Look, let’s be real. If you’ve got a kid with a PC or a Mac, you’ve probably heard the "Oof" sound or that chaotic, high-pitched lobby music more times than you can count. Roblox isn't just a game; it's an entire universe. It’s also a massive time-sink that occasionally hosts content that makes you go, "Wait, what is my kid actually looking at?" You want to know how to block Roblox on computer because, frankly, the built-in parental controls sometimes feel like trying to stop a flood with a paper towel.
It’s annoying. I get it.
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Maybe their grades are slipping. Maybe you're worried about those weird "condo" games that slip past the moderators. Or maybe you just want your computer back. Whatever the reason, blocking it isn't always as simple as hitting "delete." Roblox is sticky. It hides in AppData folders. It runs through browsers. It’s persistent. But you can beat it if you know which digital levers to pull.
Why the "Delete" Button Isn't Enough
Most people just drag the Roblox icon to the Trash or Recycle Bin and call it a day. Big mistake. Huge. Roblox installs itself in two main ways: the standalone client and the Microsoft Store version. If you delete one, the other might still be lurking. Plus, if they’re playing through a browser like Chrome or Edge, the "launcher" will just reinstall itself the moment they click "Play" on the website.
You have to be more systematic. You aren't just deleting a file; you're revoking a permission.
If you’re on Windows, Roblox loves to hide in the Local folder within AppData. To really clear it out before you start blocking, you’ve got to wipe that folder manually. But even then, if they have admin rights, they’ll just download it again. That’s the first real lesson: never give your kid an administrator account. If they’re a "Standard User," they can’t reinstall the software without your password. That’s half the battle won right there.
The Router Method: Nuclear, but Effective
If you want to know how to block Roblox on computer for every single device in the house simultaneously, you go to the source. The router. This is the "nuclear option." It doesn't matter if they use a VPN (mostly) or try to hide the app; if the router says "no," the game won't load.
Log into your router's web interface. Usually, it's something like 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. You’ll need the admin password, which is probably on a sticker on the bottom of the actual box. Look for a section labeled "Access Control," "URL Filtering," or "Parental Controls."
You need to block these specific domains:
- roblox.com
- [suspicious link removed]
- https://www.google.com/search?q=api.roblox.com
- https://www.google.com/search?q=assetgame.roblox.com
Once those are blacklisted at the router level, the game client can’t talk to the servers. It’ll just sit there spinning or show a "No Internet" error. It’s beautiful in its simplicity. However, a tech-savvy teen might try to bypass this by changing their DNS settings to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1). If that happens, you’ll need to look into "DNS Filtering" through a service like OpenDNS, which is a bit more advanced but essentially creates a filter for your entire home network that’s much harder to dodge.
Windows Family Safety: The "Official" Way
Microsoft actually has a decent tool for this, but hardly anyone uses it correctly. It’s called Windows Family Safety. You create a family group, add your child’s Microsoft account, and then you can literally toggle a switch to block Roblox.
The beauty here is that it works across the OS. You can set time limits, or you can just click "Block" on the app itself. If they try to open it, a big pop-up tells them they need to ask for permission.
But here is the catch.
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It only works if they are using their own Windows user account. If they are logged into your account, Windows thinks you are the one playing, and it won't block anything. It also struggles if they use the browser version of the game rather than the app from the Microsoft Store. To fix that, you also have to use the web filtering feature within Family Safety to block roblox.com. It's a two-step process, but it's very effective for most households.
Using the Hosts File (The "Hacker" Way)
Want to feel like a pro? You can block Roblox by editing the Windows "hosts" file. This is a tiny text file that tells your computer where to go when you type a website name. If you tell the computer that roblox.com is actually located at 127.0.0.1 (which is just the computer itself), it will never find the real site.
- Open Notepad as an Administrator.
- Navigate to
C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc. - Open the file named
hosts. - At the bottom, type:
127.0.0.1 roblox.comand127.0.0.1 www.roblox.com. - Save it.
That’s it. Now, whenever anyone on that computer tries to go to Roblox, the computer gets confused and gives up. It’s a very clean way to how to block Roblox on computer without installing heavy third-party software. Just remember that you did this, or you’ll be scratching your head six months from now when you actually want to let them play for an hour.
What About Macs?
Mac users, you’ve got it a bit easier with "Screen Time." It’s built right into System Settings.
Go to Screen Time > Content & Privacy > App Restrict. You can add Roblox to the "Always Blocked" list. Or, better yet, go to the "Content Restrictions" tab and limit adult websites, then add roblox.com to the "Never Allow" list. macOS is generally better at enforcing these rules across the entire system than Windows is, mostly because Apple is very strict about how apps talk to the internet.
Third-Party Software: Is It Worth the Money?
You’ve seen the ads for Bark, Qustodio, and Norton Family. Are they worth it?
Honestly, it depends on how much of a cat-and-mouse game you want to play. These apps are great because they give you a nice dashboard on your phone. You can see how long they spent on Roblox and block it with one tap while you’re at the grocery store. They also do things that built-in tools can't, like monitoring the content of chats (though Roblox's encryption makes this tough).
The downside? They can slow down the computer. They act as a "middleman" for all your internet traffic, which can sometimes cause lag in other things like Zoom calls or homework sites. If you’re tech-savvy, stick to the router or the hosts file. If you want "set it and forget it" convenience, Qustodio is probably the most robust for PC and Mac blocking right now.
The Conversation Most People Skip
We’ve talked about the tech. We’ve talked about DNS, routers, and hidden files. But here’s the truth: if a kid wants to play Roblox bad enough, they will find a way. They’ll use a portable browser on a thumb drive. They’ll use a VPN. They’ll use their friend’s laptop.
Blocking is a tool, not a solution.
The most effective way to manage Roblox isn't just a technical block; it's a social one. Why are you blocking it? Is it the chat? Use the Roblox internal settings to turn off chat entirely and "pin" the settings with a parent code. Is it the time? Use the built-in "App Limits."
Sometimes, blocking the game entirely backfires and makes it a "forbidden fruit." I’ve seen kids become absolute IT experts just to bypass a parental filter. That’s impressive, but maybe not the kind of learning you were hoping for.
Actionable Next Steps
If you are ready to shut it down right now, follow this sequence:
- Check the User Account: Make sure the child is not an Administrator on Windows or Mac. This prevents them from simply reinstalling the game or bypassing local blocks.
- Clean the Slate: Uninstall Roblox and delete the folders in
%localappdata%(on Windows) or theApplication Supportfolder (on Mac). - Layer Your Defense: Use the "hosts" file method for a quick, free block on a single machine. If you have multiple kids on multiple devices, spend the 10 minutes it takes to log into your router and block the domain there.
- Set a Browser Filter: If they use Chrome, install a "Block Site" extension and protect it with a password. This catches the kids who try to play the "web version" of games.
- Check for VPNs: Look for apps like ProtonVPN, Nord, or even browser-based VPN extensions. These are the #1 way kids get around your blocks. If you see one you didn't install, remove it.
Blocking Roblox isn't a "one and done" task. It's a maintenance job. Check back once a week to make sure your settings haven't been tampered with. Technology moves fast, but a vigilant parent with a little bit of "hacker" knowledge moves faster.