How to block YouTube for one user account

Start with a real user account

The safest way to block YouTube for one person is to give that person their own operating system account, then attach the rule to that account.

A browser profile is not enough on a shared Windows PC or Mac. Google warns that a child can sign out of Chrome, switch profiles, or open another browser. The adult account needs its own password, and the child's account should not have administrator rights.

Windows: target the child with Family Safety

Microsoft Family Safety can block a site for one family member in Edge.

1. 1

   Add the child as a Member at family.microsoft.com.

2. 2

   Make their Windows account a standard user.

3. 3

   In Family Safety, open the child's overview, select Edge, and turn on Filter inappropriate websites and searches.

4. 4
   Add youtube.com under Blocked sites.
5. 5

   Block other browsers for the child if the site rule must hold. Leave them available in the adult Windows account.

This method leaves YouTube open for other Windows users. Microsoft's web filter only works in Edge while the child is signed in to their Microsoft account.

Do not use the Windows hosts file for this job. It affects every account on the PC. The Windows guide compares both methods.

Mac: select the child in Screen Time

If your family uses Apple Family Sharing, Screen Time can apply settings to one family member.

Open System Settings, then Screen Time. Choose the child from the Family Member menu. Under Content & Privacy, open App Store, Media, Web & Games. Set Safari to Limit Adult Websites, then add youtube.com to the Restricted list.

Open Manage Screen Time for the child and turn on Lock Screen Time Settings. Use a passcode they do not know.

The restricted site list applies to Safari. Remove other browsers from the child's Mac account if they must not bypass it. YouTube stays open in the adult account.

The Mac blocking guide has the full current menu path.

Chromebook: target the supervised Google Account

On a personal Chromebook, Family Link applies a site rule to the child's supervised Google Account.

Open Family Link, select the child, then open Controls, Google Chrome and Web, and Approved sites and Blocked sites. Add the domain youtube.com to the blocked list.

Make the parent the Chromebook owner. Turn off guest mode and control who can add users. Google warns that guest mode or another user can open a session where Family Link settings do not apply.

If the school manages the Chromebook, only the school can change its policy. Read the Chromebook guide before trying to set a parent rule.

Keep YouTube for the child with narrower rules

Sometimes the real goal is not a full block. You may want one child to use YouTube with limits while adults and siblings keep normal access.

Vidward is a desktop browser extension plus a parent dashboard. Install and link it inside the child's Chrome account. You can block channels, videos, and title words, remove Shorts, and keep autoplay off.

The operating system account still matters. Keep the child on a standard account and keep the adult password private. Chrome's tamper-proof setup can force-install the extension and close guest and new profile paths on a computer you own.

Vidward does not block YouTube for the whole network. It does not filter phone or tablet apps, TVs, or consoles. That narrow scope is useful when only one computer user needs the rules.

For Chrome's site-block and filtering choices, read how to block YouTube in Chrome.