How to Block Certain Searches on Google Search Engine

Sometimes you may need to block certain words (or keywords or search terms or whatever you call them) from being searched on the Google search engine (or simply Google). But is it possible? The answer is definitely yes. This article talks in detail about 3 ways to block searches on Google.

With methods 1 and 2, Google gets blocked immediately once a certain word is put in the search box and Enter is pressed while works normally with any other searches. There are differences between these two methods, and you can read on to find out which one suits you best. Also, there is another method.

Method 1. How to block searches on Google with AppCrypt

Applies to: Mac, Windows, and Android

This method uses an app called Cisdem AppCrypt. It’s very easy to use. You only need to specify the search terms that you want to block on Google, and AppCrypt does the rest.

Note: This method only supports google.com. It doesn't support the Google app on Android.

Once you specify a word, when you or someone else searches this word or a phrase containing this word on Google, Google will be blocked immediately on all supported web browsers, and search results for the word or phrase won’t show up at all. Google won’t be blocked if you search any other word. In addition to Google, this search will be blocked on YouTube, Twitter and more.

AppCrypt supports Safari, Chrome, Firefox (on Windows only), Edge, Opera and Brave. It even supports more browsers on Android. It allows you to lock unsupported browsers.

Below are the steps to block a search on Google.

1. Download and install AppCrypt on your computer or phone.

Free Download macOS 10.12 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7

Download on theApp Store GET IT ONGoogle Play

2. When you open it for the first time, set a password. It’s recommended to select the Launch at System Startup checkbox.

3. On a Mac, click the lock icon in the menu bar to choose Open Main Window. On a Windows PC, click the AppCrypt icon in the taskbar.

4. Enter the password to access the main window.

5. Under the Web Block tab, enter the specific word that you’d like to block in the URL field and click Add. Add more words if needed.

In step 5, if you have a text file with a list of words to block on Google, you can import the file by choosing Import > TXT file. This can save you from manually adding words.

From now on, Google won’t let you or other users of this computer search the added words. Also, any URL containing any of the added words will be blocked and inaccessible.

If blocking certain searches on the search engine isn’t enough, you can use AppCrypt to block more. Here’re some examples.

• Block specific websites and pages, like distracting ones or inappropriate ones
• Block a certain category of websites, like adult sites or social media sites, by choosing the category from the Import menu
• Block all websites except a few

By default, a search or website will be blocked permanently as long as AppCrypt is running. There are 3 ways (including quitting AppCrypt) to unblock a search, but they all require the password. So only people who know the password can unblock searches. (To block yourself from searching certain words on Google, you can ask a trusted person like a family member to set the password in step 2.)

Method 2. How to block a search on Google with BlockSite

Applies to: Mac, Windows PC

BlockSite is a web browser extension. Once you add a search term to its Block List, if you search the term on Google, this extension will block Google, preventing you from seeing the search results for this term. This extension is available for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. The blocking only applies to the very browser on which this extension is installed.

Below is how to use this extension to do the blocking.

1. Add BlockSite to your browser.

2. Go to the extension’s settings .

3. Choose Block Sites in the sidebar on the left to access the Block List.

4. Click Add to Block List.

5. Choose the Keywords tab.

6. Enter the word you need to block. The word will show up in the Keywords to Block list. Click the Add button next to the word. Add more words if needed.

7. Click Done.

With Method 1, searches are blocked on Google in both normal browsing and incognito/private browsing. But by default Method 2 only supports normal browsing. To make it support incognito/private browsing, you need to enable the extension to work in such browsing.

Method 3. How to block certain search results on Google

Applies to: Mac, Windows PC, Android, iPhone

The two methods above are about blocking search terms. Here’s a scenario: you are a concerned parent with a teen son who uses Google to search for porn. These two methods can help you with the situation. Just block search terms like “porn”.

This method may also help in such a case. But it doesn’t block a search. It blocks certain search results.

This method uses Google SafeSearch. Once turned on, SafeSearch automatically blocks inappropriate content (like adult websites and explicit images) in search results.

Blow is how to turn it on.

1. In your browser, go to https://www.google.com/safesearch.

2. Choose Filter (recommended) or Blur.

• Choosing Filter will hide explicit links in search results, text and images.
• Choosing Blur will blur explicit images in search results, which is generally not enough.

It’s that simple.

Note that turning on SafeSearch in normal browsing doesn’t turn it on in incognito/private browsing, and vice versa. You need to turn it on in both browsing modes.

To turn on SafeSearch in the Google app on your Android device, iPhone or iPad, you need to go to the app’s settings.

Conclusion

Blocking certain words on the search engine is one of the ways to maintain a more child- or family-friendly browsing experience. This article shows you how to block searches on Google, which actually also applies to Bing and other search engines. You can choose the method that suits you best and start blocking. I also recommend enabling SafeSearch.