Blocking Websites on Chrome

Blocking Websites on Chrome

Take back your time. Block distracting websites, stay focused, and build better digital habits.

📖 Introduction

Blocking Websites on Chrome is a powerful website blocker that helps you eliminate online distractions and improve productivity. Whether you need to focus on work, study for exams, or simply reduce screen time, this extension gives you full control over which websites you can access — and when.

Key highlights:

  • Quick Block — one-click start/stop with optional countdown timer
  • Blacklist & Whitelist — block specific sites or block everything except allowed sites
  • Scheduled Blocking — automatic blocking by day and time range
  • Strict Mode — lock your settings to prevent impulsive changes
  • Category Blocking — one-click block entire categories (social, video, gaming, etc.)
  • Right-Click Blocking — block any site directly from the context menu
  • Keyword Blocking — block sites by domain, URL, or page content keywords
  • Statistics Dashboard — track how many sites have been blocked
  • Side Panel UI — persistent panel stays visible while you browse

🚀 Getting Started

  1. Install the extension from the Chrome Web Store
  2. Click the extension icon in your browser toolbar — the side panel will open on the right side of your browser
  3. Navigate between tabs: Quick Block, Schedules, Strict Mode, and Statistics
  4. In the Quick Block tab, add a website (e.g. facebook.com) and click Start Blocking
  5. Visit the blocked website — you will see a clean blocked page instead
Tip: The extension icon shows a green dot when blocking is active, so you can see the status at a glance.

⚡ Quick Block

Quick Block is the fastest way to start blocking websites. Add sites to your list, choose a timer (optional), and click Start Blocking. Everything is one click away.

⏱️ Countdown Timer

By default, blocking runs indefinitely until you manually stop it. You can also set a countdown timer so blocking stops automatically:

Timer OptionDescription
UnlimitedBlocking continues until you click Stop
25 minutesPerfect for a Pomodoro focus session
1 hourGreat for a focused work block
24 hoursBlock for a full day
CustomSet any number of hours and minutes

When a timer is running, the remaining time is displayed in the panel. The countdown works even if you close the side panel.

💾 Saved Presets

If you frequently use a specific duration, you can save it as a quick-access preset:

  1. Select Custom timer and enter your desired hours and minutes
  2. Click the Save Preset button (💾 icon) next to the custom input
  3. Your custom duration now appears as a one-click button in the timer row
Note: You can save up to 5 custom presets. Duplicate durations will be skipped.

🔀 Blacklist & Whitelist Modes

Choose how blocking works based on your needs:

ModeHow It Works
Blacklist DefaultOnly the websites you add to the list will be blocked. Everything else is accessible.
Whitelist FocusAll websites are blocked except the ones on your list. Ideal for deep focus sessions where you only need a few specific sites.
Important: Switching between Blacklist and Whitelist mode will clear your current website list. You will be asked to confirm before switching.

📦 Category Blocking

Don't want to add sites one by one? Use Category Blocking to add an entire group of popular distracting websites with a single click.

CategoryIncludes
👥 Social MediaFacebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, TikTok, Reddit, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Pinterest, Tumblr
🎬 VideoYouTube, Netflix, Twitch, Disney+, Hulu, Bilibili, Vimeo, Dailymotion
🎮 GamingSteam, Epic Games, Riot Games, Blizzard, Xbox, PlayStation, Roblox, Minecraft
🛒 ShoppingAmazon, eBay, AliExpress, Walmart, Target, Etsy, SHEIN, Temu
📰 NewsCNN, BBC, NYT, Washington Post, The Guardian, Reuters, Fox News, HuffPost

How to use: In the Quick Block tab, you will see the category grid. Click a category to add all its sites. If a category is already added, it shows a mark — click again to remove all sites from that category.

🖱️ Right-Click Blocking

You can block any website without even opening the side panel:

  1. Navigate to the website you want to block
  2. Right-click anywhere on the page
  3. Select "Block this site" from the context menu
  4. The site's domain is instantly added to your Quick Block list
Tip: If Quick Block is not currently active, right-click blocking will automatically start it for you.

📅 Scheduled Blocking

Create schedules to automatically block websites on specific days and times. No need to remember to start blocking — it happens on its own.

How to create a schedule:

  1. Go to the Schedules tab
  2. Click "Create Schedule"
  3. Enter a name for your schedule (e.g. "Work Focus")
  4. Choose an icon to identify it easily
  5. Select the days of the week (e.g. Mon–Fri)
  6. Choose a time mode:
    • All day — blocking is active for the entire day
    • Custom intervals — specify start and end times (e.g. 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM). You can add multiple time ranges.
  7. Add the websites to block (same as Quick Block)
  8. Click Save — the schedule is now active

📋 Plan Templates

Not sure where to start? Use a built-in template to create a schedule in seconds:

TemplateTypical Setup
Focus ModeBlock social media and video sites during work hours
Study TimeBlock distractions during study sessions
Digital DetoxBlock all distracting sites for the whole day
Morning RoutineBlock sites in the early morning to start your day intentionally
Personal TimeBlock work-related sites during evenings and weekends

⏸️ Pause & Resume

Need a temporary break from blocking? You can pause a schedule:

  • Pause for 15 minutes — quick break
  • Pause for 1 hour — longer break
  • Pause for today — skip the rest of the day
  • Custom pause — set your own duration

You can also disable a schedule entirely (toggle it off) or copy it to create a similar one with different settings.

