Step 3 — Switch to “Allowed Websites Only”

This is the key step for full control.

  1. Tap Web Content
  2. Select:
    👉 Allowed Websites Only

This blocks all websites except those you explicitly allow.

Step 4 — Allow safe websites

You will now define what is allowed.

  1. Under Allowed Websites, tap Add Website
  2. Enter safe or necessary sites, for example:
    • school platforms
    • educational resources
    • specific tools your child needs

⚠️ Only add what is truly necessary.

Step 5 — Build your blacklist (by not allowing)

In this mode:
👉 Everything not listed is automatically blocked

This means sites like:

  • YouTube
  • TikTok
  • Instagram
  • Reddit
  • Streaming platforms

…are blocked without needing to list them individually.

Step 6 — Test the setup

  1. Open Safari
  2. Try visiting a blocked site (e.g. youtube.com)

You should see a message that the site is not allowed.

Step 7 — Prevent bypassing

To make this effective:

  • Remove alternative browsers (Chrome, Firefox, etc.)
  • Do not share the Screen Time passcode
  • Disable app installation if needed:
    • Settings → Screen Time → iTunes & App Store Purchases → Installing Apps → Don’t Allow

Optional — Allow limited browsing instead

If full blocking is too strict:

  • Use Limit Adult Websites instead of “Allowed Websites Only”
  • Then manually add blocked sites under Never Allow

Note: This is easier to bypass than the full blacklist method.

Common issues

Some links still open inside apps

  • Some apps use internal browsers that may bypass restrictions
  • Removing those apps is often the most reliable solution

Child finds unblocked websites

  • Review and adjust allowed sites regularly
  • Keep the allowed list as small as possible

Final note

The “Allowed Websites Only” setting is one of the most effective tools available on iPhone. Instead of trying to block individual services one by one, it reverses the approach: everything is blocked except what you choose to allow.

This makes it much easier to keep control as new apps and websites appear, and it removes the constant need to chase new platforms.