Safe Search filters your results to remove adult content, but you control whether it's on or off
Safe Search is a filter that hides sexually explicit images, videos, and websites from your search results. It runs on Google, Bing, YouTube, and some other search engines. You can turn it off in your account settings or browser settings — the steps depend on which search engine you use and whether you're signed in.
Safe Search is on by default for most people, especially if you're under 18 or using a shared device. Turning it off is straightforward, but it means you'll see unfiltered results, including adult content you may not expect. The choice is yours, but it's worth understanding what changes when you disable it.
Key Takeaways
- Safe Search is a content filter turned on by default; you can disable it in your search engine's settings without needing permission or a password.
- Google Safe Search turns off in your account settings if you're signed in, or in your browser settings if you're not.
- Bing Safe Search has a toggle in the settings menu at the bottom of the search page.
- YouTube has a separate Restricted Mode toggle in account settings that works independently of Google Safe Search.
- If you share a device, disabling Safe Search affects only your account, not other users on that device.
How to turn off Safe Search on Google
If you're signed into a Google account, go to google.com, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select Manage your Google Account. Click the Data & Privacy tab on the left, scroll down to Web & App Activity, and look for SafeSearch setting. Toggle it off.
If you're not signed in, go to google.com/preferences and look for the SafeSearch Filters section. You'll see three options: Strict (most filtering), Moderate (some filtering), or Off (no filtering). Select Off and click Save at the bottom. This setting is stored in your browser's cookies, so it only works on that device and browser.
If you use Google Chrome, you can also manage Safe Search through your browser settings. Open Chrome, click the three-line menu in the top right, go to Settings, then Privacy and security, then Safe Browsing. This is a different feature from Google Safe Search — it protects you from malware and phishing — but some people confuse the two.
How to turn off Safe Search on Bing
Go to bing.com and search for anything. At the bottom of the page, click Settings. You'll see SafeSearch with three options: Strict, Moderate, or Off. Click Off.
If you're signed into a Microsoft account, this setting syncs across your devices. If you're not signed in, the setting is stored in your browser only. Bing's interface is simpler than Google's, so this usually takes less than a minute.
How to turn off Restricted Mode on YouTube
YouTube uses Restricted Mode instead of Safe Search, but it works the same way — it filters out videos marked as potentially inappropriate. Sign into your YouTube account, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and scroll down to Restricted Mode. Toggle it Off.
Restricted Mode is separate from Google Safe Search, so turning off one does not turn off the other. If you use YouTube on a shared device, you may want to leave Restricted Mode on for other users. YouTube lets you set it per account, so each person can have their own preference.
What happens when you disable Safe Search
When Safe Search is off, your search results will include adult websites, explicit images, and videos that the filter would normally hide. You may also see results for topics that are legal but graphic — violence, injury, or medical procedures. Search engines do not remove these results; they just hide them by default.
Disabling Safe Search does not change what websites exist or what you can access. It only changes what the search engine shows you. You can still visit any website directly by typing its address into your browser, whether Safe Search is on or off.
Safe Search on shared devices and family accounts
If you share a computer, tablet, or phone with family members, disabling Safe Search in your account only affects your searches — it does not change the setting for other people who use that device. Each person's account has its own Safe Search preference.
If you're the account holder on a shared device and want to enforce Safe Search for everyone, you can set up Family Link on Android or Screen Time on iPhone to restrict what other users can access. These tools let you set content filters at the device level, not just the search engine level. However, they require you to set up parental controls, which is a different process than disabling Safe Search.
Why Safe Search exists and what it filters
Search engines created Safe Search to prevent accidental exposure to adult content, especially for young people. The filter looks at the content of websites, the text around images, and user reports to decide what to hide. It is not perfect — some adult sites slip through, and some non-adult results get filtered by mistake.
Safe Search also filters some results based on violence, hate speech, and self-harm content, though the rules vary by search engine. Google's filter is more aggressive than Bing's. Neither filter removes illegal content — that is handled by law enforcement and the search engine's abuse reporting system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my internet provider or school know if I turn off Safe Search?
Your internet provider cannot see your Safe Search setting — it is stored on Google, Bing, or YouTube's servers, not on your connection. However, if you're using a school or work network, your network administrator may have their own content filter that blocks websites regardless of your Safe Search setting. That filter works at the network level, not the search engine level.
Can I turn off Safe Search on my phone?
Yes. On Android, open the Google app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings, then General, then SafeSearch, and toggle it off. On iPhone, open Safari, go to Settings, scroll to Safari, and look for SafeSearch — though this setting is less visible on iOS than Android. YouTube's Restricted Mode works the same way on both phones and computers.
If I turn off Safe Search, will I get viruses or malware?
Safe Search does not protect you from malware or viruses — it only filters content. Malware protection comes from your browser's security features and your antivirus software. Turning off Safe Search does not make your device less find, but it does mean you may land on websites with malicious ads or downloads if you click on suspicious links.
Can I turn off Safe Search for some searches but not others?
No. Safe Search is an all-or-nothing setting per account or device. You cannot toggle it on and off for individual searches. If you want to use Safe Search most of the time but disable it occasionally, you would need to change the setting each time, which takes about 30 seconds.
What if I forgot my password and can't sign into my account to change Safe Search?
If you're not signed in, you can still turn off Safe Search by going to google.com/preferences or bing.com and using the settings menu — no password required. The setting will be stored in your browser's cookies. If you want to change the setting in your account, you'll need to recover your password through Google's or Microsoft's account recovery process.