SafeSearch is not one switch for the whole internet. Google and Bing each have their own setting, and changing one does not change the other. If you control your own account or browser, you can choose Off in the search engine you use. If the setting is locked by a parent, school, organization, device, network, or local law, the search engine may not let you change it.
First, identify which SafeSearch you mean
| Where you search | Where to change it | Choices |
|---|---|---|
| Google Search | google.com/safesearch | Filter, Blur, Off |
| Bing | Bing menu > Settings > More > SafeSearch | Strict, Moderate, Off; then Save |
| Yahoo Search | Yahoo Search results > Settings > Preferences | Strict, Moderate, Off |
| DuckDuckGo | Safe Search dropdown under the results-page search box, or Search Settings | Strict, Moderate, Off |
SafeSearch affects results from the selected search engine. It does not remove parental controls, filter sites visited directly, or change other search providers. Google says its setting applies only to Google Search; Microsoft describes Bing’s setting separately.
Turn off Google SafeSearch
- Open Google’s SafeSearch settings while using the account or browser whose searches you want to change.
- Choose Off. Google’s other choices are Filter, which filters detected explicit results, and Blur, which blurs detected explicit images while relevant explicit text or links may remain.
- Return to a Google results page and revisit the settings page to confirm the selected option. If you use several accounts, browsers, or devices, check the one you actually search with.
Google notes that the available controls can vary by country or territory. When you are signed out, browser data and cookies can affect whether the preference persists; signing in to your own Google Account generally saves the preference to that account. See Google Search Help and Google’s troubleshooting guide.
Turn off Bing SafeSearch
- Go to Bing.com and open its menu in the upper-right corner.
- Choose Settings, then More.
- Under SafeSearch, choose Off and select Save at the bottom of the menu.
Microsoft’s Bing SafeSearch instructions list Strict, Moderate, and Off. Strict filters detected explicit text, images, and videos; Moderate filters explicit images and videos but not text; Off does not apply that explicit-content filter. Results may still be affected by other search policies or applicable rules.
Turn off Yahoo or DuckDuckGo Safe Search
Yahoo: On a Yahoo Search results page, open Settings, then Preferences, and choose Off from the SafeSearch menu. Yahoo also provides the choice in mobile Search settings; iOS may ask you to tap Done. See Yahoo Help. Signed-in preferences can follow your account; signed-out preferences may be limited to the current browser or device.
DuckDuckGo: Use the Safe Search dropdown below the search box on a results page, or the Safe Search option in Search Settings, and select Off. DuckDuckGo documents both controls in its Safe Search help page. Its settings can be stored in browser cookies, so clearing cookies may reset the preference. If a managed network forces safe.duckduckgo.com, local controls may be unavailable.
If Off is missing, gray, or keeps changing back
Google: A lock icon on its SafeSearch page means someone or something else controls the setting. Google’s help lists parents or Family Link, a school or work administrator, public Wi-Fi, device or browser controls, and antivirus software as possible sources. The settings page may identify who manages it. If you do not control that policy, ask the person or organization that does; do not assume a browser toggle can override it.
Bing: Microsoft says an under-18 account may be set to Strict to comply with local law, and a device or network can force Strict results. If the control is unavailable or does not stick, check whether a parent, administrator, or network owner manages it. Microsoft’s filtering overview explains the levels and managed-network behavior.
If the setting changes only when you switch accounts, browsers, or networks, test the exact account and connection you are using. On Google, clearing cookies while signed out can reset the preference. Do not change device security or network settings solely to get around a managed restriction.
What Off does not do
- It does not guarantee every possible page will appear in results. Ranking, availability, regional rules, and each search engine’s content policies still apply.
- It does not affect another search engine. Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo each have separate choices.
- It does not disable parental controls, workplace policies, or a website’s own access rules.
- It does not require searching for disturbing material to verify the setting. Reopen the settings page and read the selected state instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn SafeSearch off on a phone?
Yes, if you control the setting. Open the relevant search engine’s settings in the account or browser you use. Google provides a SafeSearch settings page; Bing provides its own menu. A managed account or network may prevent changes on mobile too.
Why does Google say Blur instead of On?
Google offers three modes: Filter, Blur, and Off. Blur obscures detected explicit images but does not necessarily remove all explicit text or links. Select Off only if that is the setting you intend and are permitted to use.
Sources: Google SafeSearch; Google troubleshooting; Microsoft Bing steps; Microsoft filtering levels.
Related: How to Set Google as the Default Search Engine in Microsoft Edge.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.