While you can always using a browser extension to block adult content on a specific browser, but they can be easily bypassed with a proxy or using another web browser. To help you with that, here are some of the best ways to block adult sites on Windows, with and without the use of any software. Let’s begin. Also Read: How To Block Adult Content on Android
1. Windows Parental Control
The easiest way to block adult sites or even any time-wasting sites (like Instagram and Reddit) is to use the native Parental control in Windows 10. Although do keep in mind, for this to work, you need to have a Microsoft account (not a local account) and create different users for yourself or your children. First, create a local user say for your child. To do so, navigate to Settings > Accounts > Family & other people. Select Add a family member, and create a new users for your child. Remember, you need to add an email address for your kid here, so make sure you have one handy.
Once done, go to the Windows 10 family settings and login, to directly manage your children’s accounts. Once you login in you’ll see a dashboard which lets you set screen time limits, block sites, filter content, etc. Here we are interested in blocking websites, so click on Web browsing, choose Block inappropriate websites. This will block adult content on Edge and Internet Explorer and you can further customize it to stop you kid from launching Chrome or Firefox browser. However, it’s far from perfect, your kids can always, use proxy sites or install a new browser to bypass this.
2. Block Adult Content Using OpenDNS
The fast, effective, and easiest way to properly block and filter content is to use the OpenDNS service. OpenDNS is a public DNS service that can intercept and filter or block the content according to your settings. In case you don’t know, a DNS service translates the human-readable web address like google.com to machine-understandable IP address like 192.168.0.125. For this instance, we’ll use OpenDNS for block NSFW content, however, there are other DNS providers like Clean Browsing that does a similar job. Steps are going to be same. So, to start off with OpenDNS, head over to the official site and sign up for a free account.
Once you are done signing up, OpenDNS will give you the IP addresses of its DNS service. We need to use these IP addresses in our system or router to start using the OpenDNS.
Thankfully, OpenDNS has specific instructions on how to change DNS address on a computer or on a router. Just click on the appropriate option displayed just below the IP addresses. Home Routers: If you have a router in your house then select this option. It will take you to a page where you can find instructions for your specific router. Computer Workstations and Laptops: This option gives instructions on how to change DNS address on your Windows, Mac, or Linux computer. I will show you how to easy change DNS address in Windows, just follow the steps below. Smart Devices: This option shows you the instructions for other smart devices like smartphones, PlayStation, Xbox, Apple TV, etc.
Configure OpenDNS
To set up the filtering, click on the link “Dashboard” on the top navigation bar. In the next page, navigate to the “Settings” tab. Generally, your current IP address is already added in the blanks. Simply click on the button “Add Network.”
You will be asked to enter a friendly name to easily recognize the network. So, enter the name and click on the button “Done.” If you are using Dynamic IP address, then select the checkbox “Yes, it is dynamic” and then click on the link “OpeDNS Updated for Windows” to download the OpenDNS software.
That’s it, you’ve added the network. Do install OpenDNS Updater and log into your account so that it can automatically update the IP address with OpenDNS if you have a Dynamic IP address(IP address that changes every time you turn on your internet). After creating the network, click on the IP address to configure it.
Now, select the radio button “Custom,” select the checkbox “Pornography” and then click on the button “Apply” to save the changes. That’s all there is to do.
Add OpenDNS in Windows Configuring DNS is pretty easy with DNS Jumper, a free and portable software to quickly change DNS settings in Windows. To start off, download DNS Jumper, extract the folder and execute the EXE file.
Now, select “US – OpenDNS” from the drop-down menu under and then click on the button “Apply DNS.”
From this point forward, all the adult website will be blocked as per your settings. If need be, you can also block other content categories like adult themes, nudity, etc., using OpenDNS. Also Read: See What Others Are Browsing on Your WiFi with OpenDNS
3. Block Adult Content Using a Software
If you don’t want to mess with the DNS settings then the second easiest method is to use a software called Qustodio. The free version of the software allows you to monitor, filter, and block one user on one system. The software is very easy to use and to use the software, you first need to signup for service. So, head over to the official site, enter your name, email address, a new password, and click on the button “Get Started Free.” We are going to use this email address and password to sign into Qustodio on our computer.
On the next page, click on the button “Add my first user.”
Now, enter your child details like the name, birth year, gender and click on the button “Save.”
Here on this page, click on the button “Protect this device.”
The above action will download the Qustodio software. Install the software like any other windows software.
After completing the installation, open Qustodio, select the radio button “I already have Qustodio account” and click on the button “Next.” In the next screen, sign in with the registered email address and password.
Here, enter the name of the device, select the checkbox “Hide Qustodio on this device” and click “Next“.
Since we’ve already created a user earlier, click on the button “Select this user.”
That’s all there is to do. You’ve done setting up. Click on the button “Go to my Family Portal.”
The above action will open the online configuration page. Log in to your account to manage Qustodio settings. The dashboard shows you which account is online and the activity summary of that child account. By default, Qustodio blocks all the inappropriate content like pornography, gambling, violence, etc. To edit the block settings, navigate to the “Rules” page.
As you can see, some of the website categories are restricted by default.
If you want to further restrict a website category then click on the category name and then select the option “Block website’s category” and you are good to go.
That’s all there is to do. From this point forward all adult content will be blocked by the software. If a user tries to access any adult site, they will be automatically redirected to Google. In case you are wondering, even in Google and other major search engines, Safe Search is enabled and locked to filter explicit content.
4. Block Adult Using Hosts File
Alternatively, you can use the Windows hosts file to block websites. This method is particularly useful if you know what websites to block. Even though you can edit the hosts file using the Notepad application, we are going to use a free software called BlueLifeHosts Editor to edit the hosts file. This makes it easy and safe to add and remove websites from the hosts file. BlueLifeHosts Editor is free and portable software that lets you properly edit hosts file without any mistakes or syntax errors. So, download the software, extract it, and execute the EXE file. Once opened, enter the web address in the field and click on the “+” icon appearing on the top navigation bar. Now, click on the “Save” button to save the changes.
This action will add the website to the hosts file and will be blocked.
If a user tries to access the website you just blocked, they will receive an error message something like this.
If you ever want to revert back, simply delete the entry or uncheck the checkbox and you are good to go. One thing to keep in mind while using this method is that anyone that has admin rights and know-how to access the hosts file can modify or delete the entries.
Closing Words
That’s all there is to do and it is that simple to block adult sites. While these blockers are not 100% full proof, they do get the job done. If you are trying to break your addictions, I recommend you not use your computer in private places or in your bedroom for a few days. And check out subreddit like NoFap. Do share your thoughts and experiences about using the above methods to block adult on Windows. Also Read: 5 Ways To Kick People Off Your WiFi Network
