This article provides tips on how to block YouTube access on computers, smartphones and tablets. For this, you can change the “hosts” file of the system or use the free OpenDNS service (on your computer). In the case of the iPhone, just access the “Restrictions” page, in the settings menu; on Android, download some lock apps. For more details, read the text below.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Blocking YouTube in All Desktop Browsers
Step 1. Open the computer's “hosts” file
Read this article to learn how to access the file on Windows and Mac. Continue after opening “hosts” and preparing the YouTube URL.
Step 2. Enter the YouTube URL at the end of the file
Type 127.0.0.1 and press the Tab ↹ key; then type youtube.com and press ↵ Enter.
If you use Chrome, place a space after the YouTube URL and type www.youtube.com
Step 3. Add YouTube mobile URL
Type 127.0.0.1 and press the Tab ↹ key once more; then type m.youtube.com and press ↵ Enter.
Remember: if you're using Chrome, put a space after the URL and the “www” part before it
Step 4. Save the changes in the “hosts” file
Do the following:
- On Windows: click on File, Save as…, text document, All the documents (in the drop-down menu), in the "hosts" file, in To save is on Yes.
- On Mac: Press Control+X (not ⌘ Command+X), Y and ⏎ Return.
Step 5. Restart your computer
After editing the “hosts” file, it is best to restart your computer to save all changes.
-
On Windows: open the Start
and click on On off
is on Restart.
-
On Mac: open the Apple menu
and click on Restart… twice.
Method 2 of 4: Blocking YouTube from the Network
Step 1. Change the computer's DNS settings to open OpenDNS servers
Before you can block some websites on your private network, you have to configure your computer to use OpenDNS DNS server addresses.
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On Windows: right click on Start
Network connections > Change adapter options > right click on your current network > properties > select the option “IP Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” > click on properties > check the option “Use the following DNS server addresses” > type 208.67.222.222 in the upper field and 208.67.220.220 in the lower field > click on OK in the two open windows to save the changes.
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On Mac: open the Apple menu
click on System Preferences… > Network > click on the name of your current network > Advanced… > access the tab DNS > +, in the lower left corner > type 208.67.222.222 > + again > type 208.67.220.220 > click on OK is on To apply to save.
Step 2. Clear your computer's DNS cache
This will remove the remaining settings that might interfere with the changes.
Step 3. Open the OpenDNS sign-up page
Go to https://signup.opendns.com/homefree/ in your internet browser.
Step 4. Create an OpenDNS account
Fill in the following fields (listed in English):
- Email address: Enter the email address you want to use to create the OpenDNS account. Choose an active email.
- Confirm email address: Enter the email address again.
- Select your country: Select the country where you live from the dropdown menu.
- Create password: enter the password you want to use on the account (not the same as the email password).
- Confirm password: enter the password again.
Step 5. Click on GET A FREE ACCOUNT
The button is orange and is at the bottom of the screen. Click to create the account and send a verification message to your email.
Step 6. Open the email you used to set up the OpenDNS account
Step 7. Open the verification email
Click on the “[OpenDNS] Confirm your OpenDNS registration” message.
- If you use Gmail, the message may be in the “Updates” folder.
- If you don't find the message, look in the “Spam” or “Junk” folder.
Step 8. Click on the verification link
It is right after the heading “Click this link to confirm your registration” and takes you to the OpenDNS dashboard.
Step 9. Access the SETTINGS tab
It sits at the top of the OpenDNS dashboard.
Step 10. Click ADD THIS NETWORK
The button is gray and is right after the current network IP address. Click to access a new window.
Step 11. Enter a name for the network
Use the text field at the top of the window.
Step 12. Click on DONE
The option is in the lower right corner of the screen.
Step 13. Click on your network address
It sits in the middle of the screen and opens the network settings page.
Step 14. Block all video sharing sites (optional)
Thus, it will be impossible to access pages like YouTube, Vimeo and the like.
- Check the “Custom” field.
- Check the “Video Sharing” field.
- click in APPLY.
Step 15. Enter the YouTube URL
In the “Manage individual domains” field, type youtube.com and click ADD DOMAIN.
Step 16. Check the “Block” field
It is above the button CONFIRM.
Step 17. Click CONFIRM
The option is at the bottom of the screen. Click to confirm changes and block YouTube on your computer.
Step 18. Add other computers to the OpenDNS list
Do the following on machines where you want to block access to YouTube:
- Change DNS settings to use OpenDNS servers.
- Go to https://login.opendns.com/ and enter the email address and password you use for the OpenDNS account.
- access the tab SETTINGS.
- click in ADD THIS NETWORK, enter a name and click DONE.
- Click on the IP address of the network you added.
