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.
Tip: Each mode saves its own website and keyword list separately. When you switch modes, your previous list is preserved — you can switch back and forth without losing your configuration.

📦 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 a schedule? You can disable it entirely by toggling the switch off on the schedule card. Toggle it back on when you're ready to resume.

To create a similar schedule with different settings, open the existing schedule for editing and adjust the days, times, or websites as needed.

🔒 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).

While the timer is running, you can click the "Extend Time" button to add an extra 30 minutes to the remaining countdown. This is useful if you need a bit more focus time but can't change the original lock settings.

🔑 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. This is useful when you want to block a broad category of content without listing every single website. The extension supports three matching modes:

Matching Modes

ModeHow It WorksExample
🌐 Domain Match Checks if the website's domain name contains the keyword. This covers all pages on that domain. Keyword game will block:
game.com
www.freegames.net
miniclip.com (contains no "game") — not blocked
🔗 URL Match Checks if the full URL (including path) contains the keyword. Only pages with matching URLs are blocked, other pages on the same site are still accessible. Keyword /games/ will block:
example.com/games/puzzle
pogo.com/games/scrabble
example.com/playnot blocked
📄 Content Match Scans the visible text content of a page. If the keyword appears in the page text, the page will be blocked. The extension reads up to 50,000 characters of page content. Keyword gambling will block:
✅ Any page containing the word "gambling" in its text
✅ Works even if the URL doesn't contain the keyword
Note: Content matching may take a moment after the page loads.

How to Add a Keyword

  1. Go to the Quick Block tab
  2. Scroll down to the 🔑 Keyword List section
  3. Select a matching mode from the dropdown (Domain Match / URL Match / Content Match)
  4. Type your keyword in the input field (e.g. shopping)
  5. Click Add Keyword
  6. The keyword will appear in the list with its matching mode label

Managing Keywords

  • Toggle on/off — Click the switch next to a keyword to temporarily disable it without deleting
  • Delete — Click the button to permanently remove a keyword
  • Keywords remain in the list when you switch between Blacklist and Whitelist modes
Tip: Keywords work alongside regular website entries. You can use both at the same time. For example, you can block facebook.com as a website entry and also add the keyword social with Content Match to catch social media sites you haven't thought of.
Tip: Keywords can also be added to Scheduled Blocking plans. When creating or editing a schedule, you'll find the same keyword input with matching mode selector inside the plan editor.

📊 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, keyword, or schedule triggered the block)
  • A motivational message to help you stay on track

Use your browser's back button 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.
How do I know if blocking is currently active?
Look at the extension icon in your browser toolbar. When blocking is active (either via Quick Block or a schedule), a green dot appears in the bottom-right corner of the icon. No green dot means blocking is inactive.
Does keyword blocking work on single-page apps (SPA)?
Yes. The extension uses a MutationObserver to detect URL changes within single-page applications (like Twitter/X, YouTube, Reddit). When a page navigates without a full reload, the extension automatically re-checks the new URL and page content against your keyword rules.
Can I accidentally block the help page?
No. This extension's help page (blocking-websites-on-chrome.pages.dev) is protected and can never be blocked, even in Whitelist mode. You can always access the help documentation.
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.
What's the difference between website blocking and keyword blocking?
Website blocking targets a specific domain (e.g. facebook.com — only that exact site is blocked). Keyword blocking is broader — it matches any site whose domain, URL, or page content contains your keyword. For example, the keyword game with Domain Match will block game.com, freegames.net, pokigame.com, and any other domain containing "game".
Are keyword matches case-sensitive?
No. Keyword matching is case-insensitive. Adding Game or GAME will produce the same result as game.
When should I use Domain Match vs URL Match vs Content Match?
  • Domain Match — Use when you want to block an entire website whose name contains a certain word. Example: shopping blocks shopping.com, onlineshopping.net, etc.
  • URL Match — Use when you want to block specific pages but allow the rest of the site. Example: /games/ only blocks pages with "/games/" in the URL path, not the entire website.
  • Content Match — Use when you want to block pages that discuss a certain topic, regardless of their URL. Example: gambling blocks any page whose text content mentions gambling.

⚠️ 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