How to Block and Unblock Internet Sites on Firefox

PDF download Download Article
Add blocks or get past content filters on any Firefox browser
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to block or unblock a website on your computer's Firefox browser. While there isn't a built-in way to do this in Firefox's settings, you can use an add-on called "Block Site" to block sites for you. You can use the same add-on to unblock the sites that you initially blocked later if you so choose. If you want to unblock a site that you didn't block in the first place, you can use a proxy site or set up a VPN.

Blocking and Unblocking Sites in Firefox: Fast Facts

There’s no built-in way to block and unblock sites in the Firefox browser. If you have parental controls or website filtering set up on your computer, Firefox will automatically enter safe browsing mode. You can also change your block settings using an extension or third-party app, or get around blocks with a proxy or VPN.

Section 1 of 5:

Using Your Computer’s Parental Controls

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you have parental controls or other safety restrictions set up through your computer’s built-in settings, Firefox will detect them and set itself to Prefer:Safe mode. In addition to blocking any websites you’ve added to your computer’s block list, Firefox will activate safety features on each site you visit as long as parental controls are turned on. [1]
    • There’s no direct way to turn website blocking and other safety features on and off from the Firefox browser.
  2. To turn on basic parental controls in Windows, you’ll need to set up an account for a child.
    • In Windows 10 or 11, open the Start menu and to go Settings > Accounts > Family & other users . Click Add a family member and follow the prompts to set up an account for your child and add your computer to their account.
    • To manage your parental control settings, go to Settings > Accounts > Family & other users and select Manage family settings online .
    • You can also set up website filtering through the Family Safety App in Windows, but these restrictions only work with the Edge browser. [2]
      • Note that enabling these filters will completely block all browsers other than Edge, which means your child won’t be able to access Firefox at all!
    Advertisement
  3. To enable parental controls on your Mac, go to Apple menu > System Settings > [Your Name] and select Family . Click Set Up Family and follow the on-screen instructions to either invite family members or create an account for a child under 13. [3] Once you’ve done that, you can block or unblock websites in Screen Time .
    4. Advertisement
Section 2 of 5:

Blocking and Unblocking Pages with Block Site

PDF download Download Article
  1. Go to the Block Site installation page . Block Site is a clean site-blocking add-on for your Firefox browser.
    • Alternatively, press Ctrl + Shift + A (PC) or Command + Shift + A (Mac) to open your add-ons manager and search "Block Site." Finally, click the "Recommended" addon to load its installation page.
    • Block Site is one of many extensions you can use to block websites on Firefox. Other popular options include FoxFilter (a parental control addon) and LeechBlock (a productivity addon that blocks time-wasting websites).
    • Some of these extensions are available for the Android version of Firefox. On an iPhone, you can block and unblock websites using Screen Time .
  2. It's a blue button near the top of the page. [4]
  3. You'll see this in the upper-right side of the page.
  4. The box will show you where the add-on's icon is so you can use it to block sites.
  5. You’ll need to access the website in order to add it to your block list.
  6. It’s at the top right side of the Firefox window.
  7. A dialog box will open.
  8. In the box that opens, you’ll see a message that says “Access to [website] will be restricted with the following rules. Are you sure?” Click OK to confirm.
    • You can adjust the URL in the box if you like.
    • You’ll be redirected to a “Restricted Access” page. You can click Remove Blocking in the lower right corner to remove the block.
  9. To visit the Options page for the app, click the Settings icon next to the Block Site extension after expanding the extensions menu. This will take you to the Options menu. From here, you can:
    • Add or remove websites from your block list.
    • Set a master password for blocking or unblocking sites.
    • Set specific time limits on when certain websites are available or unavailable.
    • Add a redirect URL for blocked sites.
    • Change the way your browser behaves when a site is blocked (for example, you can select whether or not an “(Un)Block this Page” context menu appears on the blocked page).
    • Customize the message that appears when a user tries to visit a restricted website.
    10. Advertisement
Section 3 of 5:

Blocking and Unblocking with Third-Party Apps

PDF download Download Article
  1. Since a tech-savvy user can easily disable extensions in Firefox, using separate software can give you an extra layer of control and protection over which websites are accessible on your computer.
    • Some popular options include Qustodio, Kaspersky Safe Kids, and Norton Family.
    • Some of these apps block the use of proxies and other workarounds for accessing blocked websites.
  2. Many of these apps work with multiple browsers and across multiple platforms (e.g., desktop, iOS, and Android). However, before you make your choice, take a close look at the specs and make sure the software supports web filtering with Firefox.
    • For example, Kaspersky Safe Kids will filter web content in Firefox on desktop, but the mobile version will only work with Chrome (Android only) or the Kaspersky Safe Browser (Android or iOS).
    3. Advertisement
Section 4 of 5:

