The Tool Desk
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Use the instructions below for your device. If Off is unavailable, a parent, school, employer, administrator, security product, or network may be enforcing the setting.
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Turn off SafeSearch in Google
Google currently provides three SafeSearch choices:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Filter | Blocks detected explicit results. |
| Blur | Blurs explicit images, although explicit text and links may still appear. |
| Off | Allows relevant results even when they may be explicit. |
On a computer
- Open Google’s SafeSearch settings page.
- Select Off.
- If you are already viewing Google results, you can also select your profile picture or initial in the upper-right corner and open the SafeSearch controls.
Google’s current settings page uses the three choices above. Older guides may tell you to clear a checkbox called Turn on SafeSearch; that instruction does not match the current interface.
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In the Google app on Android
- Open the Google app.
- Tap your profile picture or initial.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap SafeSearch.
- Select Off.
In a mobile browser on Android, iPhone, or iPad
- Open Google’s SafeSearch settings page in your browser.
- Select Off.
- On a mobile device, tap Back in the upper-right corner after changing the setting.
Google SafeSearch applies only to Google Search. It does not filter results from Bing or Yahoo, and it does not control content on websites that you open directly.
Turn off SafeSearch in Bing
Bing has three SafeSearch modes:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Strict | Filters explicit text, images, and videos. |
| Moderate | Filters explicit images and videos but not explicit text; Microsoft identifies this as the default setting. |
| Off | Does not apply Bing’s explicit-content filter. |
On a computer
- Open Bing.com.
- Select the GlobalNavButton icon in the upper-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- Select More.
- Under SafeSearch, choose Off.
- Scroll to the bottom of the menu and select Save.
Microsoft’s current path is GlobalNavButton icon → Settings → More → SafeSearch. Depending on the version of Bing you are using, older instructions referring to a three-line menu or a separate SafeSearch link may not be accurate.
When Bing keeps switching back to Strict
Bing may automatically use Strict for users under 18, depending on local legal requirements. The setting can also be enforced by a school, workplace, router, DNS service, or Windows configuration.
One Windows enforcement method maps Bing to the strict.bing.com endpoint through the hosts file. The standard hosts-file location is C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts.
Microsoft documents using ping strict.bing.com to find the current IP address, then adding an entry such as 204.79.197.220 www.bing.com to the hosts file. Replace the example address with the current address returned by the command. For Microsoft Edge’s sidebar, the corresponding entry is 204.79.197.220 edgeservices.bing.com.
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A hosts file requires an IP address. Entering strict.bing.com itself as the address will not correctly create the redirect. Only a PC administrator can remove an individually enforced hosts-file configuration. Do not edit a managed computer without the administrator’s permission.
Turn off SafeSearch in Yahoo Search
Yahoo offers these SafeSearch modes:
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Strict | Blocks adult content. |
| Moderate | Blocks adult images and video. |
| Off | Does not filter results. |
On a computer
- Open Yahoo Search and sign in to your Yahoo account.
- Run a search so that a results page is open.
- Select the Apps menu icon.
- Select Settings.
- Select Preferences.
- Open the SafeSearch drop-down menu.
- Select Off.
Yahoo’s current desktop instructions begin from a search results page. The SafeSearch steps do not identify a separate desktop Save button.
In a mobile browser or the Yahoo Search app
- Open Yahoo Search in a browser, or open the Yahoo Search app.
- Make sure you are signed in.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Preferences.
- Set SafeSearch to Off.
- On iPhone or iPad, tap Done. Yahoo identifies this as an iOS-only step.
When you are signed in, Yahoo says your Search preferences can be used across computers and mobile devices. When you are not signed in, the preference is saved only on the particular device or computer being used.
The iOS Yahoo Search app has a separate SafeSearch setting. That setting applies to the iOS app and not necessarily to other Yahoo Search products.
What to do if SafeSearch will not turn off
| What you see | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Off is missing or cannot be selected | The setting is locked | Look for a lock icon or a message identifying the parent, school, organization, device, or network managing it. |
| The setting changes, then returns to Filter or Strict | Cookies are being removed, or a policy is resetting the preference | Sign in, allow cookies, and check whether the browser deletes cookies when it closes. |
| The setting works on one network but not another | Public Wi-Fi, school Wi-Fi, workplace controls, router settings, or DNS filtering | Test the same account on a different permitted network. |
| The setting changes in the browser but not in an app | The app has its own preference | Check the app’s settings separately, particularly Yahoo Search on iOS. |
| Search results are still limited after choosing Off | SafeSearch is not the only factor affecting results | Check regional availability, indexing, query wording, account age controls, and website access. |
Check for a lock
A lock icon means the ordinary SafeSearch menu cannot override the control. Common Google causes include Family Link, a Google Workspace for Education account, a device or network administrator, public Wi-Fi, family-safety software, antivirus software, a browser extension, or a URL parameter such as safe=active.
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If the account is managed with Family Link, or belongs to a child below the applicable age in that country or region, only the parent or family manager may be able to change the setting. Google may also use Filter by default when its systems indicate that the user may be under 18.
If Google’s setting does not stay changed
- Sign in to the Google Account you use for Search.
- Make sure cookies are enabled.
- Check whether the browser deletes cookies whenever it closes.
- Temporarily review browser extensions and security software that modify search results.
- Try Google Search on another permitted network.
Google notes that, when you are signed out, deleting cookies can reset the SafeSearch preference. Signing in normally saves the preference, provided cookies and account controls permit it.
What “Off” does—and does not—mean
Turning SafeSearch off removes the search engine’s SafeSearch filter; it is not a universal web-content switch. It does not guarantee that every page will appear in results, that content is indexed, that a result is available in your country or region, or that a website will allow access. Yahoo also describes its filter as covering most adult content, so selecting Off should not be interpreted as a promise that every possible result will be returned.
If explicit results are still absent, the cause may be a separate account restriction, network filter, browser extension, antivirus product, regional rule, or the website itself.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
Does turning off Google SafeSearch turn it off in Bing and Yahoo?
No. Each search engine stores its own SafeSearch preference. Change the setting separately in Google, Bing, and Yahoo if you use all three.
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Why is Google SafeSearch locked?
A parent account, Family Link, school or workplace administrator, device policy, public Wi-Fi network, antivirus product, browser extension, or other administrator may be enforcing it. A lock icon indicates that the normal Google setting cannot override the control.
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Why does Bing keep changing back to Strict?
Bing may enforce Strict for users under 18 or because of local requirements. A network administrator, DNS configuration, Edge sidebar policy, or Windows hosts-file entry can also redirect Bing to its Strict endpoint.
Do I need to save the SafeSearch change in Yahoo?
Yahoo’s current desktop instructions do not identify a separate Save button. Open Yahoo Search preferences from a results page, select Off, and on iOS tap Done when prompted.
Does SafeSearch block content on websites I visit directly?
No. SafeSearch filters results returned by a particular search engine. It does not act as a general content filter for other websites or other search engines.
The Bottom Line
For Google, open SafeSearch settings and choose Off; in the Android Google app, use Profile picture → Settings → SafeSearch → Off. In Bing, use GlobalNavButton → Settings → More → SafeSearch → Off → Save. In Yahoo, open a results page and use Apps → Settings → Preferences → SafeSearch → Off.
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