This article explains how to prevent access to a specific website or group of sites using Google Chrome and the free BlockSite extension. You can use the "Personal Blocklist" extension to prevent certain websites from appearing in the Google search results list. The "Personal Blocklist" extension is only available for the computer version of Google Chrome. "Personal Blocklist" is not available in the Google Chrome version for iPhone and iPad.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using BlockSite on Computer
Step 1. Visit BlockSite's Chrome Web Store page
This is the web page from which you can install the BlockSite extension on Chrome.
BlockSite is a program that allows you to block access to individual web pages or entire domains. It is also possible to set a security password so that other users with whom you usually share your computer cannot modify the BlockSite configuration or the list of blocked websites
Step 2. Click the Add button
It is blue in color and located at the top right of the Chrome Web Store page.
Step 3. Click the Add Extension button when prompted
It will appear at the top of the page. This will install the BlockSite extension on Chrome.
Step 4. Click the BlockSite extension icon
It features a shield and is located at the top right of the Chrome window. The program drop-down menu will appear.
Step 5. Click on the Edit block sites list item
It is one of the options listed in the pop-up menu that appeared. A BlockSite configuration page will appear.
Alternatively, click on the gear-shaped icon in the upper right corner of the menu that appeared to access the same page in question
Step 6. Add a website to block
Click on the "Enter a web address" text field located at the top of the page and type the URL of the website you want to block.
If you need to block a single page of a website, access it and copy the corresponding URL by clicking on the Chrome address bar and then pressing the key combination Ctrl + C (on Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (on Mac)
Step 7. Click on the + button
It is located to the right of the text field where you entered the address to block. The indicated website will be added to BlockSite's list of blocked websites immediately.
You can remove a website from BlockSite's blocked list at any time by clicking on the red circular icon to the right of the URL of the site to be unblocked listed in the list
Step 8. Click the Account Protection tab
It is displayed on the left side of the BlockSite configuration page.
Step 9. Activate the password for the password access to the BlockSite configuration page
Select the check button "Protect your BlockSite options and the Chrome Extension page with password" located at the top of the "Account Protection" tab. A list of options will appear at the bottom of the page.
Step 10. Enter an email address
Type it in the text field located in the section at the bottom of the page. Remember to use a valid email address.
Make sure you use an email address that you have access to, as you will be asked to verify it later
Step 11. Create a password to block access to the BlockSite dashboard
Type in the text field that appears below the one where you entered your e-mail address.
Step 12. Click the Save button
It is located at the bottom of the page.
Step 13. Click the OK button when prompted
This way the settings will be saved and applied. An email will be sent to verify the address you provided.
Step 14. Verify the email address
To complete the BlockSite configuration follow these instructions:
- Access the inbox of the address you provided;
- Click on the e-mail with the subject "Verify Blocksite" that was sent to you by Blocksite;
- Click on the link Verify now present in the email.
Step 15. Allow the BlockSite extension to work even in incognito mode
One of the solutions that users adopt to circumvent the access restrictions imposed by the BlockSite extension is to use Chrome's incognito mode. Follow these instructions to fix the problem:
- Click on the button ⋮ of Chrome;
- Select the item Other tools;
- Click on the option Extensions;
- Click on the button Details of the "BlockSite" extension pane;
-
Scroll down the menu that appeared and click on the gray slider "Allow incognito mode"
Method 2 of 3: Using BlockSite on Android
Step 1. Download and install the BlockSite app on your device
Log in to Google Play Store
and follow these instructions:
- Tap the search bar;
- Type in the keyword blocksite and press the key Enter keyboard;
- Push the button Install placed under the section "BlockSite - Block Distracting Apps and Sites";
- Push the button I accept when required.
Step 2. Launch the BlockSite app
Push the button You open of the Google Play Store page or select the shield icon of the BlockSite app.
Step 3. Press the GET STARTED button
It is green in color and located at the bottom of the screen.
Before continuing, you may need to press the button GOT IT.
Step 4. Activate the BlockSite app in the Android "Settings" menu
The "Accessibility" section of the "Settings" menu reserved for the BlockSite app should appear, but if not, you can solve the problem by following these instructions:
- Launch the app Settings;
- Scroll down the appeared menu and choose the option Accessibility;
- Select the app BlockSite;
-
Activate the gray "BlockSite" slider
moving it to the right
;
- Push the button OK.