Unblocking Sites with a Proxy

PDF download Download Article
  1. Go to https://hide.me/en/proxy in your browser. This website allows you to route your web traffic through a proxy server, which should allow you to bypass most website blocks.
  2. Type the address of a blocked website into the "Enter web address" text box that's on the right side of the page.
    • You can also select a different country by clicking the "Proxy location" drop-down box and then clicking a new country in the resulting drop-down menu.
  3. It's a blue button next to the text box. Doing so will begin loading your website.
  4. Once the website loads, you should be able to use it like usual. Keep in mind, however, that your website's load times will likely be significantly slower than usual.
    5. Advertisement
Section 5 of 5:

Unblocking Sites with a VPN

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you want a VPN that’s specifically designed to work with Firefox, you can download the Mozilla VPN here. This is a low-cost, subscription-based service that you can use on up to 5 devices.
    • If you’d rather use a different VPN, there are tons of options available, including both free and paid VPNs. Check out our article on how to choose the best VPN .
    • Similar to a proxy, a VPN will route your web traffic through a secure server. This means you may be able to get around website blocks on your network.
  2. Once you get the app up and running, you don’t have to do anything special in your browser. Simply turn on the VPN and browse the internet as usual. To get started, launch the app once you’ve finished downloading and installing it on your computer or mobile device. [5]
  3. If you don’t have a Mozilla account, set one up now. Visit https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/account/ to get started.
    • If you got the VPN through the Apple App Store, you can sign in with your Apple account instead.
  4. Click the Select Location dropdown and choose a location. Select the Single-Hop tab and browse through the list of recommended servers, or click All Servers to see more options. Click or tap the server you’d like to use. [6]
    • By default, the VPN will select a server for you with a strong connection that’s as close to your location as possible.
    • Choosing a server that’s far away (i.e., in another country) may give you access to websites that you couldn’t otherwise visit, but it may also affect your internet speeds.
  5. If the switch on the main screen is grey and you see text that says “VPN is off,” click or tap the switch to toggle it on. It will turn green () and the text should change to “VPN is on.” [7]
  6. Once the VPN is active, you may be able to visit websites that are blocked on your network or in your region. This may not work for websites that are blocked on your computer through a Firefox extension, a third-party app, or built-in parental controls.
    • Some network security systems (such as at your work or school) may block your ability to use a VPN while you’re on that network.
    7. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I unblock the website?
    Zildjian Recongco
    Community Answer
    Try to use a VPN. I always use browsec when I'm using a computer on our school to access YouTube and Facebook, it works and it's free to download, but it may affect your internet speed. If you have a high-speed internet that won't be a problem.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 5
  • Question
    How do I allow ads on one specific website with Firefox?
    Community Answer
    You can allow/block ads on any site with just an extension/add-on such as AdBlock or AdBlock+. If you would like to know how to use AdBlock then here are the instructions: If you're on a site in which you want to allow ads, click on the AdBlock extension icon, then disable it on the site you're currently on. If you're on a site in which you want to block ads, the AdBlock extension blocks all ads from all pages.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 4
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      • With Block Site, you can right-click a blank spot on any website and then click Block this domain in the context menu to add the site to Block Site's list.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      • You can temporarily disable Block Site's blocking by clicking Disable to the right of Block Site in the Add-ons section.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      • There is no way to password-protect your Firefox extensions, so anyone with access to the Add-ons page can disable or remove the program.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Access Blocked Websites
      How to
      Download All Images on a Web Page at Once
      How to
      Transfer Bookmarks from One Computer to Another
      6 Simple Ways to Block Websites on Mozilla Firefox
      How to
      Reset Firefox to Fix Crashes, Bugs, and More: 3 Methods
      How to
      Start Firefox in Safe Mode
      4 Easy Ways to Download and Install Mozilla Firefox
      How to
      Use Tor with Firefox on Windows: BlackBelt Setup Guide
      Disable “No Right Click” Scripts on Any Website in Firefox
      How to
      Enable Java in Firefox
      How to
      Downgrade Firefox
      How to
      Disable Pop-ups in Firefox on Mobile or Desktop
      How to
      Change the Default Font in Firefox
      How to
      Get Mozilla Firefox Out of Safe Mode
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/block-and-unblock-websites-parental-controls-firef
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/filter-websites-and-searches-using-microsoft-family-safety-3034d91e-5efa-9fbe-1384-46009f087ccf
      3. ↑ https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/set-up-family-sharing-mh3d6eb198/15.0/mac/15.0
      4. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/find-and-install-add-ons-add-features-to-firefox
      5. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/what-mozilla-vpn-and-how-does-it-work
      6. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-do-i-choose-my-server-mozilla-vpn
      7. ↑ https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/what-mozilla-vpn-and-how-does-it-work

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Go to https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/block-website .
      2. Click + Add to Firefox .
      3. Click Add .
      4. Click the menu and select Add-ons .
      5. Click Extensions .
      6. Click Options next to the extension.
      7. Create a password.
      8. Enter the site address and click Save .
      9. Remove the site when you want to unblock it.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 586,408 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement