Mac Website Blocker – Configurable Hours (Ultra-Safe Edition)

Free • No apps • Instant • Fully configurable • 100% reversible

Automatically blocks distracting websites on your Mac every day during the hours you choose and unblocks them automatically when work is over.

Perfect for deep work, parental control, or digital wellbeing — without installing any software.

Features

• Fully configurable start & end times (e.g. 09:00–17:00, 10:00–19:00, etc.)
• Blocks at system level → works in all browsers and apps
• Instant blocking the moment you install (if inside work hours)
• Never damages your original /etc/hosts — automatic permanent backup
• Unique timestamp markers → zero risk of conflicts
• One-file block list — easy to edit anytime
• Clean installer + full uninstaller
• Optional Monday–Friday mode
• Detailed log file
• 100% open source, local-only, no tracking

Files

File	Purpose
README.md	This file
blocked-sites.txt	Edit this to add/remove websites (one per line)
block-websites.sh	Internal — runs at your chosen start hour
unblock-websites.sh	Internal — runs at your chosen end hour
1-install-blocker.sh	Run this once (or again to change hours)
2-uninstall-blocker.sh	Completely remove everything and restore original state

Installation & Configuration (30 seconds)

# 1. Go into the folder
cd /path/to/hello-focus

# 2. Run the installer — two ways:

# Interactive mode (recommended first time)
./1-install-blocker.sh
# → Just type your desired hours when asked

# OR direct mode (great for scripts or quick change)
./1-install-blocker.sh 9 17        # 09:00 – 17:00
./1-install-blocker.sh 10 20       # 10:00 – 20:00

You will be asked for your password once (needed for system files).

Done!
If you install during your work window → sites are blocked instantly.
Outside hours → blocking starts automatically tomorrow.

Change blocking hours later

Just re-run the installer with new times:

./1-install-blocker.sh 9 30 17 30   # Example: 09:30 – 17:30
# or simply run without arguments for interactive mode
./1-install-blocker.sh

Edit blocked websites anytime

sudo nano /etc/blocked-sites.txt

Add lines like:

127.0.0.1 linkedin.com
127.0.0.1 www.netflix.com

Save with Ctrl+O → Enter → Ctrl+X

Changes take effect at the next scheduled block.

Only Monday–Friday (skip weekends)

After installation, run this once:

# Disable daily jobs and add weekday-only ones
(crontab -l | sed '/block-websites\|unblock-websites/s/^/#DISABLED /' ) | crontab -
(crontab -l 2>/dev/null; echo "0 $(cat /etc/website-blocker.conf | grep START_HOUR | cut -d= -f2) * * 1-5 /usr/local/bin/block-websites") | crontab -
(crontab -l 2>/dev/null; echo "0 $(cat /etc/website-blocker.conf | grep END_HOUR | cut -d= -f2) * * 1-5 /usr/local/bin/unblock-websites") | crontab -
echo "Now active only Monday–Friday!"

Full uninstall (everything goes back to exactly how it was)

./2-uninstall-blocker.sh

• Removes cron jobs
• Removes blocked entries from hosts file
• Deletes all installed files
• Leaves your pristine backup at /etc/hosts.original-backup

Safety & Recovery

• Your original /etc/hosts is backed up forever at:
  /etc/hosts.original-backup
• Restore it anytime with:

sudo cp /etc/hosts.original-backup /etc/hosts

Logs

All actions are logged to:
/var/log/website-block.log

Tested On

• macOS Ventura • Sonoma • Sequoia
• Intel & Apple Silicon
• Survives reboots, updates, Homebrew, Docker, VPNs

Example use cases

./1-install-blocker.sh 9 17     # Classic 9-to-5
./1-install-blocker.sh 7 22     # Early bird + night owl protection
./1-install-blocker.sh 0 0      # 24/7 blocking (yes, it works!)

Enjoy laser-focused workdays — completely under your control.

Made with love for humans who want to do great work
Open source • Forever free • No strings attached