How to Remove the Internet Explorer Content Advisor Password

If you want to disable the Content Advisor in Internet Explorer, but have forgotten the required password needed to turn Content Advisor off, don't fret.   You can easily solve this Content Advisor password issue quickly by making a simple edit to the Windows Registry. 

This simple Windows Registry hack allows you to remove the Internet Explorer Content Advisor Password from its Windows Registry key so you can then disable the Internet Explorer Content Advisor and set a new password to use, in case you decided to re-enable Content Advisor.

IMPORTANT: Before you proceed and start editing the Registry, you should always backup the Windows Registry in case something goes wrong after you make a change.  This is very important since messing with the Registry can be hazardous to your PCs health.  See: How To Backup the Windows Registry.  I would also recommend that you create a restore point using System Restore, since the restore point will contain information about the registry, which you can use to undo changes made to your system.

Don't worry if you are new to editing the Windows Registry, as far as Registry edits go, this one is fairly simple. (Just be sure to backup the registry first.)

Here are the steps to open the Registry Editor and delete the key that will remove the Content Advisor password:

1. Open the Registry Editor.  To open it on a Windows Vista (or 7) computer, click the Start button, then type regedit into the search box, and press Enter.‌  (You may be prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.)  If you're running Windows XP, click Start, then click Run, and then in the Open box, type regedit, and click OK.

2. The Registry Editor should now be open.

3. Click on the little (triangle or plus sign) icon to the left of folder H_KEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

4. Continue to navigate down the registries, by clicking on the (triangle or plus sign) to the left of the named key, through SOFTWARE -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Policies.

5. Click on the Ratings folder.

6. In the right-hand pane of Registry Editor window, you should see an item named Key.  Right-click on Key, and then select Delete. (A Confirm Value Delete box will pop-up asking "Deleting certain registry values could cause system instability. Are you sure you want to permanently delete this vaule?", click the Yes button to proceed.)

7. You just deleted your original Content Advisor password.

8. Now close the Registry Editor window.  (Once RegEdit is closed, if you are using a Windows XP computer, you may have to Restart your computer for the new Registry settings to take affect).

9. Open Internet Explorer and navigate to the Tools menu -> Internet Options -> Content tab.

10. In the Content Advisor section, click the Disable button (or Enable button).  A Create Supervisor Password box will pop-up. Enter a new, more easily remembered Password and Hint, then click OK.

11. This will disable the Content Advisor in Internet Explorer. You may get Content Advisor box that pops-up that says "Content Advisor has been turned off.", if you do, just click OK.

12. That's it!