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To block adult content on a Mac, use the built-in website filter in Screen Time. Choose Limit Adult Websites to restrict many adult sites while keeping general browsing available, or Approved Websites Only to allow access only to sites you approve. These settings reduce access; Apple does not describe them as a guarantee that every adult site will be blocked.
Choose the right Screen Time filtering mode
| Setting | How it works | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Limit Adult Websites | Automatically limits many or detected adult websites. You can also add individual sites to allowed or restricted lists. | Restricting adult content while retaining broad access to the web. |
| Approved Websites Only | Allows access only to websites you explicitly approve. | A stricter policy where browsing should be limited to a defined set of destinations. |
Approved Websites Only is an allow-list, so it may take ongoing upkeep when someone needs access to a new legitimate site. Apple documents both modes and their site-customization controls in its Mac Screen Time restrictions guide.
Set website restrictions on a Mac account
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Select Screen Time, then open Apps & Websites.
- Choose Restrictions.
- Under Websites, select Filtering.
- Choose Limit Adult Websites or Approved Websites Only. If you choose the first option, use the available controls to add specific sites to the allowed or restricted lists as needed.
Apple’s labels or the precise path can vary somewhat with macOS version. For the related Screen Time overview, see Apple’s Apps & Websites settings guide.
Manage a child’s web access through Family Sharing
A parent or guardian can manage a child’s Apps & Websites restrictions from Family settings. Apple’s current child-safety guidance describes this route: open System Settings > Family, select the child, then open Apps & Websites > Restrictions. The available choices include unrestricted access, limiting detected adult websites, and approved websites only.
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Availability and defaults depend on software version, the child’s age, and country or region. Apple’s current child-safety instructions say the described features require version 27 or later across family devices, so check that guidance for the family’s installed versions and circumstances: Block or allow access to apps and websites on your child’s device.
Know what the filter can and cannot do
Apple describes the built-in control as limiting access to “many” adult websites and also refers to detected adult websites. Its documentation does not establish that the filter catches every adult site, provide a measured blocking rate, or guarantee resistance to bypass. Treat Screen Time as a restriction that can reduce access, not as complete protection.
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For children, website filtering is one technical control, not a substitute for broader supervision and family guidance. The allow-list mode gives tighter control over destinations, while the adult-site filter leaves general web access more open.
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For enrolled organizational devices, Apple documents a separate device-management route that can apply adult-content filtering, URL allow and deny lists, or configurations limited to specific sites. This is distinct from an individual user setting up Screen Time on a personal Mac. See Apple’s Web Content Filter device management payload settings.
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Apple points organizations with complex or legally mandated filtering needs toward options such as a global HTTP proxy or advanced content-filtering apps. Its deployment guidance explains the available approaches: Filter content for Apple devices. The appropriate setup depends on the organization’s policies and deployment requirements.
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