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How to restrict access to websites on an iPhone

Just don't drop the hammer too hard on any censorship.
By
March 6, 2023

Blocking websites on an iPhone can be a way of protecting you or your kid against ads, scams, or personal addictions. No matter your interest, there are a few ways you can impose restrictions.

QUICK ANSWER

To block websites on an iPhone, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content and Privacy Restrictions and make sure the menu's namesake toggle is on. Then go to Content Restrictions > Web Content and choose Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites. The latter limits you to whitelisted URLs only.


JUMP TO KEY SECTIONS

How to block certain websites on your iPhone

If you have specific websites in mind, such as online casinos, you can restrict them in Safari and some other web-connected apps using Settings.

  • Open the Settings app and select Screen Time.
  • Tap Content and Privacy Restrictions. You’ll be asked to enter your dedicated Screen Time passcode if you have one — you can create one via the Use Screen Time Passcode option in the main Screen Time menu.
  • Make sure the Content and Privacy Restrictions toggle is on.
  • Tap Content Restrictions, then Web Content.
  • Choose Limit Adult Websites. Fortunately or unfortunately, this blocks many adult websites automatically.
  • Under Never Allow, tap Add Website and enter the URL of a site you want to block. Repeat until all the sites you want are listed. You can add exceptions under Always Allow.

How to block adult websites on your iPhone

Generally speaking, all you need to do is use the Limit Adult Websites option above. As mentioned this filters out many sites automatically — you probably won’t need to touch it again unless you discover specific sites are slipping past filters. In that case, you can add their URLs to the Never Allow list.

How to allow access to only certain websites on your iPhone

This option is too restrictive for most people, even kids, but it can be a way of handling poor impulse control. Only URLs you whitelist will be accessible.

  • Open the Settings app and select Screen Time.
  • Tap Content and Privacy Restrictions. You’ll be asked to enter your dedicated Screen Time passcode if you have one — you can create one via the Use Screen Time Passcode option in the main Screen Time menu.
  • Make sure the Content and Privacy Restrictions toggle is on.
  • Tap Content Restrictions, then Web Content.
  • Select Allowed Websites.
  • A handful of sites should be whitelisted automatically. To add another, tap Add Website and enter the URL. Repeat as needed.

How to password-protect Screen Time settings

Just go to Settings > Screen Time and tap Use Screen Time Passcode. You’ll be asked to enter a four-digit number, which you and anyone else using your iPhone will need to change Content and Privacy Restrictions. Parents, be sure to enable this before handing an iPhone over to a child, assuming you want to censor their web browsing.