How to block Facebook

In this guide, we will take you through the steps you need to take to block Facebook on your home or office network using DNSFilter’s AppAware feature.

AppAware is DNSFilter’s application-blocking feature that helps you block specific applications from being used on your network. You can also block groups of related applications and applications that are work distractors. For example, allowing social media applications like Facebook at work can lead to losing productive hours when you, your team members, or company workers spend too much time on it.

Steps

Go to Policies -> Filtering and click on an existing policy or create a new one.

Click on the AppAware tab on your policy settings and scroll down to the Messaging section.

If you wish to prevent chat apps altogether, click the Block All Apps button on the section tab.

If, however, you only intend to block Facebook, turn on the toggle button on the Messenger option as shown below:

This setting will be automatically saved.

When anyone on your network tries to use the Facebook/Messenger app, the app will not connect to Facebook’s servers and will not be usable.

The Facebook website is also automatically blocked, as shown below:

Like our regular category-blocking policy settings, AppAware settings can be easily turned off/on, and the changes will take effect immediately.

You also get reports on who has been attempting to use Facebook on your network. This can be found in your query logs page, which now includes an AppAware column.