How to block sites on Microsoft Edge for Android

If you’re a parent and your kid uses an Android phone, you probably want them to start using Microsoft Edge instead of Google Chrome. The reason is that now the Microsoft’s mobile web browser includes a feature that allows you to control which sites your child can access.

The ability to allow and block sites has always been a feature of Microsoft Edge, but it’s been only available for Windows 10 devices. However, the feature is now expanding to Android devices.

In this guide, you’ll learn the steps to block sites on Android phones using Microsoft Edge to protect your children from not suitable online content.

How to block websites in Microsoft Edge for Android

If you want to stay in control allowing and denying which websites your child can access on their Android phone, you need to add a family member to a group, configure the child account settings, and set up Microsoft Edge on an Android phone.

Adding a family member using Child account

In order to add someone as a family member using a Child account, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft account online.

2. Sign in as required.

3. Click on the Family tab.

4. Click the Add a family member link.

   

5. Select the Child option.

6. Type the email address of the person you want to add.

7. Confirm you’re not a robot solving challenge.

8. Click the Send invite button.

   

9. Check the new member’s Outlook account.

10. Confirm the email invitation.

After completing the steps, you’ll need to install and set up Microsoft Edge on your child’s Android phone.

Blocking inappropriate websites on Microsoft Edge

In order to block access to websites using Microsoft Edge on Android, do the following:

1. Open your Microsoft account online.

2. Click on Family.

3. Under “Your family,” click the Content restrictions option.

   

4. Under “Web browsing,” turn on the Block inappropriate websites toggle switch.

5. You can now block websites in two different ways:

   • You can add websites to the “Always allowed” list and then check the “Only allow these websites” option to limit access only to those sites you approve.

   • You can add websites to the “Always blocked” list to block those sites you don’t approve but allowing everything else.

     

Setting up Microsoft Edge on Android

The only thing left to do now is to install and set up Microsoft Edge on your child’s Android phone.

1. Install Microsoft Edge from the Play Store.

2. Open Microsoft Edge.

3. Continue with the on-screen directions and sign in with the family member with the account that you configured to block websites.

Alternatively, you can sign-in using these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge on Android.

2. Tap the (three-dotted) menu button in the bottom-left corner.

3. Tap the Sign in option.

   

4. Sign in with the child account that includes the site restrictions.

Once you’ve completed the steps, your child will not be allowed to access the websites you blocked using the Family settings on their Android phone as well as on their Windows 10 devices configured with a child account type.

The only caveat about this feature is that while you can block inappropriate websites on Microsoft Edge, there’s not a way to uninstall the Chrome app from Android, and savvy users may still find their way to the built-in app to browse the web without restrictions.