How to Remove Porn From Your Computer and Keep It Off

Key takeaways

• Clearing browser history does not delete downloaded files: those stay on the computer until you delete them.
• Deleted files stay in the Recycle Bin until you empty it.
• Saved passwords, bookmarks and address bar suggestions are removed separately from history.
• Every browser and every browser profile has its own history, and sync can store it in your account.
• Clearing removes what is already there: only a block stops the sites from loading again.

Steps at a glance

1. Delete downloaded files and empty the Recycle Bin

1. 1.Open File Explorer with Windows + E.
2. 2.Open your Downloads, Videos and Pictures folders and delete anything you want gone.
3. 3.To search the whole computer, select This PC and type kind:=video in the search box. Repeat with kind:=picture, and sort by Date modified or Size.
4. 4.Right click Recycle Bin on the desktop, select Empty Recycle Bin, then Yes.

Files in OneDrive or another cloud folder are also stored online. Delete them there too, and check any USB drives the same way.

2. Clear browsing data in Chrome

1. 1.Select More (the three dots) at the top right, then Delete browsing data.
2. 2.Set the time range to All time.
3. 3.Tick Browsing history, Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, plus password and autofill data if you want those gone.
4. 4.Select Delete data.

To remove only some sites, select More, History, History, search for the site, tick each entry, then Delete and Remove. To delete a saved login, select More, Passwords and autofill, Google Password Manager, open the site's entry and select Delete.

3. Clear browsing data in Microsoft Edge

1. 1.Select Settings and more (the three dots), then Settings, then Privacy, search, and services.
2. 2.Under Clear browsing data, select Choose what to clear.
3. 3.Set Time range to All time.
4. 4.Tick Browsing history, Download history, Cookies and site data, Cached images and files, and Passwords and Autofill form data if you want those gone.
5. 5.Select Clear now.

Edge can also store history in your Microsoft account. Clear it at account.microsoft.com/privacy.

4. Remove bookmarks and address bar suggestions

Chrome bookmarks: select More, Bookmarks and lists, Bookmark manager, right click a bookmark or folder and select Delete.

Edge favorites: select Settings and more, then Favorites, and delete the links or folders you want gone.

Address bar suggestions: clear your history first, because suggestions come from it. Then start typing, highlight a suggestion with the arrow keys and press Shift + Delete.

5. Remove extensions you do not recognise

Some adult sites push extensions that open pop ups or change your search engine.

Chrome: select More, Extensions, Manage extensions, and select Remove on anything you did not install on purpose.

Edge: type edge://extensions in the address bar and remove anything you do not recognise.

6. Check other profiles and browsers

Each profile keeps its own history, bookmarks and passwords. In Chrome, select the Profile icon at the top right to see other profiles. To delete one, select Manage Chrome profiles, More on the profile, then Delete. Edge lists profiles under its profile icon. Repeat steps 2 to 5 in any other browser installed, such as Firefox, Brave or Opera.

7. Keep it off: block adult sites

Clearing only removes what is already on the computer. The sites load again the next time they are typed or searched, so block them.

Ascension is a hard-to-bypass Windows application that blocks harmful and distracting content on the web. It is intended for people who struggle with addiction, and it tracks your digital usage automatically to give insights on how one can improve.

Price: 15-day free trial, then $12.99/month or $50 one-time. Windows 10/11.

1. 1.Install Ascension and add its extension to your browsers.
2. 2.Load the premade Adult Content categories for domains and keywords.
3. 3.Set the block to Always block, and lock it so it cannot be edited or removed.

Key features

• Block variety: block entire adult websites, single sections such as an NSFW subreddit, and porn keywords and search terms in search engines.
• Block tampering: a block cannot be edited or deleted.
• Uninstall protection: Ascension cannot be uninstalled while a block is locked.
• Extension tampering: removing or disabling the browser extension does not lift a block, and a browser running without it is closed while a block is active.
• Premade block lists: adult content, gambling and social media lists are ready to block in one step.

Limitations: Windows only (iOS and Mac in development).

Free options such as a family DNS filter are covered in how to block adult websites. They can be switched off by anyone with administrator access.

Frequently asked questions