How to Block YouTube Completely on Chrome
Although YouTube is very useful, sometimes you may want to block it completely in Google Chrome. Maybe you’re trying to stay focused at work, reduce distractions while studying, or keep kids from opening YouTube on a shared computer.
Keep in mind that blocking YouTube in Chrome is not always the same as blocking it across your entire computer. Some methods are easy to bypass, while others require administrator access or additional setup.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to block YouTube step by step, even if you’re new to Chrome and Windows settings.
How to Block YouTube Completely on Chrome: Step-by-Step Guide
The easiest way to block YouTube in Google Chrome is to use a website-blocking extension. If you want a stronger restriction, you can also block YouTube through Windows’ hosts file or configure parental controls. The right method depends on whether you want to block the website in Chrome only or prevent access across the computer.
Follow the steps below, starting with the method that best fits your needs.
Method 1: Block YouTube Using a Chrome Extension
Step 1: Open the Chrome Web Store
Open Google Chrome on your Windows computer. In the address bar at the top, type chromewebstore.google.com and press Enter.
The Chrome Web Store is Google’s official place to find browser extensions. These extensions add features to Chrome, including tools for blocking distracting websites.
Use the store’s search box to search for a website blocker. Review the available extensions and choose one that specifically supports blocking websites by URL.
Before installing an extension, check its reviews, update history, developer information, and requested permissions. A website blocker may need permission to read or change browsing data to block pages, so install only an extension you trust.
Step 2: Install a Website-Blocking Extension
After choosing an extension, open its listing and review the details. Select Add to Chrome, then click Add extension if Chrome asks you to confirm.
Wait for the installation to finish. You may see a notification confirming that the extension has been added to Chrome.
To find the extension, click the Extensions icon near the upper-right corner of the browser. It usually looks like a puzzle piece. If you want quick access, you may be able to pin the extension to the toolbar.
Remember that extensions can access sensitive browsing information depending on their permissions. Avoid installing multiple blockers that request unnecessary access.
Step 3: Add YouTube to the Block List
Click the website-blocking extension’s icon and open its settings or website list. The exact labels vary depending on the extension you choose.
Look for an option such as Add website, Block site, or Blocked websites. Enter youtube.com and save the change.
If the extension supports URL patterns, you may also need to block www.youtube.com and other YouTube subdomains. Follow the extension’s instructions to make sure the main website and its alternate addresses are covered.
Open a new tab and visit https://www.youtube.com to test the restriction. If the extension is configured correctly, it should prevent access or display a blocked-site message.
This method is convenient, but it may not be completely foolproof. Someone who can disable or uninstall the extension may be able to access YouTube again.
Method 2: Block YouTube Using the Windows Hosts File
Step 1: Open Notepad as an Administrator
If you want a restriction that does not depend on a Chrome extension, you can use the Windows hosts file. This file lets Windows associate specific website hostnames with IP addresses. Redirecting YouTube hostnames to your own computer can prevent normal access to those addresses.
However, this method requires administrator permission, and it is not a complete network-level block. It may not cover every YouTube-related domain or every access method.
To get started, open the Start menu and search for Notepad. Right-click Notepad and select Run as administrator. Click Yes if Windows asks for permission.
Opening Notepad as an administrator is important because the hosts file is protected. A regular Notepad window may let you view the file but will not let you save changes to it.
Step 2: Open the Hosts File
In Notepad, select File > Open. Navigate to this folder:
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc
The folder may look empty because Notepad is filtering the files it displays. In the file-type dropdown near the bottom of the Open window, change Text Documents (*.txt) to All Files (.).
Find the file named hosts and open it. Do not select a similarly named file or create a new text document by mistake.
Before changing anything, save a backup copy of the original file in a safe location. This gives you a way to restore the previous settings if something goes wrong.
Step 3: Add YouTube Hostnames to the Hosts File
Scroll to the bottom of the hosts file. On a new line, enter:
127.0.0.1 youtube.com
On the next line, enter:
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com
These entries tell Windows to direct requests for those exact hostnames to your own computer rather than the website’s normal address.
Select File > Save. If Windows displays a permissions error, close Notepad and reopen it using Run as administrator.
This basic configuration blocks only the hostnames you specify. YouTube uses additional subdomains and related services, so the entries above may not block every page, embedded video, or app connection. Avoid adding random domain lists without understanding what they do, because overly broad entries can interfere with other websites.
Test YouTube in Chrome after saving the file. If the site still loads, restart Chrome and try again. If necessary, flush the DNS cache by opening Command Prompt as an administrator and running ipconfig /flushdns.
To undo the change later, reopen the hosts file as an administrator, remove the two lines you added, and save it.
