Jump to Key Sections
As much as we love the internet, it can be a massive distraction that eats up our time and productivity. Most internet users find themselves frequently distracted by social media notifications, news updates, and irrelevant websites. If you are a student or a worker and are easily distracted by the internet, you might want to block specific websites on your Mac’s Safari browser. Apple’s parental controls feature on the Safari browser can be used to block websites, but it is relatively cumbersome for everyday use. This blog post will provide you with detailed ways to block websites on Safari without having to use Apple’s parental controls.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of How to Block Websites on Safari Mac without Parental Controls
Safari doesn’t have a native feature for blocking websites directly, making it difficult for users who want to block certain websites from their Safari browser without having to go through Apple’s parental controls. This can result in a lack of productivity and focus for students, workers, and even personal users.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before you start blocking websites on Safari Mac, you should prepare the following:
– Your Mac device
– Administrator access to your Mac
– A list of websites you want to block
– A stable internet connection
Method 1: Using Terminal
Explanation: Terminal is a tool for accessing the lower levels of the macOS operating system. It allows users to perform different commands to perform various functions. With Terminal, users can block specific websites on their Safari browser.
Steps:
1. Open Terminal by pressing Command + Space. Type "Terminal" and press enter.
2. Type "sudo nano /etc/hosts" and hit enter. This will open the hosts file in nano text editor with administrator access.
3. Use the down arrow key to move to the bottom of the file.
4. Type "127.0.0.1" followed by the website’s domain name you want to block. For example, "127.0.0.1 http://www.youtube.com” without quotes.
5. Press Control + O to save the changes and then press Control + X to exit.
6. Close and open your Safari browser, and the selected website will be blocked.
Pros:
– It’s a free method
– It’s fast and reliable
– It’s easy to undo the block later
Cons:
– The user should have basic knowledge of Terminal
– The user must list each website they want to block
Method 2: Using Extensions
Explanation: Extensions are small software programs that customize the browsing experience. Some extensions can block specific websites and allow you to limit your browsing time on specific sites.
Steps:
1. Launch Safari on your Mac.
2. Go to the "Safari > Safari Extensions" menu.
3. Type "BlockSite" in the search bar.
4. Click the "Get" button next to the "BlockSite" extension to install it.
5. Go to the block site extension settings and add the website you want to block.
6. Close and reopen your Safari browser, and the selected website will be blocked.
Pros:
– It’s user-friendly and straightforward
– It offers a timer feature to limit the browsing time on specific sites
– It can block a list of websites at once
Cons:
– It can interfere with Safari’s default settings in some cases
– Some extensions may not work correctly with the latest version of Safari
Method 3: Using Focus
Explanation: Focus is an app that blocks the websites and apps that distract you and enable you to concentrate on your work.
Steps:
1. Download and install the Focus app from the App Store.
2. Open the application and select "Block New."
3. Enter the website you want to block and click on the plus sign.
4. Customize your work schedule.
5. Click on the “Block Remote Images” preference to improve your browsing experience.
Pros:
– It comes with a free version
– It’s user-friendly and simple to use
– It offers a timer feature to limit browsing time effectively
Cons:
– The free version only allows five blocks
– It may interfere with other apps on your system
– The block is global and isn’t limited to Safari alone
Why Can’t I Block Websites on Safari using Parental Controls?
1. The Website is HTTPS:
An HTTPS site cannot be blocked using Parental Controls as it is encrypted, so the Parental Controls feature cannot read the site’s URL.
Fix: You can use any of the methods above to block an HTTPS website.
2. Administrator Access:
Parental Controls can be blocked easily if you have administrator rights to your account on your Mac. Without administrator rights, it is impossible for users to block websites using Parental Controls.
Fix: You can either use an administrator account or the methods provided above for easy and fast ways to block websites on Safari.
3. Not Supported:
The Safari Parental Controls feature is not explicitly supported and can be challenging to use for everyday blocking.
Fix: You can opt to use extensions, Terminal, or apps to block websites reliably.
Additional Tips
– It is essential to use reliable and reputable sources when downloading apps or extensions to ensure your safety and privacy.
– When downloading an extension, ensure that it is compatible with the version of your Safari browser.
5 FAQs about How to Block Websites on Safari Mac without Parental Controls
Q1: Can I block multiple websites at once using Terminal?
A: Yes, you can list multiple websites in the hosts file in Terminal to block several sites at once.
Q2: Can I block specific web pages on a website without blocking the entire website?
A: Yes, some extensions allow for blocking specific web pages on a website without blocking the entire site.
Q3: Can extensions or apps track my browsing history?
A: No, reputable extensions or apps that block websites do not track your browsing history.
Q4: Can I temporarily unblock a website using Terminal?
A: Yes, you can remove or comment the blocked site from the hosts file in Terminal to unblock it temporarily.
Q5: Can I use the same method provided above to block websites on other browsers?
A: Yes, provided the browser is compatible with the method. Some extensions may be specific to Safari alone and not compatible with other browsers.
In Conclusion
Blocking websites can improve productivity and help you concentrate on your work. With the methods provided above, you can efficiently block websites on your Safari browser without having to use Apple’s parental controls. These methods are proven to work and are easy to use. Be sure to choose the method that works best for you and enjoy a distraction-free browsing experience.