Step 5. Restart the BlockSite app
If you have closed or minimized the BlockSite application, please restart it before continuing.
If the BlockSite app is still open, press the device button located at the bottom right of the screen to display the complete list of all the apps running in the background and be able to close the BlockSite one. At this point, start the program again using the corresponding icon
Step 6. Press the + button
It is green in color and located in the lower right corner of the screen. You will be redirected to the page where you can manage the websites to be blocked.
Step 7. Enter the address of the site you want to block
Tap the text field located at the top of the screen, then type the URL of the site to block (for example facebook.com).
In this case you do not need to type in the complete address, you can limit yourself to indicating the domain of the site respecting this format domain.com
Step 8. Press the button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The indicated website will be added to the list of those blocked by the BlockSite app. This way you will not be able to access it using Google Chrome or any other browser installed on the Android device.
You can unblock a site at any time by tapping the trash can icon to the right of the URL
Step 9. Lock an app on the Android device
If you need to temporarily block the use of an application, press the button + located in the lower right corner of the BlockSite interface, select the tab Apps displayed at the top of the screen, then choose the app you want to block.
Just like with websites, you can unblock an app at any time by tapping the trash can icon to the right of the program name
Method 3 of 3: Use the Personal Blocklist Extension for Google on Computer
Step 1. Update Google Chrome
The Personal Blocklist extension works with the latest version of Google Chrome (version 69.0.3497.100), but may not be compatible with older versions. To update follow these instructions:
-
Start Google Chrome by clicking on the icon
;
- Click on the button ⋮ located in the upper right part of the Chrome window;
- Select the item Guide located at the bottom of the main Chrome menu;
- Click on the option Information about Google Chrome;
- Wait for Chrome to update if necessary, then click the button Restart when required.
Step 2. Understand how the Personal Blocklist extension works
Unlike the BlockSite app, the Personal Blocklist extension does not prevent users from visiting a particular website, it simply deletes the links of blocked websites from the Google search results list.
For example, if you have blocked facebook.com within the Personal Blocklist extension, you will still be able to access the Facebook website, but the "facebook.com" link will not appear in the search results list. with Google
Step 3. Visit the Personal Blocklist Chrome Web Store page
This is the page from which you can install the Personal Blocklist extension on Chrome.
Step 4. Click the Add button
It is blue in color and located at the top right of the Chrome Web Store page.
Step 5. Click the Add Extension button when prompted
It will appear at the top of the page. This will install the BlockSite extension on Chrome.
Step 6. Visit the website you want to block
Unfortunately, currently, it is not possible to block the display of an element in the list of results of a search by simply clicking on a specific link, but it is possible to do so by directly visiting the page of the website to be blocked.
Alternatively, you can perform a Google search and click on the item to hide which will appear in the list of results
Step 7. Click on the Personal Blocklist extension icon
It features a stylized white hand placed on a red background and is located in the upper right corner of the Chrome window. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 8. Click on the Block current host option
It is located at the top of the drop-down menu that appeared and is completed by the URL of the site. By clicking on the link in question the address of the current website will be added to the list of the Personal Blocklist extension.
Step 9. Click on the "Back" button
of Chrome.
It is located in the upper left corner of the browser window. This will confirm your previous action. At this point the chosen site will no longer appear in the list of Google search results made with Chrome.
Step 10. Run a test
Try to perform a search based on the name of the website you just blocked using Google (for example, if you have blocked the Facebook site you will have to type the keyword facebook into the Google search bar). By carefully examining the list of results that will appear, you will notice that the link to the Facebook site will be shown for a few moments and then disappear.
The website in question will still be accessible directly by typing the corresponding URL in the Chrome address bar. If you need to block access to a web page using Google Chrome, you can use the BlockSite extension
Step 11. Allow the Personal Blocklist extension to work even in incognito mode
One of the solutions that users adopt to circumvent the access restrictions imposed by this type of extension is to use Chrome's incognito mode. Follow these instructions to fix the problem:
- Click on the button ⋮ of Chrome;
- Select the item Other tools;
- Click on the option Extensions;
- Click on the button Details the "Personal Blocklist (by Google)" extension box;
- Scroll down the menu that appeared and click on the gray slider "Allow incognito mode" {{android | switchoff}.