You can block distracting websites by creating a simple firewall rule. Below, we have shared a step-by-step guide on blocking websites using Windows Firewall.
1. Find the IP Address of the Website
The first step is to find the IP Addresses of the sites you want to block. For example, if you want to block Facebook, you need to find its IP Address.
It’s pretty easy to find a website’s IP Address. For that, you need to use websites like IPVOID. Here’s what you need to do.
1. Visit IPVOID from your web browser.
2. Enter the website name in the text field and click on the Find Website IP button.
3. The site will list the IP Address. You need to note down the IP address.
2. Creating a Firewall Rule to Block Websites
Once you get the IP Address, you need to create a Firewall rule to block websites.
1. Open the Windows 11 search and type in Windows Firewall. Open Windows Firewall from the list.
2. On the Windows Defender Firewall, click on the Advanced Settings.
3. On the left pane, click on the Outbound Rules.
4. On the right pane, click on the New Rule button.
5. On the Rule type pop-up, select Custom and click on Next.
6. Select all programs and click on the Next button on the next page.
7. Don’t make any changes to the Protocol and Ports option. Just click on Next.
8. On the Remote IP Addresses field, select the These IP Addresses checkbox.
9. Click on the Add button and add the IP Addresses you have copied. You need to enter every IP Address. Once you have done this, click on the Next button.
10. On the Action page, select Block the Connection and click Next.
11. On the Profile page, select all three options and click Next.
12. Enter the name & description of the new rule and click on the Finish button.
If you try to access the blocked website, you will see a page like this.
How to Disable the Rule?
It’s pretty easy to disable the rule on Windows Defender Firewall.
1. Open Windows Defender Firewall and click on the Advanced Settings option.
2. Select Outbound Rules on the left pane.
3. On the Right pane, right-click on the Rule and select the Disable Rule.
This will disable the rule. Now, you will be able to access the blocked websites.
Other Ways to Block Websites on Windows 11?
If you use the Google Chrome web browser, you can use several extensions to block websites. Extensions like Block Site, StayFocusd, etc., work great in blocking distracting websites.
Alternatively, you can edit the Hosts file on Windows 11 to block the sites that you never want to visit.
If you want a detailed guide on how to block a website using the Hosts file and how to use the website blocker extensions, check out this guide – Block a Website in Chrome.
The process might look lengthy, but it’s easy to follow. If you have any doubts related to this, let us know in the comment box below.
