How to Lock Settings on Windows

Learn how to lock your Windows computer's connection to your Content Policy

Tech Lockdown Team

Updated September 30, 2024

If you’ve connected your Windows device to your Content Policy in order to block unwanted content using DNS filtering, you may have wondered whether you can ensure your computer stays connected. Network settings could be modified on a device and circumvent filtering entirely, so some of our customers ask if there is a way to completely restrict access to settings on Windows.

If you're trying to block porn on a PC , protecting certain settings on Windows is crucial. Otherwise, your blocking system becomes worthless since it can't be enforced effectively. Here are some of our recommendations for restricting settings on Windows.

Use the Enforcer Tool for More Precise Settings Enforcement

Instead of completely restricting all settings on Windows, you can just protect the important ones.

Tech Lockdown members don't need to completely block access to Settings since the content filtering VPN overrides most of the network settings on the Windows PC and forces them to point to the content policy . Furthermore, the Content Filtering VPN should automatically enforce network settings such that they can't be modified:

The VPN application comes bundled with an enforcer tool that prevents the VPN from being stopped by ending the process in Task Manager. It also prevents the program from being uninstalled .

Create a DNS Content Policy

Enforce content filtering rules on all your devices.

Completely Block the Settings App with a Separate Application

In some cases, you might still need to completely disable the Settings application.

You'll need to use a Application Blocker in order to this; it's unfortunately not possible to do without outside help. The one we recommend is called the Cold Turkey Blocker , and it allows you to block windows containing a certain title. With this approach, you can create a block that restricts access to windows with the title "Settings."

In our case, we can add a block for any application with the title “System Settings”.

Create a new block:

In this new block, click on the Applications tab near the top of the menu:

Choose “Add window title”:

Enter “System Settings” as the title:

You might need to add a couple of different titles, such as "Settings" or "Network Connections" depending which windows you might want to block as well.

When you’re done, click Save.

Make sure to lock your block:

Create a DNS Content Policy

Enforce content filtering rules on all your devices.