How to Block Porn on a Computer: 10 Ways on PC & Mac

The best free and paid ways to filter adult pages and videos

Written by Darlene Antonelli, MA

Last Updated: December 11, 2024 Fact Checked

If you're on the internet—especially when doing searches on Bing or Google, you are likely going to encounter porn. Luckily for everyone, blocking porn websites and videos is only a few clicks and some maneuvering away. Read on for a list of free and paid ways you can block porn and adult content on your PC.

Blocking Porn on Your Computer

Use Google or Bing SafeSearch to filter out porn in searches.
For free content filtering, try Microsoft Family Safety.
Edit the hosts file on your computer to block specific sites.
Subscribe to Covenant Eyes or Canopy for adult content blocking.

1

Google SafeSearch

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Turn SafeSearch on. This setting filters out search results with adult content. You don't need to pay for SafeSearch, so it's a good non-cost first step to filtering porn on your computer. You can use SafeSearch even if you're not using the Google Chrome web browser. Instead, all that's needed is to use a Google account. However, this can also be easily bypassed.
- This setting is automatically enabled if the associated Google account is less than 18 years old.
- If you can't change this setting, it was mostly likely set by an adult account. Even schools and public spaces (like airports and libraries) can prevent you from turning SafeSearch off.^{[1]
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- To turn on SafeSearch, go to https://www.google.com/safesearch in your web browser and make sure the circle next to "Filter" is selected.

2

Bing SafeSearch

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Enable the strict setting of Bing's SafeSearch. This setting filters out adult text, images, and videos from search results.^{[2]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source} You don't need to pay for SafeSearch, so it's a good non-cost first step to filtering porn on your computer.
- Navigate to Bing's SafeSearch settings. Click on the topmost radio button to enable strict filtering.
- Click Save at the bottom of the page to apply your changes.

3

Microsoft Family Safety

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Set up Microsoft Family Safety and filter web content. Using Microsoft Family Safety will allow you to block adult content and porn from specific users browsing with Microsoft Edge. To start,
- Navigate to the Family Safety website.
- Download the Family Safety Filter on every computer you want to protect. It will monitor your kids using the safety settings you select as long as they use the Edge web browser.
- Click the check box next to the Windows account of each family member you want to monitor, then click Next or Save and make sure the web content for their account is monitored/limited.
  - It’s important that all of your Windows accounts have passwords. Without that, kids could log on to that account and bypass their Family Safety settings, get to websites you don’t want them to see, and you won't be able to see reports of their online activities.
  - This method is free, but you can pay to unlock more Microsoft features.^{[3]
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4

Open DNS

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Sign up for OpenDNS. If you want to filter what can and cannot be seen on the Internet, you can use OpenDNS. Schools and government offices use it, and free options are available.
- Once your account is created, set your internet settings to use the OpenDNS IP addresses as your domain name servers. You will then be able to customize your filter preferences.

5

Commercial Software

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Use a professional pornography filter. These can block unwanted websites and filter pornographic websites on not only your computer but connected mobile devices as well, if offered. Popular programs include:
- Canopy
- Convent Eyes
- Net Nanny
- Covenant Eyes
- OurPact
- FamiSafe
- Norton Family
- Kidslox
- Bark
- Many of these programs have a subscription fee, but they also come with a free trial, so you can test the software to see if you like it before paying money.

6

Screen Time on Mac

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Filter porn in Screen Time. If you have Family Sharing set up, you can manage your child's account remotely, but if you don't, you'll need to log into their Mac user account. This is another free solution so you can block porn without spending any money.
- To turn on Screen Time and manage web restrictions, go to System Settings > Screen Time and choose a family member. Click Set Up Screen Time for Your Child > Turn on Screen Time > Content & Privacy > Turn on Content & Privacy Restrictions > Limit Adult Websites. ^{[4]
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7

Browser Extensions

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Many different extensions block porn. You can also use Chrome extensions like BlockSite to block porn sites.
- Note that extensions will only work if you use the same browser you installed them with. For example, if you install a porn blocker extension on Chrome, it won't work if you're using another browser like Brave.
- Tech expert Stan Katz says that there are many similar porn filtering extensions that all work similarly; even ad-blocking extensions can offer filters for adult content.

8

Router's Parental Controls

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Many routers have parental controls pre-installed. Blocking content at your router protects all connected devices—phones, tablets, and consoles—with parental controls.
- To block content from your router, you need to log into the router's admin website or use the mobile app provided by your ISP. Then, find Parental Controls or similar wording and add blocks to content, results, and sites.

9

Windows Hosts Files

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Modify the Windows hosts file. Others might argue that blocking sites shouldn't involve this many steps, but it's the best free way to prevent your computer from accessing specific websites. To edit host files, follow these steps:
- Open Notepad as an administrator.
- Click File > Open and go to "C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc".
- Select "All files" and double-click your hosts file.
- To manually block a site, go to the bottom of the file, and on a new line, type “0.0.0.0 siteyouwanttoblock.com” without using quotes. This will block siteyouwanttoblock.com. Repeat the process for any other sites you wish to block, and then save the file by going to File > Save.
- Flush your DNS to complete the process. Open Command Prompt and enter "ipconfig /flushdns". Once that is finished, you've successfully edited Windows hosts files to block specific sites!

10

Hosts File on Mac

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Modify the host file on Mac to block specific sites. If there are a lot of sites that you want to block, or if they are always changing, purchasing a subscription to a porn-blocker software might work better. Follow these steps to change the hosts file on Mac:
- Open Terminal.
- Enter "sudo nano /etc/hosts" (without the quotes).
- Enter your admin username and password.
- Use your arrow keys to navigate to the bottom of the file and add “0.0.0.0 siteyouwanttoblock.com” without using quotes. This will block siteyouwanttoblock.com. Repeat the process for any other sites you wish to block.
- Press Shift + X to exit.
- Flush the DNS. In Terminal, enter "sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder" and wait for the process to finish. Once it has, you've successfully blocked sites using the hosts file!

Community Q&A

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How do I permanently block porn sites and images from my computer?

Community Answer

You could just enable safe mode by going into your browser settings and clicking "Safe Search" or "Safe Mode." You can also block sites manually, but otherwise there's not really a way to filter all pornographic imagery.

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Can I block obscene sites from Facebook?

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The blocker itself will either automatically block it, or you can remove these using the whitelist.

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Understand that teenage curiosity about sex is entirely normal. Consider open discussions about sex and porn as an alternative to making the subject taboo—that which is taboo often has a stronger attraction and fascination than that which is not.

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Ensure that possible access to the internet is blocked. It's no good blocking porn through your home network if the kids can just use mobile internet connections. Make sure that your mobile network provider automatically blocks access - in most cases, you will need to confirm that you are the account holder by calling your network.

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Warnings

Most pornography filtering methods, including commercial software products that claim otherwise, can be evaded by someone who wants to see pornography badly enough, left unsupervised.

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