Updated May 2026 · Works on Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows 11 Home/Pro
If your child is burning hours on YouTube instead of doing homework, you have three ways to shut it down on Windows. Below are all three, ranked from easiest to most technical. Skip to method 1 if you want a block that holds up against incognito mode, multiple browsers, and a curious 12-year-old with admin access.
The 2-minute block (most parents pick this)
3Eyes installs on Windows in 2 minutes and blocks YouTube system-wide — Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Brave, incognito, all of it.
Block YouTube Now →Free 14-day trial · No credit card required
Method 1: Use 3Eyes (recommended)
3Eyes is a Windows parental control app that blocks YouTube at the system level — below the browser — so it works in Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Brave, Opera, and incognito windows.
- Create a free 3Eyes parent account.
- Download the 3Eyes installer and run it on the child's Windows PC.
- Sign your child in. YouTube is blocked by default; everything else still works.
- From any browser, open your parent dashboard and toggle screen-time limits or approve specific YouTube channels (Khan Academy, Crash Course, etc.).
Why this method wins on Windows
- Works on Windows 10 and Windows 11 (Home, Pro, Education).
- Blocks YouTube in every browser, including private mode.
- Child cannot disable it without the parent password.
- Set "YouTube blocked weekdays, 30 min weekends" instead of all-or-nothing.
Method 2: Edit the Windows hosts file (free, technical)
The Windows hosts file overrides DNS — you can use it to send YouTube to a dead address.
- Press
Winand search for "Notepad". Right-click → Run as administrator. - In Notepad: File → Open → navigate to
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\. Change the file filter to "All files" and openhosts. - At the bottom of the file, add these lines:
127.0.0.1 www.youtube.com 127.0.0.1 youtube.com 127.0.0.1 m.youtube.com 127.0.0.1 youtu.be 127.0.0.1 youtubekids.com
- Save (Ctrl+S). Open Command Prompt as admin and run
ipconfig /flushdns.
Limitation: A child with admin rights can delete those lines in 30 seconds. Hosts blocks also don't cover mobile hotspot use, VPNs, or alternative DNS resolvers like DNS-over-HTTPS in Chrome 83+.
Method 3: Router-level DNS block (free, household-wide)
Log into your router admin page (usually 192.168.1.1) and switch DNS to OpenDNS FamilyShield (208.67.222.123 / 208.67.220.123) or CleanBrowsing Family. This blocks YouTube on every device in the house.
- Pro: Covers phones, tablets, smart TVs.
- Con: All-or-nothing — you can't allow YouTube on the parent's laptop while blocking the kid's. Doesn't work when the child uses cellular data.
Which method should you use?
| Need | Best method |
|---|---|
| Quick & bulletproof on one child's PC | 3Eyes |
| Free, tech-savvy parent, one PC | Hosts file |
| Block YouTube on every device in the house | Router DNS |
| Allow specific YouTube channels (homework) | 3Eyes |
| Block weekdays, allow weekends | 3Eyes |
Block YouTube on Windows in 2 minutes
3Eyes is the only method that survives incognito, multiple browsers, and a tech-savvy 12-year-old.
Start Free →FAQ
Can my child bypass the hosts file?
Yes — with admin rights, they can edit it back in seconds. Use a standard (non-admin) Windows account for your child, or use 3Eyes which doesn't have this weakness.
Does this work on Windows 11?
All three methods work identically on Windows 10 and Windows 11.
What about YouTube in Microsoft Edge?
Methods 1, 2, and 3 all cover Edge. Browser-extension blocks (not listed here) do not.
More guides: Block YouTube on Mac · Block YouTube on Chromebook · Block YouTube on any laptop