Method 3: Block YouTube Using Microsoft Family Safety
Step 1: Set Up Microsoft Family Safety
If your goal is to keep a child from watching YouTube on a Windows computer, Microsoft Family Safety may be a better choice than relying on a regular Chrome extension.
Open the official Microsoft Family Safety website and sign in with your Microsoft account. Follow the instructions to create or manage your family group and add the child’s Microsoft account if needed.
On your Windows computer, make sure the child uses their own account rather than an administrator account. This helps you manage restrictions without giving them permission to change important settings.
Microsoft Family Safety’s web filtering features generally work with Microsoft Edge, not Google Chrome. Therefore, simply enabling its website filters will not necessarily block YouTube in Chrome.
For more reliable parental controls, use a supervised browsing setup supported by the filtering service, or combine account restrictions with a website-blocking method that works in Chrome.
Step 2: Restrict Access to Chrome Settings
If you’re blocking YouTube for a child, consider preventing them from disabling the website-blocking extension.
Open Chrome and enter chrome://extensions in the address bar. Press Enter to view your installed extensions.
Find the website blocker you installed and confirm that it is enabled. If the extension offers password protection or administrator-controlled settings, configure those options.
Keep in mind that Chrome does not provide a universal setting that lets you password-protect every extension. Someone with administrator access to Windows may still be able to change browser settings or remove the extension.
For a shared family computer, use a separate standard Windows account for the child and keep the administrator password private. This adds a layer of protection, although it does not make an extension impossible to bypass.
Method 4: Block YouTube Through Your Router
Step 1: Open Your Router’s Settings
If you want to block YouTube on every device connected to your home network, check whether your router supports website filtering, parental controls, or domain blocking.
Open Chrome and enter your router’s management address. The address is often printed on the router label or documented in the manufacturer’s instructions. Sign in using your router’s administrator credentials.
Look for a section named Parental Controls, Access Restrictions, or something similar. The exact location depends on your router model.
Step 2: Add YouTube to the Block List
If your router supports domain blocking, add youtube.com to the restricted website list. If the router supports wildcard rules or subdomain filtering, follow its documentation to cover YouTube’s related hostnames.
Save your settings and test the restriction on a connected device.
Not every router supports this feature, and some filtering systems may not block all YouTube services. YouTube may also be accessible through mobile data, a VPN, or another network.
A router-level block is useful when you want to restrict access across several devices, but it may be more complicated than necessary if your only goal is to block YouTube in Chrome on one computer.
Test Whether YouTube Is Completely Blocked
After applying your chosen method, open a new Chrome tab and visit https://www.youtube.com.
Check whether the page loads, displays a blocked-site warning, or shows a connection error. Also test https://m.youtube.com, which is another YouTube address.
If you use a website-blocking extension, confirm that it remains enabled. If you edited the hosts file, verify that you saved the correct file and entered the hostnames correctly.
You should also understand the limits of your chosen method. Blocking the main YouTube website does not necessarily block embedded YouTube videos on other sites, the YouTube app, or every related service.
For the strongest practical restriction on a Windows PC, combine a trusted Chrome blocker with a standard Windows user account and administrator-controlled settings. If you need to block YouTube across your entire network, consider router-level filtering as well.
FAQs
1. Can I block YouTube permanently in Chrome?
You can make access much harder by combining a trusted website-blocking extension with restricted Windows account permissions. However, no single Chrome setting guarantees a permanent block if someone has administrator access or can use another browser or network.
2. How do I block YouTube without installing an extension?
You can try the Windows hosts file method described above. It requires administrator access and may not block every YouTube address or connection method. Router-level filtering is another option if your router supports it.
3. Can I block YouTube but still allow Google Search?
Yes. A website blocker can usually restrict YouTube’s domain without blocking Google Search. When configuring your blocker, make sure you add only the YouTube addresses you want to restrict.
4. Why can I still open YouTube after blocking it?
The extension may be disabled, the wrong address may have been blocked, or the method may not cover all YouTube domains. Review your settings and test the site again. If you used the hosts file, check that the changes were saved correctly.
5. Does blocking YouTube in Chrome also block the YouTube app?
No. A Chrome extension generally blocks access only through that browser. To restrict the YouTube app or access through other browsers, you need additional device-level or network-level controls.
Summary
Blocking YouTube completely in Chrome depends on how strict you want the restriction to be. A website-blocking extension is usually the easiest place to start, while the Windows hosts file offers another option for restricting specific website addresses.
For parental controls, remember that Microsoft Family Safety’s web filtering is designed primarily for Microsoft Edge, so additional controls are needed if the child uses Chrome. Router-level filtering may help if you want to restrict access across your home network.
For a stronger setup, combine a trusted blocker with a standard Windows account and keep administrator access under your control.
Finally, test your settings to make sure the restriction works as expected.