How website blocking works in Safari
Many users are surprised that website blocking on iPhone behaves a bit differently than app blocking. This article explains why and what to expect.
How it works
AppBlock uses Apple’s Screen Time framework to block websites. When you add a website or keyword, AppBlock tells the system to restrict pages matching that URL or keyword across supported browsers.
Supported browsers
- Safari – fully supported for websites and keywords blocking.
- Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Brave… – supported for website blocking, not for keyword blocking.
- Some less common browsers may bypass blocking entirely.
Domain vs. keyword blocking
- Domain blocking: entering youtube.com blocks the full domain and its subpages.
- Keyword blocking: entering a keyword like tiktok blocks any URL containing that word.
Why some pages may still load briefly
A page may flash on screen for a moment before the blocking screen appears. This is normal iOS behavior — Safari starts loading the page before Screen Time intercepts it.
Limitations
- Incognito or private browsing in unsupported browsers may bypass blocking.
- In-app browsers (for example, inside social media apps) may not always be blocked.
- HTTPS sites with unusual configurations may behave inconsistently.
If a site isn’t being blocked
- Go to the Blocking tab in AppBlock.
- Tap the refresh icon in the top-right corner.
- Reopen the website.
If it still doesn’t work, contact our support team and we’ll help look into it.
