How to Turn Off SafeSearch on Google, Bing, and Your Phone: A Step-by-Step Guide
Search results that look half-empty or blurred usually point to one setting. If you want to turn off SafeSearch, the steps take less than a minute on most devices. This guide shows you how to turn off SafeSearch on Google, Bing, and other search engines, on a computer and on your phone.
SafeSearch is a filter that hides or blurs explicit content from your search results. It’s useful on a family computer. For adults doing research in medicine, art, or news, it can also hide results you actually need.
Below you’ll find the exact steps for each search engine, plus fixes for the most common problem: SafeSearch keeps turning back on.
Before You Start: What to Check
A few things decide whether you can change the setting at all. Check these first and you’ll save time:
- Your age on your Google Account. If your account belongs to someone under 18, Google keeps SafeSearch on, and you can’t switch it off.
- Who manages your account. A Google account managed through Google Family Link, or through a school or work account (like Google Workspace for Education), can have SafeSearch locked by an administrator.
- The network you’re on. Some schools, offices, and internet service providers force SafeSearch at the network level. Your own settings won’t override that.
- Whether you’re signed in. If you’re signed out, your choice is saved in a browser cookie. Clear your cookies and the setting resets.
SafeSearch Settings Across Search Engines
Each search engine names its options a little differently. Here’s a quick reference.
| Search engine | Where to find it | Options | Can it be locked? |
|---|---|---|---|
| google.com/safesearch or Settings > SafeSearch | Filter, Blur, Off | Yes, by a parent, an administrator, or the network | |
| Bing | Settings (menu icon) > Search > SafeSearch | Strict, Moderate, Off | Yes, by the network or Microsoft Family Safety |
| Yahoo | Settings > Search preferences > SafeSearch | Strict, Moderate, Off | Yes, by the network |
| DuckDuckGo | Settings > Safe Search | Strict, Moderate, Off | Yes, by the network |
How to Turn Off SafeSearch on Google
Google’s SafeSearch has three modes. Filter hides explicit images, text, and links. Blur blurs explicit images but may still show text and links. Off shows all relevant search results. Blur is the default for many adult accounts.
On a Computer (Google Chrome, Safari, or Any Browser)
- Open Google and go to google.com/safesearch. You can also open Google Search, click Settings at the bottom right, and choose Search settings.
- Sign in to your Google Account if you want the setting to stick across devices.
- Under SafeSearch, select Off.
- Run a search to check that the results changed.
The same steps work in Google Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge, because the setting lives on Google’s side, not in your browser settings.
In the Google App on Android or iPhone
- Open the Google app.
- Tap your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Tap Settings, then SafeSearch. On some versions, you’ll see it directly in the profile menu.
- Choose Off.
If you use Google in a mobile browser instead of the app, follow the computer steps above. The SafeSearch page works the same way on a phone.
How to Turn Off SafeSearch on Bing
- Open bing.com.
- Click the menu icon (three lines) in the top right corner and choose Settings, then Search. On some layouts, you’ll see SafeSearch right in the menu.
- Under SafeSearch, select Off.
- Click Save if Bing asks.
Bing’s default is Moderate, which filters explicit images and videos but not text. If the Off option is greyed out, your region, your network, or a Microsoft Family Safety setting may enforce SafeSearch.
How to Turn Off SafeSearch on Android Devices
On Android, the safe search setting you need depends on which tool you search with:
- Google app or Chrome: use the Google steps above. Android itself has no separate SafeSearch switch.
- Samsung Internet or another browser: check which search engine the browser uses (usually under Settings > Search engine), then turn off SafeSearch on that engine’s site.
- A child’s phone with Google Family Link: the parent has to change it. In the Family Link app, select the child, go to Controls > Google Search, and adjust the filter. For under-18 accounts, Google may keep SafeSearch filtering on regardless.
How to Turn Off SafeSearch on iPhone and Safari
Safari doesn’t have its own SafeSearch feature. It sends your searches to Google, Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo, so you change the setting on that site.