- Block YouTube (and video sharing if necessary) via the “Web Content Filtering” menu.
Method 3 of 4: Blocking YouTube on iPhone
Step 1. Delete the YouTube app
That way, no one will be able to access it through the app.
- Lightly click the YouTube icon for a few seconds.
- Take your finger off the icon when it starts to shake.
- click on the X, in the upper left corner of the icon.
- click in Delete.
Step 2. Open the Settings app
of the iPhone.
Click on the gears icon.
Step 3. Scroll down the page and click General
The option is near the top of the settings page.
Step 4. Scroll down the page and click Restrictions
The option is almost in the middle of the General page.
Step 5. Enter the Restrictions password
Use PIN code to unlock the menu.
- The restriction menu password may be different from the iPhone password.
- If necessary, click on Enable Restrictions and enter the password you want to use twice.
Step 6. Scroll down the page and click on the green “Install Applications” button
it will turn white
indicating that you can no longer download apps on the iPhone.
Step 7. Scroll down the page and click Sites
The option is near the end of the “CONTENT ALLOWED” section.
Step 8. Click Limit Adult Content
The option is in the "Sites" menu.
Step 9. Click Add Site… in the “NEVER ALLOW” section
The option is at the bottom of the screen.
Step 10. Enter the YouTube URL
In the “Site” field, type www.youtube.com and click the blue button Concluded, on the keyboard.
Step 11. Close the settings menu
From then on, YouTube will be blocked on the iPhone - the app and the website - and it will be impossible to download from the App Store.
Method 4 of 4: Blocking YouTube on Android
Step 1. Install the required apps
To lock the YouTube website and app on an Android device, you have to have the app installed - although it is possible to delete it and lock the Google Play Store to prevent it from being downloaded again. You also have to download an app called BlockSite (which blocks YouTube) and another one called Norton Lock (which sets a password to prevent other people from interfering with BlockSite):
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Open the Play Store
- Click on the search bar.
- Type blocksite and click "Search" or press "Enter."
- click in INSTALL, on the BlockSite page.
- Click on the search bar and delete the text.
- Type norton lock and click Norton App Lock in the dropdown menu.
- click in INSTALL.
Step 2. Open BlockSite
Press the Home button to close the Play Store, then click on the BlockSite icon, represented by an orange shield and a white symbol in the middle.
Step 3. Activate BlockSite in the Android Accessibility settings menu
In order for BlockSite to access and control your applications, you have to enable it in the settings menu:
- click in ENABLE.
- click in I UNDERSTOOD.
- click in BlockSite (you may have to scroll down the page).
-
Click on the gray “DISABLE” bar
- click in OK and, if necessary, enter the Android PIN code.
Step 4. Click +
The option is in the lower right corner of the screen.
If BlockSite does not appear when you click OK, reopen it before following these steps.
Step 5. Enter the YouTube URL
Enter youtube.com in the text field at the top of the page to indicate that you want Android to block access to YouTube.
Unlike many blockers, you don't have to block the mobile version of the YouTube website (“m.youtube.com”)
Step 6. Click Done
The option is in the upper right corner of the screen and prevents Chrome or any other native Android browser from accessing YouTube.
If you use a downloaded browser (such as Firefox), use Norton Lock to prevent access to YouTube - because BlockSite does not do this service
Step 7. Click + again
The option is in the lower right corner of the screen.
If you don't have YouTube installed on Android, skip this and the next two steps
Step 8. Access the APP tab
It sits at the top of the screen and opens a list of apps.
Step 9. Scroll down the page and click YouTube
The option sits in the apps list and adds YouTube to the list of blocked apps on Android.
Step 10. Open Norton App Lock
Press the home button and click on the app icon, represented by a white and yellow circle with small black details.
Step 11. Click Agree & Open
This will open Norton Lock.
Step 12. Enable Norton Lock in the Accessibility menu
Just like BlockSite, you have to allow Norton Lock to access the system:
- click in Settings.
- click in Norton App Lock Service (you may have to scroll down the page).
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Click on the gray “DISABLE” bar
- click in OK.
Step 13. Set up an access code
When Norton Lock reopens, draw the pattern twice to set the code.
If you prefer to use a normal password, click on SWITCH TO PASSCODE and enter the code twice.
Step 14. Click Continue
The button is at the bottom of the screen.
If necessary, you can reset the Norton Lock code from your Google account
Step 15. Lock required apps
Scroll down and click on each of the apps below to prevent them from being accessed without the code:
- BlockSite.
- Play Store.
- All browsers that BlockSite does not affect (such as Firefox and the like).
- Norton Lock also locks the settings application. While the Play Store is still blocked, it will be impossible to access YouTube without the code.