How to Block Websites on Windows in Every Browser

By ChildCyberGuard Team · 6 November 2026 · 7 min read

You block a website in Chrome, and ten minutes later it loads in Edge. This is the most common frustration parents have with website blockers. Here are the four main methods, and what each one can and cannot do.

Method 1: A browser extension

Quick to install and fine for yourself. For a child, it has two problems: it only protects one browser, and it can be disabled or removed in the browser's settings.

Method 2: The Windows hosts file

You add lines that point a site's name to nowhere, in C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts. It works in every browser, but you must list every address a site uses (www, mobile, app versions), you need administrator rights to edit it, and any child with an admin account can reverse it.

Method 3: The router

Many routers can block sites for the whole home network. It protects every device, but only at home. Mobile data and other Wi-Fi networks are not covered, and a child who knows the router password can undo it.

Method 4: A DNS-level parental control tool

Every site visit starts with the computer asking "where is this website?". A DNS-level tool answers "blocked" for sites you choose, whichever browser or app asked. You pick categories (social media, adult, gambling, games) or add any site yourself, and changes take effect without touching each browser.

Steps with ChildCyberGuard

1. Create a parent account (free for 7 days).
2. Install it on the PC and log in with your parent details.
3. Tick the categories to block, or add a site under your own list.
4. Switch your child to a standard Windows account.

Want a block to apply only on school days? Allow the site on specific days instead. See how it works, or read our guides to blocking social media and porn sites.

Why blocking in one browser is not enough

Almost every Windows PC has more than one browser. Edge is built in, and Chrome and Firefox take a minute to download. If your block lives in a single browser, the workaround is one tab away. Children who are good at games are usually good at this too.

The aim is to block the destination, not the program used to reach it. That is what the hosts file, the router and DNS-level tools do, each in a different way and with different weak spots.

Using the hosts file properly

If you want a free, technical option, this is how it works. Open Notepad as administrator, open C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts (choose "All files" so it shows) and add a line for each name you want to block:

0.0.0.0 example.com
0.0.0.0 www.example.com

Save the file and restart the browser. Be aware of the limits: sites often use many names (m., app., cdn.), so you may need to add several lines, and anyone with administrator rights can edit the file back. It is a clever trick for a single site. It is a poor way to manage a whole category such as "social media".

Blocking on the router

Many home routers include a parental or block-list feature. It covers every device on your Wi-Fi at once, which is convenient. But it only works at home, the feature set varies hugely by brand, and a child who knows or guesses the router password can reverse it. Laptops that leave the house are not covered.

Why DNS-level tools are the practical choice

A DNS-level parental control tool runs on the computer itself, so it follows the PC wherever it goes. You choose categories rather than typing site names, new sites in a category are blocked automatically, and changes apply to all browsers without touching any of them. The parent password stops your child from simply switching it off.

Making the block hard to undo

Whichever method you use, three habits do most of the work:

1. Use a standard Windows account for your child. This stops installing other browsers or changing system settings.
2. Keep the administrator password private and change it if your child has seen it.
3. Check from time to time. Try a blocked site in two browsers. If it loads, find out why before your child does.

For more on the tricks children use, read how kids bypass parental controls and how to stop them.

What should you block first?

If you are starting from nothing, work in this order: adult content (see how to block porn sites), scams and phishing (see scams that target children), gambling, and then the categories you want to schedule, such as social media and games. Start strict and loosen over time, which is far easier than the other way round.

Troubleshooting: why a blocked site still loads

• The browser is using its own secure DNS. Some browsers can bypass the system DNS. Check the browser's privacy settings, and use a tool or policy that handles this.
• A cached copy. Restart the browser, or clear its cache, and test again.
• A different address. The site may use a second domain or a mobile version that you have not blocked. Category blocking avoids this chase.
• A VPN or proxy. These carry traffic past local filters. A standard account that cannot install software prevents most of them.
• A different network. A router-level block does not apply on mobile data or another Wi-Fi.

Blocking for yourself, not just your child

Adults block sites too, often to stay focused. The same logic applies: a browser extension is fine for you because you are not trying to defeat it, but a child needs a method that cannot be switched off in settings. Match the tool to who it is for.

Keep a short list of exceptions

A good block list needs a "let this one through" list as well. Schools, banks and homework sites sometimes end up in a blocked category by accident. When a site is blocked wrongly, allow it quickly, and your child learns that the rules are fair and fixable.

Frequently asked questions

How do I block a website on Windows 11?

Will blocking a site in Chrome block it in Edge?

Can my child undo a hosts-file block?

Does blocking a website also block its app?

Can I block websites on only one Windows user account?