There’s one exception. If Screen Time has content limits turned on, iOS can restrict adult websites and explicit content. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions to review them. If a parent or administrator set a Screen Time passcode, you’ll need that code to make changes.
Why SafeSearch Keeps Turning Back On
You turn off SafeSearch, and a day later, it’s back. This is the most common complaint, and it usually has one of these causes.
Your Cookies Got Cleared
If you’re signed out, Google and Bing store your choice in a cookie. Browser extensions that clean cookies, private browsing mode, or a manual cleanup will reset it. Sign in to your account so the setting saves to your profile instead.
Someone Else Manages the Setting
A parental control app, Google Family Link, or a school or work administrator can lock SafeSearch. When that happens, Google usually shows a message saying the setting is locked. Only the person who manages the account can change it.
Your Network Enforces SafeSearch
Schools, workplaces, public Wi-Fi, and some internet service providers may enforce SafeSearch through their DNS settings. The network quietly sends your Google or Bing traffic to a filtered version of the site. Your account settings can’t override this, and it’s the network owner’s call. On a school or work network, follow their rules.
On your own home network, check two places: your router settings (look for a “safe search” or content filter option) and your ISP’s account dashboard. Some providers switch on family filtering by default. You can turn it off there.
A Browser Extension Is Forcing It
Some security and parental control extensions apply SafeSearch automatically. Open your browser extensions page and disable anything you don’t recognize, then test again.
Searching More Privately After You Turn Off SafeSearch
Turning off SafeSearch changes what Google shows you. It doesn’t change who can see what you search. Your internet service provider can still see which sites you connect to, and so can anyone running the Wi-Fi you’re on.
A VPN encrypts your connection, so your ISP and other people on the network can’t see your browsing activity. It also uses its own DNS servers, so your searches don’t go through your ISP’s DNS. If you’d like to understand this better, read our guides on what a VPN does and how a VPN protects you.
You can get Planet VPN for Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and browsers like Chrome from our download page. Setup takes a couple of clicks. To see which DNS servers your device uses right now, try our free DNS leak test.
A VPN is for your own privacy. It isn’t a way around rules set by a parent, school, or employer, so respect those on devices and networks you don’t own.
Keep Your Searches Private with Planet VPN
Planet VPN is a free VPN with core features and no catch. You don’t pay with money. You watch a short ad, and in return you get reliable encryption that protects your data on any network. The free plan includes access to 6 locations in 5 countries, and Premium adds more server locations and higher speeds.
Your search settings control what you see. Planet VPN helps keep what you search private. Compare the Free and Premium options on our plans page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I turn off SafeSearch on Google?
Usually, someone else controls the setting. Google keeps SafeSearch on for users under 18, and a parent using Family Link or a school or work administrator can lock it. Your network can also enforce SafeSearch through DNS. If none of these apply, sign in to your Google Account and try again at google.com/safesearch.
Is it safe to turn off SafeSearch?
For adults, yes. Turning off SafeSearch only changes which search results Google or Bing shows you. It doesn’t lower your device security. You may see explicit content in results, so keep it on for shared or family devices.
How do I turn off SafeSearch on my phone?
Open the Google app, tap your profile picture, and go to Settings > SafeSearch, then choose Off. In a mobile browser, go to google.com/safesearch. For Bing on your phone, open bing.com, tap the menu, and change SafeSearch in Settings.
What’s the difference between Filter, Blur, and Off on Google?
Filter hides explicit images, text, and links. Blur blurs explicit images but can still show explicit text and links. Off shows all relevant results, including explicit content.
Why does SafeSearch keep turning back on?
The most common reason is cleared cookies while you’re signed out. Other causes include a parental control app, an account managed by a school or employer, a browser extension, or a network that may enforce SafeSearch through DNS.
Does a VPN turn off SafeSearch?
No. SafeSearch is an account and search engine setting, so you still need to change it in Google or Bing. A VPN encrypts your connection and keeps your browsing activity private from your ISP and the local network.