How to block websites on Safari: A complete guide for iPhone, iPad & Mac

Safari is a solid browser—fast, clean, and secure. But what it doesn’t offer out of the box is deep website blocking, especially when you’re trying to prevent distractions like YouTube or restrict certain sites for kids or teams.

So, what do most people do first? They go manual. And while manual methods do offer some control, they’re not foolproof, especially if you’re managing multiple devices across home, classroom, or workplace.

Let’s discuss how to block a website on Safari manually on iPhones and Macs, where those methods fall short, and how a unified solution like Scalefusion helps block websites on Safari at scale with more control and visibility.

Why would you want to block websites on Safari?

Let’s start with the obvious.

Blocking websites in Safari serves the purpose of enhancing focus, safety, and productivity, rather than being an exercise in mere control. Common reasons for doing so include:

• Parents want to restrict adult content or social media on kids’ iPads.
• Schools need to stop access to YouTube and similar sites during lessons.
• Businesses aim to cut down on time-wasting sites or secure devices from risky URLs.

Regardless of the goal, the question remains the same: how to block websites on Safari effectively?

How to block websites on Safari – iPhone/iPad (Manual way)

If you’re on an iPhone or iPad, Apple offers basic tools under Screen Time settings. Here’s how to block websites on Safari iPhone using those options:

Steps:

1. Go to Settings > Screen Time.
2. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
3. Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions (if not already).
4. Tap Content Restrictions > Web Content.
5. Select Limit Adult Websites
6. Under Never Allow, tap Add Website and enter the URL you want to block (e.g., www.youtube.com).

And that’s how you manually block a website like YouTube on Safari on an iPhone.

What’s good?

• No extra apps.
• Free and built-in.
• Works for specific URLs.

What’s missing?

• Limited scope: Only works on that one device.
• No bulk control: Can’t push this across multiple iPhones or iPads.
• Bypass risks: Smart kids or users can reset Screen Time passcodes.
• No URL filtering: Only blocks exact URLs, not categories or partial domains.

How to block websites on Safari – Mac (Manual Way)

On a Mac, there’s no “Screen Time” level website blocking like on iOS, but it’s still possible using Screen Time or third-party workarounds.

Method 1: Use Screen Time on macOS

1. Open System Settings > Screen Time.
2. Select your user profile.
3. Click Content & Privacy.
4. Enable Limit Adult Websites under Web Content.
5. Click Customize > Restricted, then add the URLs manually.

Method 2: Edit the Hosts File (Not recommended for everyday users)

You can technically block sites using the Mac’s /etc/hosts file, but this method is tricky and resets after OS updates or if tampered with.

Common manual method limitations

Whether you’re using iPhone or Mac, here’s what manual methods lack:

• No central control: You can’t manage or push policies remotely.
• Scalability issues: For schools or businesses with 10+ devices, repeating the same steps is time-consuming.
• No tracking or visibility: You don’t know if the user accessed a blocked site via a different browser or bypassed the restriction.
• Zero real-time control: You can’t update or adjust restrictions on the go.

So if you’re wondering how to block websites on Safari at scale or without constant manual effort, the manual route isn’t enough.

How to block sites on Safari with Scalefusion UEM 

Scalefusion offers a simple, scalable way to block websites on Safari across managed iPhones, iPads, and Macs—no manual device handling needed.

Whether you’re preventing access to social media or need to block websites on Safari for work compliance, Scalefusion’s Custom Payloads let you enforce these restrictions remotely.

For iOS and macOS devices:

1. Enroll Mac devices in Scalefusion.
2. Go to Device Profiles > Create/Edit device profile.

3. Scroll to Custom Settings.
4. In the Custom Payload section, paste your XML-based policy using Apple’s MDM protocol. You can allow or deny specific URLs while keeping general browsing open.

5. Under Select Conflict Resolution Method, you can choose how to resolve conflicts if the same settings are found in both the custom payload and the Device Profile:

• Custom payload wins over device profile settings.
• Device profile wins over custom payload settings.

Full guide & tested XML code: Block Websites on the Safari Browser – Scalefusion Help Doc

Note: Always test the payload on a single machine before mass deployment. 

Why use Scalefusion to block websites on Safari?

Here’s what makes Scalefusion a better answer to how to block sites on Safari:

Who needs this?

• Schools managing student iPads/Macs for distraction-free learning.
• Retailers or logistics companies using iPhones or iPads as POS or field tools.
• Corporate IT teams wanting to restrict access to entertainment, social media, or unknown sites.
• Parents looking for more effective control than Apple’s built-in options.

Final thoughts

If you’re just trying to block a site or two on your own device, manual methods are fine—for now. But if you’re dealing with multiple users, devices, or looking for tighter management, you’ll hit a wall quickly.

Scalefusion Apple MDM solution offers a better way to block websites on Safari—efficient, scalable, and secure. Whether it’s blocking websites on Safari for a classroom or restricting all social media in a retail setup, it gives you the tools and visibility to manage it all from one place.