How to block websites on your Microsoft Edge browser using Command Prompt

Publish date: 2024-08-18

Microsoft Edge doesn't currently have any settings or functions within its web browser that allow you to block specific websites.

However, there's a workaround that you can exploit using the Command Prompt that will let you block websites on Edge and other browsers for free, without downloading any browser extensions.

Using the Command Prompt can be intimidating, but here's how to use it to block websites on Microsoft Edge.

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1. At the bottom of your computer, in the search bar, type "command." Then right-click on the Command Prompt. In the menu that appears, click on "Run as administrator."

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2. If a pop-up box appears, click the "Yes" button.

3. When the Command Prompt opens, it will appear as a black box with text inside it. Type the following line exactly as it appears: notepad c:\WINDOWS\system32\drivers\etc\hosts . After you have typed the text, press the Enter key.

4. The Notepad application should open on its own. Scroll down in Notepad until you reach the bottom of the text, then press the Enter key.

5. Type the following line exactly as it appears: 127.0.0.1 .

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6. Then, press the space bar once and type the name of the website you want to block. For example, . If done correctly, the line of text should read like this: 127.0.0.1 www.reddit.com . Do this for each of the websites you want to block.

8. Close out of the Command Prompt and Notepad.

If you try to reach the website you blocked, you will no longer be able to view it.

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If you no longer want to block a certain website, repeat steps one through four, and then delete the line of text in Notepad that corresponds to the website(s) you want to unblock. Then repeat steps six and seven. You should now be able to view the website again.

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