How to block websites on Chrome

Chrome doesn't have a built-in way to block websites, so you need an extension. With Pawse: install it, go to the site, right-click and choose “Block this website”. Next time you open it, you'll see a block page instead.

Block a website in Chrome, step by step

Install Pawse from the Chrome Web Store (free).
Open the website you want to block, for example youtube.com.
Right-click anywhere on the page and choose “Block this website”, or click the Pawse icon in your toolbar.
Pick how hard it should be to get back in (a few breaths is the default) and press Block.

That's it. Open tabs on that site switch to the block page right away.

Block one page instead of the whole site

In the Pawse popup, choose “Just this page”. Handy for blocking youtube.com/shorts or reddit.com/r/all while keeping the rest of the site.

Block websites in incognito too

Go to chrome://extensions.
Click Details under Pawse.
Turn on “Allow in Incognito”.

Other ways (and why they're harder)

Editing your computer's hosts file blocks a site for every browser, but it's fiddly and there's no easy way back in.
Google Family Link and company policies can block sites, but they're made for parents and IT admins, not for blocking your own distractions.

Questions

Can I block websites in Chrome without an extension?

Not from Chrome's settings. The only built-in options are parental controls (Family Link) or admin policies. For your own focus, an extension is the easy way.

How do I unblock a site again?

Open the site and complete the challenge you picked, or remove it in Pawse's settings. For hard-locked sites you have to wait until the lock ends.

Does it work in Edge or Brave?

Yes. Both can install extensions from the Chrome Web Store.

Try Pawse. Free for up to 5 sites, no account needed.

Add to Chrome, it’s free