🔒 Strict Mode

Strict Mode locks your blocking configuration so you cannot change it impulsively. Perfect for when you need extra self-discipline.

⏱️ Timer Lock

Set a countdown timer. Once activated, you cannot:

  • Stop blocking
  • Remove websites from the block list
  • Modify any settings

The lock automatically releases when the countdown ends. Available durations: 30 min, 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, or custom (up to several days).

🔑 PIN Lock

Set a 4-digit PIN code that must be entered to unlock the settings. This is ideal when you want someone else (a friend, partner, or parent) to hold you accountable.

  1. Go to the Strict Mode tab
  2. Select PIN Lock
  3. Enter a 4-digit PIN and confirm it
  4. Click Activate
  5. To unlock later, enter the correct PIN
Remember your PIN! There is no way to recover a forgotten PIN. You would need to reinstall the extension.

🔑 Keyword Blocking

Instead of adding specific domains, you can block websites based on keywords. The extension supports three matching modes:

ModeHow It WorksExample
Domain Match Blocks sites whose domain contains the keyword game blocks game.com, freegames.net, etc.
URL Match Blocks pages whose full URL contains the keyword shopping blocks any page with "shopping" in the URL
Content Match Blocks pages whose content contains the keyword gambling blocks pages that contain the word "gambling"
Tip: Keywords work alongside regular website entries. You can use both at the same time.

📊 Statistics Dashboard

Track your blocking activity to understand your habits. Go to the Statistics tab to see:

MetricDescription
TodayNumber of sites blocked today
This WeekNumber of sites blocked in the past 7 days
TotalAll-time total number of blocks
Top 5 SitesBar chart showing your most frequently blocked sites
Recent ActivityList of the last 30 block events with timestamps

You can clear all statistics at any time by clicking the "Clear Statistics" button at the bottom of the panel.

Privacy: All statistics are stored locally on your device. No data is sent to any server.

🛡️ Blocked Page

When you try to visit a blocked website, instead of the site loading, you will see a blocked page that shows:

  • The blocked URL you tried to visit
  • The blocking source (which rule or schedule triggered the block)
  • A motivational message to help you stay on track

Click the "Go Back" button on the blocked page to return to your previous page.

❓ FAQ & Troubleshooting

How do I add a website to block?
There are three ways: 1) In the Quick Block tab, type a domain (e.g. facebook.com) and click Add. 2) Right-click on any webpage and select "Block this site". 3) Use Category Blocking to add an entire group at once.
What's the difference between Blacklist and Whitelist?
Blacklist mode only blocks the sites you add — everything else works normally. Whitelist mode blocks all websites except the ones you explicitly allow. Use Whitelist when you want maximum focus and only need a few specific sites.
Can I block sites on a schedule without manually starting?
Yes! Go to the Schedules tab and create a schedule. Set the days and time ranges, and the extension will automatically start and stop blocking according to your plan.
Does the extension work in Incognito mode?
You need to allow the extension in Incognito mode. Open Chrome's extension management page (Chrome menu → More tools → Extensions), find this extension, click "Details", and turn on "Allow in Incognito".
What happens when Strict Mode is active?
When Strict Mode (timer or PIN) is active, all blocking settings are locked. You cannot stop blocking, remove websites, or change any configuration until the lock expires or you enter the correct PIN.
The extension stopped working after an update. What should I do?
Go to Chrome's extension management page (Chrome menu → More tools → Extensions) and click the refresh icon on the extension card. This reloads the extension and usually fixes the issue.
Will blocking still work if I close the side panel?
Yes. Blocking runs in the background independently of the side panel. You can close the panel and blocking will continue. Timers and schedules also keep running.
Is my data private?
Absolutely. All data is stored only on your local device. The extension does not send any data to external servers. No accounts, no tracking, no analytics.

⚠️ Extension Not Working on a Website?

If the extension does not block a website as expected, please help us fix it:

  1. Copy the full URL of the website where blocking is not working
  2. Describe the situation — what did you expect to happen, and what actually happened?
  3. Email this information to our developer: thetoolsdev@gmail.com

We appreciate your feedback and will work to fix the issue as quickly as possible.

📬 Contact Us

Have questions, suggestions, or issues? We'd love to hear from you.

PurposeEmail
Developer Supportthetoolsdev@gmail.com