How to Block Porn Sites on Windows 10

There’s nothing more important than protecting your family from the things that lie beyond your front door. PCs give kids access to the information that they need to finish homework, learn new things and explore the world around them. Of course, it also allows things in that you wouldn’t normally be comfortable with coming through the front door. It’s not just you, parents everywhere are keen to learn more about online safety. That’s why learning how to block porn sites is of concern.

You’d block porn sites on Windows 10 for the same reasons that you’d block any site really. There are things that your child might not be ready to see or learn about just yet. You want them to be emotionally ready before they do. In that way, these sites aren’t any different from blocking Facebook or Twitter. It’s good to control the information flowing to them as much as you possibly can in an always connected, always sharing world.

Read: How to Set Parental Controls in Windows 8

Here’s how to block porn sites on Windows 10.

How to Block Porn Sites Using Bing Safe Search

Search makes it easy to find anything online. Forget browsing to a bunch of different sites, Bing and Google allow you to find what you want as quickly as possible. That’s one of the reasons your quest to block porn sites on Windows 10 should start with them.

Read: Microsoft Edge Tips & Tricks: Better Browsing in Windows 10

Microsoft’s Bing Search engine has a feature called SafeSearch that ensures you can prevent your kids from finding these they shouldn’t using it. Sign in on the Windows 10 notebook or tablet that you wish to block porn sites on. If it’s a device the entire family uses, just open a web browser. If your child is a bit older and has their own account on the notebook, desktop or tablet, sign into their account on their device.

Open a web browser and navigate to Bing.com.

Tap or click on the menu button in the top-right corner of the Bing website.

Now look for SafeSearch in the list of options. If it shows Strict, you’ve already configured it to its highest settings. If it shows Moderate or Off, tap or click on it.

Change the SafeSearch setting option at the top of your screen to Strict.

Tap or click on Save at the bottom of your screen.

Now you should be taken back to the Bing homepage.

Note that this should also block inappropriate content when using the search bar built into the Taskbar along the bottom edge of your display.

How to Block Porn Sites Using Google Safe Search

The same SafeSearch switch is available in Google Search, which is arguably more important. It’s the world’s largest search engine. Chances are your child might try using it to search for content that you don’t want them to see.

With this, you want to be logged into their Google Account if they’re old enough to have one. If it’s a family computer and they don’t have a Google Account, don’t worry. You can turn on SafeSearch for everyone that’s not logged in.

Open a web browser and navigate to Google.com/preferences.

Select the SafeSearch checkbox.

If you’re logged into their account, tap or click on Lock SafeSearch. You’ll be required to login with a Google Account for this.

Once logged in, click the Lock SafeSearch button.

The problem with using SafeSearch on either Bing or Google is that it’s not foolproof. That is, Microsoft and Google are careful to note that it won’t absolutely stop your child from finding things they shouldn’t. What’s more, they only prevent search results. They don’t stop your child from going directly to an inappropriate website.

How to Block Porn Sites Using Microsoft Family

To truly block porn sites on Windows 10 you’ll need to use a feature called Microsoft Family. Microsoft Family is Windows 10’s dedicated parental control tool. It’s built into the operating system and Microsoft Account’s website.

To use Microsoft Family effectively, your child will need a Microsoft Account of their own. You can create them one for free.

Click or tap on the Windows button in the Taskbar. Find the Settings app in your list of installed apps listed under S.

Inside the Settings app, tap or click on Accounts.

Select Family and Other People from the menu on the left side of the Settings app.

We’ve already created a child account for this tutorial. It’s listed here. You can use the + to add a child.

Select what type of account you’d like to add and provide the email address for their existing Microsoft Account. Be sure to select Add a child. If they don’t have one already, click the link that says, “The person I want to add doesn’t have an email address.” It’ll guide you through creating one for them.

When you’re done providing the account information, tap or click on Manage Family Settings online.

Find their account inside the list of child accounts and select Web Browsing.

Flip the on switch for Block Inappropriate Websites.

Now you should see all kinds of new options for you to take advantage of. The checkbox that says Only See Websites Allowed on the List lets you list all the websites you want your child to have access to. They won’t be able to load any site that you don’t add to the list on this page. By default, this switch is unchecked so that your child doesn’t have to always come to you to get access to a new site.

Along the bottom of the page, you’ll find a second list of sites. You can add sites to this list for Windows to always block when your child tries to access them. This option is only available when you have the Only See Websites Allowed on the List option turned off.

Other companies have solutions for trying to block porn sites and questionable material on a PC. You may have one installed already. Microsoft Family doesn’t cost you a thing. What’s more, it takes care of some of the issues that crop up with blocking sites.

Blocking things this way only works in Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge. As such, Microsoft Family will prevent your child from trying to install other web browsers to get around the block. It’ll send you automatic reports on what your child is doing online. You can gift them money to buy things in the Windows Store too. Screen time is a big concern of modern parents. Microsoft Family allows you to decide how much time they spend on any notebook, desktop, tablet or Xbox One from one website.

Read: How to Setup Android Parental Controls and Content Filtering

Good luck trying to block porn sites on Windows 10.