How to Block Websites in Safari With Screen Time on Mac

Unproductive browsing habits can be quite difficult to break. If you find yourself dithering throughout the day, consider blocking unwanted websites. It can help you regain your focus.

If you are using a Mac with macOS Catalina installed, you can use the built-in screen time controls to put the breaks on any website that you feel is unnecessary. To a lesser extent, you can also impose time limits on any site to gradually reduce an addiction.

So without further ado, here's how to block or impose deadlines on websites using Screen Time.

Blocking Websites Using Screen Time

Screen Time in macOS Catalina works similarly to Screen Time on iPhone and iPad. The functionality brings to the board several controls that help monitor as well as control the various activities that you can perform on your Mac.

But whether you are already familiar with some aspects of screen time or have not been able to verify them yet, here is the complete step-by-step process on how to block sites easily.

Note: The following method applies not only to Safari, but also to other web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) installed on your Mac.

Step 1: Open the Apple menu, then click System Preferences.

2nd step: Find and click on the option labeled Screen Time.

Note: If Screen Time is already set up on your Mac, go to step 5.

Step 3: Click Options in the lower left corner of the Screen Time panel. Follow up by clicking Activate to activate screen time for your Mac.

Step 4: Check the box next to Share on all devices if you want the settings you make for Screen Time to apply to all your devices, including all iOS or iPadOS devices linked to the same Apple ID.

You can also check the box next to Use screen time access code if you want to configure an access code, which will prevent anyone from changing the screen time without your authorization.

Step 5: Click Content and Privacy in the left navigation pane. Then click on Activate.

Step 6: Click the radio button next to the web content restriction titled Limit Adult Websites. Follow up by clicking on Personalize.

Note: Enabling the Restrict Web Content Restriction for Adult Websites will cause all sites containing adult content to be automatically blocked by your Mac.

Step 7: Click the "+" icon under the restricted section.

Step 8: Insert the URL of the site you want to block, then click OK.

Step 9: Repeat for all the other sites you want to block, click OK, then exit the Screen Time panel.

It's time to test the restrictions you just applied. Try loading a blocked website in Safari or any other browser. You will not be able to! Keep in mind that you will also be unable to access sites containing NSFW content in addition to websites that you manually block.

You can whitelist a site by clicking the Add Website button and then inserting the screen time access code. If you impose these restrictions on yourself, this will require restraint on your part.

Impose deadlines on websites

Screen time in macOS Catalina also allows you to impose time limits on any website. You can then surf the website for the given duration, after which it will be blocked. The whole process is a bit discreet, but you will find the exact process detailed below.

Note: The website's time limits apply only to Safari, not to other browsers that you have installed on your Mac.

Step 1: Visit the Screen Time panel, then click App Limits. Follow by clicking on the “+” icon, as shown below.

2nd step: Scroll down the screen, then expand the Websites option.

Step 3: Click the green "+" icon to add the website you want to impose deadlines on. Insert the URL, then press Enter.

Note: You can also see a list of recently visited sites listed under the Websites section. If the required website is already present, select it by checking the box next to it and immediately start adding the deadlines.

Step 5: Enter a daily time limit for the site, then click Done.

Note: You can also add a personalized program for each day of the week. Click the radio button next to Custom, then click Edit to do so.

Step 6: You will see the site listed in the Application Limits section. Add time limits to any other site of your choice, then exit Screen Time.

Note: You can make any changes to the time limits that you have already imposed from this screen (select the website, then click Change limit to do so).

Once the daily deadline has passed, the site will be blocked and you will no longer be able to access it. You can lift the limit if you wish by clicking on the Ignore Limit (Screen Time Passcode required) option, so again, holdback is required.

Remember that if the Share on All Devices option is enabled in the Screen Time Options panel, all the time you have spent on restricted websites on others appliances will also count for the total duration.

Procrastinate less

The Internet is a sump of distractions. Congratulations to Apple for providing native ways to easily block websites on the Mac. Remember to use deadlines on certain websites as and when you need them.

Then: The incognito windows in Safari are great for privacy, but not if you want to know what others are doing on your Mac. Here's how to block them.