You can find anything on the internet without restriction. But you may stumble upon explicit content that is considered not safe for work (NSFW) and not suitable for children. However, using your search engine’s built-in SafeSearch option, you can avoid these situations. It filters out potentially inappropriate content. Outside of Google, thedefault search engine on Google Chrome, you can turn this setting on or off on Bing and DuckDuckGo.
You may not need this setting enabled if you’re an adult, in which case SafeSearch would be a hindrance, especially if you’re using your phone orone of the best Chromebooksto browse the web. This guide shows you how to turn off SafeSearch on popular search engines and discusses how to turn it on again if the situation warrants it.
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Turn off Google SafeSearch on a desktop
you may turn off SafeSearch on your Mac, Windows PC, or Chromebook. Below are the steps on how to disable the setting.
Google SafeSearch also offers aBluroption, which blurs explicit images. However, it may serve you explicit links and text.
Turn off SafeSearch from the SafeSearch settings
To turn off the SafeSearch feature on your computer:
Turn off SafeSearch from the Google search page
Turn off Google SafeSearch on an Android phone or tablet
Besides using a laptop or desktop setup, you can also turn off SafeSearch whether you’re using an Android phone or tablet. We walk you through the steps below.
Use the Google app to turn off SafeSearch
Use a mobile browser to turn off SafeSearch
Turn off SafeSearch on an Android TV
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How to turn off Bing’s SafeSearch feature
Microsoft Bing is one of the most popular search engines on the web. If you prefer it to Google as your default tool for surfing the web, here’s how to adjust the SafeSearch settings.
If you’re located in China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Middle East, Singapore, Thailand, or Turkey, Bing’s SafeSearch might be set to Strict mode. This often happens due to laws that dictate the type of content allowed to be displayed online, influencing how SafeSearch filters your search results.
If you’re facing this, here’s a quick fix:
How to turn off DuckDuckGo SafeSearch
There are several ways to turn off SafeSearch for DuckDuckGo. Our tutorial series covers how to turn SafeSearch for DuckDuck Go using the search result page, the settings, the bang syntax, and visiting another domain.
Turn off SafeSearch using the search result page
Turn off Safe Search from the DuckDuckGo settings
Turn off SafeSearch using the bang syntax
You’ll add the!safeoffsyntax to any part of your search query for this option. This automatically turns off SafeSearch for the results. SafeSearch remains off for subsequent searches until you turn it back on again.
Turn off Safe Search using safe DuckDuckGo
While the previous sections have been about turning off SafeSearch, this one allows you to turn it on. Instead of going to the regular DuckDuckGo domain, go tohttps://safe.duckduckgo.com/. This automatically turns on safe search with the maximum (strict) setting.
How to turn on SafeSearch
SafeSearch is off by default or turned on for most search engines with moderate settings. However, there are a few exceptions. For example, SafeSearch is turned on by default for Google accounts of children under 13. Similarly,family accountsonly allow parents to adjust the setting.
Whichever account you operate, you’ll turn on SafeSearch to hide explicit results and screen potentially harmful content. Follow the steps for your web browser. However, choose an option that turns on the feature.
SafeSearch isn’t perfect. Even when turned on, explicit content may slip through. Search engines usually have options to report it. SafeSearch doesn’t work across search engines. For example, if you turn it on or off for Google, you’ll do the same when switching to Bing. Also, SafeSearch doesn’t work on websites that you visit directly.
Beyond SafeSearch to parental control
There isn’t a shortage of content you can find online. But at the same time, there’s content put out there that’s inappropriate for children. SafeSearch is a handy tool that helps filter age-appropriate content on Google, making the internet safer. But even with these tools, tech-savvy kids can figure out how to get around SafeSearch and see things they shouldn’t. But that’s whysetting up a parental control systemmight be worth looking into. Establishing parental controls on your devices makes monitoring and blocking content your kids shouldn’t access far easier (and much more foolproof).
