How to block X (Twitter) on Chrome

Updated 14 October 2026

The short answer

X has no built-in time limit, so on a computer the practical way is a website blocker extension. In Stillwood, the X (Twitter) option covers both x.com and twitter.com. You can also block both addresses in your hosts file.

Why X is hard to close

There’s always a new reply to check, and the For you tab keeps suggesting posts from people you don’t follow. Most visits start as a reflex, often right after you finish a task or get stuck on one. That’s the moment a short pause helps.

Method 1: pause X with Stillwood

Install Stillwood for Chrome and pick X (Twitter) on the first screen. It adds both x.com and twitter.com.
Choose when to be protected: weekdays 9:00–18:00, all the time, only when you press “Start focus”, or your own days and hours.
When you open X, Stillwood pauses and asks what’s pulling you there. If you need it for work, choose Need it for work, type what you came to do, and X opens for 10 minutes.
After a week, the What pulled you list shows which reasons send you to X most often.

Method 2: block it in the hosts file

Add these lines to your hosts file (C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts on Windows, /etc/hosts on Mac) and restart the browser:

127.0.0.1 x.com
127.0.0.1 www.x.com
127.0.0.1 twitter.com
127.0.0.1 www.twitter.com

It’s all or nothing: no schedule, and you need to edit the file again to undo it.

Method 3: turn off what pulls you back

In Chrome, open Settings → Privacy and security → Site settings → Notifications and remove x.com from the sites allowed to send notifications.
Turn off email notifications in your X settings.
Read the Following tab, so you only see accounts you chose yourself.

Questions

Does blocking x.com also block twitter.com?

In Stillwood, the X (Twitter) option adds both, so old twitter.com links are covered too. In the hosts file you need a line for each address.

Can I post something for work and leave?

Yes. On the pause screen choose “Need it for work”, type what you came to do, and X opens for 10 minutes. When the time is up, Stillwood brings you back.

How do I limit X on my phone?

Use Screen Time on iPhone or Digital Wellbeing on Android to set a daily limit for the X app.