The fact is that internet pornography can be accessible to everyone including children. It’s easy to search for and watch porn on adult websites. Also, one can be accidentally exposed to adult content online. Adult content can negatively affect children and even adults. That’s why many people especially parents want to know how to block adults websites.
This article will show you different ways to easily block adults websites on Mac, Windows PC, Android and iPhone.
Applies to: Mac, Windows
For Mac or Windows users, the best way to block certain websites such as adult websites is to use Cisdem AppCrypt, a website blocker and an app locker rolled into one. AppCrypt is easy and efficient to use.
1. Download and install AppCrypt.
Free Download macOS 10.12 or later Free Download Windows 11/10/8/7
2. When you first open it, set a password.
3. On a Mac, click its icon in the menu bar and choose Open Main Window. On a Windows PC, click its icon in the taskbar.
4. Enter the password, and now you are in the main window. Click Web Block.
5. Add the URLs of the adult websites that you want to block. Or, click the Import dropdown menu and choose the Porn Sites list. This way, you can block all websites on the list with a single click.
Now adult websites are blocked with password on browsers on your computer. When anyone (such as your child or yourself) tries to open an adult website, it won’t open, and a message will appear.
If you want to prevent yourself from accessing adults websites, you can ask a trusted person (such as a family member) to set the password for you. This way, you won’t be able to quit/uninstall AppCrypt or change the settings. As a result, you won’t be able to bypass the blocking.
Tip: This adult website blocker makes it easy to block specific websites. It also provides a preset list of inappropriate websites to block with a click. Here’s a tip to help you block all mature websites and other unwanted websites. Go to the Web Block window. Enable Block all websites. Click Exceptions. And add URLs that you allow to access to the Always Allow list.
Applies to: Windows computer
You may let your child use your computer. Or, your child may have his or her own computer. But if there is an unrestricted and unsupervised internet access, he or she will literally have access to all websites, including adult websites and other bad websites, which can be concerning. Luckily, Microsoft offers a solution Family Safety.
Although the website blocking only applies to Microsoft Edge, Microsoft Family Safety will block other web browsers and only allow Edge. As a result, the blocking can be effective. Below are the setup steps.
1. On your Windows PC, go to Start > Settings > Accounts > Family & other users.
2. Click Add a family member and add your child. Or, you can click Manage family settings online and do it on a webpage.
3. Add your child as a member (instead of organizer).
4. Go to your child’s Microsoft account, open the Family Safety email and click Join now.
5. With your Microsoft account signed in, go to https://account.microsoft.com/family/.
6. Click More options below your child’s name and choose Content filters.
7. Go to the Filter settings section and turn on Filter inappropriate websites and searches.
From now on, when your child uses his or her account to sign in to your Windows computer or a different one, adult websites will be blocked and inaccessible.
Applies to: Windows computer, Mac computer
Most desktop browsers, such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Safari and Opera, support extensions. Certain extensions can help users block mature websites.
There are many adult site blocker extensions available for various browsers. BlockSite is one of them and can be installed on Chrome, Firefox and Edge.
1. Open a supported browser. Install BlockSite from the browser’s extension store.
2. Click the extension’s icon in the toolbar and then click the settings icon.
3. On the left, click Categories.
4. From the Blocked categories list, turn on Adult.
5. Right-click the extension’s icon and choose Manage Extensions.
6. Turn on Allow in Incognito.
Now, Google Chrome will automatically block any site that it considers an adult site. The blocking also applies to the incognito browsing mode.
If you want, you can also add specific over 18 websites to block. On the left, click Block Sites. Manually add websites one by one.
Note that one can easily change the settings and unblock blocked websites by removing the extension from browser. Anyone can do this since there is no password protection or something like that.
Applies to: iPhone and iPad
Thanks to iPhone and other smartphones, the internet is literally at our fingertips. However, this also means that porn websites and other inappropriate content are just a few taps away. If you want to keep your child away from adult content, you can restrict adult related websites on iPhone. iOS 12 or later provides an easy way to help users do so.
Here is how to turn on iPhone’s adult website blocker.
1. On an iPhone, go to Settings. Tap Screen Time.
2. Turn on Screen Time.
3. Let Screen Time know whether it’s your iPhone or your child’s iPhone.
4. Tap Use Screen Time Passcode and then set a passcode.
5. Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and then turn it on.
6. Tap Content Restrictions > Web Content.
7. Select Limit Adult Websites.
8. Go to Never Allow and add specific websites to block if needed.
Apple’s Screen Time uses advanced technology to filter mature content, but it can’t accurately filter everything that is inappropriate. Also, it automatically blocks certain websites and pages that are actually normal and appropriate.
There are also third-party apps that can help iPhone and iPad users block over 18 content online. They are available at the App Store.
Applies to: Android phone
Unlike iOS, Android doesn’t offer a built-in option to restrict access to bad websites despite Android’s Digital Wellbeing tools. The good news is that there are third-party adult site blockers for Android such as BlockSite.
If you are using Samsung or Xiaomi or any other Android phone, you can follow the steps below to set up the blocking.
1. Go to Play Store and install BlockSite.
2. Open the app and enable it in Accessibility settings.
3. At the bottom of the screen, tap Adult Block.
4. Turn it on.
Now most of the known adult sites will be blocked on browsers on your phone. If you want, you can also add individual sites to the block list.
Some routers have parental controls. If your router is one of them, you should be able to block access to certain websites such as porn related websites by configuring router settings.
Here I will use a TP-Link router to show you the process. The settings and steps can be different depending on the router you use.
1. Open a web browser.
2. Access router settings.
3. Go to Advanced settings.
4. On the left, scroll down and choose HomeCare. Choose Parental Controls.
5. Create a profile for your kid.
6. Modify the profile and choose Filter Level.
7. Choose a level. If you set the profile to be for a child, preteen or teen, your router will automatically block adult content.
If you block access to inappropriate websites, they will become inaccessible, and it won’t be possible to access the videos, images and other content on them. But what if it is not enough?
We use search engines everyday, so do many children. If a child misspells a certain search query, horrible search results (such as porn sites and explicit images) could show up.
To prevent this from happening, parents can turn on Google SafeSearch.
1. Go to Google.
2. Click Settings in the bottom right corner and choose Search settings.
3. Select the box next to Turn on SafeSearch.
4. Scroll down and click Save.
When you return to Google.com, a message will appear saying Explicit results filtered with SafeSearch. This can help prevent children from stumbling upon bad search results.
In addition to Google, other popular search engines such as Bing, Yahoo and DuckDuckGo also have the SafeSearch feature.
This article talks about several ways on how to block adult websites on a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. By making over 18 sites unavailable, parents can create a safer web-browsing environment for children, and individuals who want to stop porn addiction can live a better life. Also, parents can talk to kids about the dangers of porn.
Rosa has worked in Mac software industry for more than eight years. She believes that the purpose of software is to make life better and work more productively. In addition to writing, Rosa is also an avid runner.