Block YouTube With Family Link
Google Family Link is the official way to manage what kids access on a Chromebook. It lets you block specific websites including YouTube.
- Install Google Family Link on your phone (available for both Android and iOS).
- Create a supervised Google account for your child, or add supervision to their existing account.
- Sign in to the Chromebook with the child’s supervised account.
- On your phone, open Family Link and select your child’s profile.
- Tap “Controls,” then “Content restrictions,” then “Google Chrome.”
- Under “Manage sites,” tap “Blocked” and add youtube.com.
- Also add m.youtube.com and youtu.be to block the mobile and short URL versions.
Family Link blocks the sites at the account level, so it works regardless of which Chromebook the child signs into. The child sees a “This site is blocked” page when trying to access YouTube.
Block the YouTube App
Blocking the website alone isn’t enough if the YouTube Android app is installed. To block the app:
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- Open Family Link on your phone.
- Select your child’s profile.
- Tap “Controls,” then “App limits.”
- Find YouTube and YouTube Kids in the app list.
- Tap the app and select “Block” or set a daily time limit of 0 minutes.
You can also prevent new app installations by requiring parental approval for all Google Play Store downloads in Family Link’s settings.
Use Supervised User Settings
For managed Chromebooks (school or enterprise), administrators can block YouTube through the Google Admin Console.
- Log in to admin.google.com.
- Go to Devices, then Chrome, then Settings, then Users & browsers.
- Under “URL blocking,” add youtube.com, m.youtube.com, and youtu.be to the blocked list.
- Save the settings. The changes push to all managed Chromebooks in that organizational unit.
This is how schools typically block YouTube. Students can’t bypass it because the Chromebook enforces the policy at the system level.
Block YouTube at the Router Level
Blocking YouTube on your router stops access for every device on the network, not just the Chromebook.
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- Log in to your router’s admin panel (usually 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1).
- Find the “Parental Controls,” “Access Control,” or “URL Filtering” section.
- Add youtube.com to the blocked site list.
- Save and apply the settings.
The exact steps vary by router brand. Popular routers with easy-to-use parental controls include Asus (AiProtection), Netgear (Armor/Parental Controls), TP-Link (HomeCare), and mesh systems like Eero, Google Wifi, and Orbi that have app-based parental controls.
Router-level blocking is harder to bypass than software-only solutions since it applies to the network itself. However, it can be circumvented with a VPN or by switching to mobile data.
Block YouTube With a DNS Service
DNS-based filtering blocks YouTube by preventing the domain from resolving. This works across all devices on your network.
| DNS Service | Cost | Features |
|---|---|---|
| OpenDNS FamilyShield | Free | Pre-configured to block adult content. Add custom blocks for YouTube. |
| CleanBrowsing | Free tier / Paid | Family filter blocks adult content. Custom plans allow blocking specific sites. |
| NextDNS | Free up to 300k queries/month | Highly customizable. Block specific domains, categories, and apps. |
To use a DNS service, change your router’s DNS settings to the service’s DNS addresses. For NextDNS: create an account, add youtube.com to your blocklist, and set your router’s DNS to the provided addresses. Changes apply to all devices on the network.
Use a Chrome Extension (Temporary Block)
For self-discipline or temporary blocking (not reliable for parental controls since extensions can be removed):
- Open the Chrome Web Store on the Chromebook.
- Search for a site blocker extension like “BlockSite” or “StayFocusd.”
- Install the extension and add youtube.com to the block list.
- Set a schedule if the extension supports it (e.g., block YouTube during homework hours).
Extensions are easy to uninstall, so this method only works if the user actively wants to limit their own usage. For kids, use Family Link instead – they can’t remove the restrictions without the parent’s Family Link password.
Allow YouTube Kids Only
Instead of blocking YouTube completely, you can block YouTube but allow YouTube Kids, which filters content for younger viewers.
For related tips, check out our full guide on minecraft on a Chromebook.
- In Family Link, block youtube.com and m.youtube.com.
- Leave the YouTube Kids app unblocked (or install it from the Play Store).
- In Family Link, go to the YouTube Kids settings to set the content level (Preschool, Younger, Older, or Approved content only).
YouTube Kids has a more limited content library and doesn’t show comments, live streams, or most user-uploaded content. For older kids, you can enable YouTube in supervised mode through Family Link, which lets you control what types of content they can search for and watch.
Troubleshooting
Child bypasses block with incognito mode. Family Link disables incognito mode on supervised accounts by default. If somehow enabled, check Family Link, then Controls, then Content restrictions, and make sure incognito mode is turned off. On managed Chromebooks, administrators can disable incognito mode through the Admin Console.
YouTube still accessible after router block. Clear the DNS cache on the Chromebook: open Chrome, type chrome://net-internals/#dns in the address bar, and click “Clear host cache.” Also restart the Chromebook. If the child is using a VPN or proxy, they can bypass router-level blocks – check for VPN apps installed on the Chromebook.
Family Link not syncing. Make sure the Chromebook has an internet connection. Open the Family Link app on your phone and pull down to refresh. Changes may take a few minutes to propagate. Restart the Chromebook if changes don’t appear.
YouTube embedded videos still work on other sites. Blocking youtube.com stops direct access, but embedded YouTube videos on other websites may still play. To block embedded videos too, also block googlevideo.com in your blocking method (router, DNS, or Family Link). Be aware this may break video playback on some legitimate educational sites.
Can a child remove Family Link supervision?
Children under 13 cannot remove supervision. Teens 13 and older can request to stop supervision, but the parent receives a notification and has 24 hours to either approve or deny the request. If supervision is removed, the Chromebook is temporarily locked for 24 hours, giving the parent time to respond.
Does blocking YouTube also block Google search?
No. Blocking YouTube only blocks youtube.com. Google Search still works. However, YouTube video results may still appear in Google Search results (they just won’t play when clicked). To filter Google Search results, enable SafeSearch in Family Link or in Google’s search settings.
Can I block YouTube only during certain hours?
Family Link lets you set screen time limits and a bedtime schedule for the entire Chromebook, but doesn’t support per-site time schedules. For time-based YouTube blocking, use a router with scheduling features (many modern routers support blocking sites during specific hours), or use a DNS service like NextDNS with scheduling rules.
Sources
Need a fresh start? See our Chromebook factory reset guide.
For a deeper look at how Chromebooks stack up against Windows laptops, check our Chromebook vs laptop guide.
Google – Manage Chrome Settings | Google – Family Link Parent Guide
