How to Block a Website Using Windows Command Prompt

Are you a parent concerned about your children spending too much time on their favorite websites? Or, are you an employer looking to limit your employees’ access to certain websites during working hours? Fortunately, Microsoft Windows Command Prompt utility can come in handy to block access to specific websites. In this article, we will guide you through the process of blocking access to a website using Command Prompt.

Contents

Step 1:
Step 2:
Step 3:
Step 4:
Step 5:
Step 6:
Step 7:
Conclusion

Step 1:

Shut down all applications and programs on your computer. This step is crucial to ensure that the changes you make are not overwritten by any open applications or programs.

Step 2:

Press the “Windows-R” keys at the same time. This will open the Run dialog box.

Step 3:

Type “cmd” in the field and select the “OK” button. This will open the Command Prompt window.

Step 4:

Type “notepad C:/Windows/System32/drivers/etc/hosts” in the command window. This will open the Hosts file in Notepad.

Step 5:

Find the line that contains “127.0.0.1 local host.” This line indicates the localhost IP address.

Step 6:

Type “127.0.0.1 URL” on the next line, with “URL” being the site you want to block. For example, if you want to block CNN, type “127.0.0.1 cnn.com.” This will redirect the website to the local host and prevent it from loading.

Step 7:

Save the file. Exit all windows. After saving the changes, exit the Command Prompt and Notepad windows. You can now try accessing the website you just blocked, and you will notice that it won’t load.

Conclusion

Microsoft Windows Command Prompt utility provides an easy and effective way to block access to specific websites. By following the steps outlined above, you can restrict access to certain websites and ensure that your children or employees are not wasting time on them during working hours. Always remember to save the changes and exit all windows after making the necessary adjustments to the Hosts file.