4 ways to block sites on Firefox

To optimize your working time or to protect your children, you can block access to a specific website in Firefox. If you are using a desktop computer, there are several ways you can do this. If you are using an iPhone, you can go through the Restrictions feature while on Android you can use a free app called Block Site.

Steps

Method 1 of 4: Use Block Site on a Desktop Computer

Step 1. Open Firefox

Click or double-click the orange fox icon on a blue globe to open the Firefox application.

Step 2. Open the Block Site installation page

Block Site is an extension that allows you to block a website. You can lock it with a password to prevent other users from changing your settings.

Step 3. Click + Add to Firefox

It's the blue button in the middle of the page.

Step 4. Choose Add when prompted

This button will appear at the top of the page and will add the Block Site extension to Firefox.

Step 5. Click ☰

This button is located at the top right of the Firefox window and opens a drop-down menu.

Step 6. Select Modules

The option Modules can be found in the drop-down menu.

Step 7. Go to the Extensions tab

This tab is located in the left side pane of the window.

Step 8. Open the Block Site options page

Scroll down to the header Block Site then click on Options to the right.

Step 9. Create a password

Scroll down to the text field Master password, click on it, then type in a password that you won't forget.

Step 10. Enter a forwarding address

Click on the text field Redirect to and enter a website address if you want blocked sites to redirect to a specific page (eg Google).

Without a redirect address, Block Site will simply redirect users who try to connect to a blocked site to a page that says “Access blocked”

Step 11. Add a website to the block list

Scroll down to the text field Block a new hostname, click on it and type in the address of the website you want to block.

For example, if you want to block Twitter, type www.twitter.com in this text field

Step 12. Click Save

This button is at the bottom of the page and allows you to block the site in question on Firefox. No one will be able to modify the block list without the password.

Method 2 of 4: Use the Hosts file on a desktop computer

Step 1. Open the hosts file

The hosts file can be opened on a Windows computer or on a Mac, but you will need administrator privileges.

If you are using a computer on which you have limited privileges (or on which you do not have administrator privileges), you will not be able to use the hosts file to block sites on Firefox

Step 2. Place your cursor at the bottom of the page

Scroll to the bottom of the hosts file and click below the last line. Your cursor should be the last element on the page.

Step 3. Enter the localhost address

In the last line of the hosts file, type 127.0.0.1.

Step 4. Press Tab ↹

A large space will be inserted between "127.0.0.1" and your cursor.

Step 5. Enter the address of the site you want to block

The address of the website you want to block must be in the format www.website.com.

For example, if you want to block YouTube, type www.youtube.com after the space you just inserted

Step 6. Press Enter

Add a new line by pressing the key Entrance.

Step 7. Add the full website address

On the new line, type 127.0.0.1, press Tab ↹ then type the HTTPS version of the website (for example

If you don't know the HTTPS version of the website, open it in a web browser, copy its address, and paste it into the hosts file

Step 8. Save your changes

The flow of this step varies from one operating system to another.

If you are using a Windows computer: click File > Save as, select Text files bottom right then All the files in the drop-down menu, click on the hosts file then select Save > Yes before restarting your computer.
If you're using a Mac: Simultaneously press control and X. At the command prompt, press Y then on Return before restarting your Mac.

Method 3 of 4: Use iOS restrictions on iPhone

Step 1. Go to your iPhone settings

Tap the gray cogwheel icon to open the app Settings.

Step 2. Scroll down to the General option

This option is at the top of the settings page.

Step 3. Tap Restrictions

The option Restrictions is in the middle of the page General.

Step 4. Enter your restrictions code

Enter the 4-digit code you use to unlock the restrictions menu.

Press on Activate restrictions at the top of the screen if you have not yet activated restrictions on your iPhone then type twice a unique access code that you will not forget.

Step 5. Tap Websites

This option can be found at the bottom of the section AUTHORIZED CONTENT.

Step 6. Select Limit Adult Content

The option Limit adult content is at the top of the page.

Step 7. Tap Add website

This is the switch under the header NEVER AUTHORIZE at the bottom of the screen. Tap it to open a text field.

Step 8. Enter a website address

In the text field that just opened, type the address of the website you want to block and then press Ended at the bottom right of the keyboard. The website will be added to the list of restrictions.