Why are websites still opening even though I blocked them?
If a website you blocked still loads, the cause usually relates to how iOS handles web blocking, the browser you’re using, or keyword vs. domain blocking.
Quick fixes to try first
- Refresh your blocking — Open AppBlock → Blocking tab → tap the refresh icon, then reopen the site.
- Confirm the schedule is active and includes the website.
- Restart your iPhone.
Common reasons a site slips through
- You’re using an unsupported browser. Less common browsers may bypass website blocking entirely.
- You used a keyword in a non-Safari browser. Keyword blocking works only in Safari. In other browsers, block the full website address instead.
- The site briefly flashed before blocking. This is normal — the browser starts loading before Screen Time intercepts it.
- You added the site to a limit-based schedule. Websites and keywords can only be blocked with Time or Location schedules — not Open Limit or Usage Limit schedules.
For the full picture, see “How website blocking works in Safari.”
