I’m trying to recover from porn addiction and previously had a Steam Deck OLED, but had to give it away because I couldn’t find a reliable way to block porn on it. The Steam Deck is an awesome handheld device with great price-to-performance balance, so I’m thinking about getting another one. I want to know: 1) Is there a way to enforce DNS settings on the Steam Deck to block porn? 2) Can I install Cloudflare Zero Trust VPN on it since I have an account? 3) Are there any other reliable tips or methods to block porn on the device? I’m aware self-control is important, so I’m just looking for technical safeguards to keep myself safe.
5 Answers
One straightforward method is to change the DNS settings to a family-friendly DNS like Cloudflare’s family DNS. That way, porn sites get automatically blocked at the DNS resolution level, so any device using those DNS settings will have the block in place.
Regarding Cloudflare Zero Trust VPN, yes, you should be able to install and configure it on the Steam Deck since it’s a Linux-based device. This would route your traffic through Cloudflare’s network with your set policies, adding another layer of content filtering and security. Just make sure your Zero Trust configs include the necessary blocklists or rules against porn sites.
One more thing: technical blocks help, but they aren’t foolproof since you can often bypass them if you want to. Combining DNS/router blocking with accountability software or setting your device’s administrative controls so you don’t have easy access to change settings can really help. Also consider professional support if you ever feel stuck on this journey. You’re doing great just seeking solutions!
If you want a stronger setup, consider running a Pi-hole or AdGuard Home on a Raspberry Pi or NAS device on your network. These let you customize filters for porn, ads, and more, and then you just set your Steam Deck and other devices to use that as their DNS server. It’s a great way to centrally control content filtering across all devices, including the Deck. You can even run Pi-hole in a Docker container if you have capable hardware.
I’d add that some modern routers can install AdGuard Home directly, so you don’t need a separate device. But if you want granular control and a dedicated setup, Pi-hole on a Raspberry Pi is solid.
This sounds doable. Would I have to manually start Pi-hole on the Deck if I run it there?
Blocking at the router level is often the simplest and most effective approach. That way, all devices connected to your home WiFi inherit the restrictions automatically. Just set up filter rules or use parental controls on the router, especially since many newer routers let you block content categories easily.
Good point! But what happens if I connect the Steam Deck to other WiFi networks when out and about? Would those blocks still work?
Thanks! Would that interfere with other important services or folders on the device?