Block URL Keywords on Mac

1Focus is an app and website blocker for Mac designed to help you eliminate online distractions. By blocking time-consuming and addictive content, you will remain focused and productive.

One effective way to block access to many websites at once is through keyword blocking (blocking of words contained in the URL). This means any URL containing your specified keyword will be automatically blocked.

With 1Focus Pro, you can block specific URL keywords across popular browsers like Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge, Opera, and Arc.

In this guide, you will learn how to block words in URLs using 1Focus.

How to Block URL Keywords on Mac

Steps (2 Minutes):

1. Subscribe to 1Focus Pro.
2. Open 1Focus. You can reopen the 1Focus window by clicking its arrow icon in the top right of your screen.
3. Create or select a preset.
4. Click the + button under Blocked Websites.
5. Enter the keyword you wish to block, surrounded by asterisks (e.g. *news*), and confirm with the Enter key (⏎).
6. Click the tab Schedule, and enable blocking.

Tip

You can also add keywords as website exceptions.

Troubleshooting

• Use a supported web browser. 1Focus can block websites across Safari, Chrome, Brave, Edge, Opera, and Arc. You can block unsupported browsers under 1Focus → Apps.
• Grant permission to block websites.
• Keyword blocking applies only to the URL (website address), not the content of the page.
• Be sure to surround the keyword with asterisks: *video*. It is only treated as a keyword if it is surrounded by asterisks.
• Keep in mind that keyword blocking in 1Focus respects word boundaries to prevent unexpected blocks. If you block *video*, then any URL containing the word “video” or “videos” will be blocked. However, example.com/videogame won’t be blocked because “video” is not a whole word here but part of a word.
• Make sure that the keyword you want to block is not listed in Exceptions.
• Restart your computer.
• Uninstall 1Focus, permanently delete it from the Trash (important), and then reinstall it from the Mac App Store. No data is lost.
• Optional: Prevent bypassing blocking.

For help, contact support.

Further Reading

• How to block porn on Mac with 1Focus: Learn how to block adult sites and pornography on Safari and other browsers.

• How to block a website category on your Mac: Discover how to block categories like social media, games, and more.

Explore all the features of 1Focus and learn how to customize it to meet your needs.