How to Turn Off Safe Search

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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SafeSearch is a feature provided by various search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo, designed to filter explicit and inappropriate content from search results. While it is useful for maintaining a safe browsing environment, there may be times when you want or need to turn it off. This guide details how to turn off SafeSearch on multiple platforms in simple and clear language.

Google

Google SafeSearch can be easily turned on or off using the Settings menu. You need to follow the following steps:

1. Open your web browser and go to the Google homepage.
2. In the lower-right corner of the page, click Settings.
3. From the dropdown menu, select Search Settings. This will open the Search Settings page.
4. In the SafeSearch Filters section, you'll see a checkbox called Turn on SafeSearch.
5. If the box is checked, SafeSearch is enabled. To disable it, simply uncheck the box.
6. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Save button to apply the changes.

Now Google SafeSearch will be turned off, and you will be able to see unfiltered search results.

Bing

Bing also offers a SafeSearch feature that can be controlled through its settings. Below are the steps to disable it:

1. Open your web browser and go to the Bing homepage.
2. Click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the upper-right corner of the page.
3. Select SafeSearch from the menu options. This will take you to the SafeSearch settings page.
4. You will see three options: Strict, Moderate, and Off. Select the Off option to turn off SafeSearch.
5. After making the selection, scroll down and click on the Save button to confirm the changes.

When Bing SafeSearch is turned off, your search results will no longer be filtered.

Yahoo

To turn off SafeSearch on Yahoo, follow these steps:

1. Open your Web browser and go to the Yahoo homepage.
2. In the upper right corner, click the Settings icon (represented by a gear icon).
3. From the dropdown menu, click on Preferences.
4. In the Preferences section, find the Search category and click on it.
5. You will see the SafeSearch option along with a dropdown menu.
6. Select Off from the dropdown options.
7. Scroll down and click on the Save button to apply the changes.

SafeSearch has now been disabled on Yahoo, allowing you to view unfiltered content.

DuckDuckGo

DuckDuckGo also offers a SafeSearch feature, which can be turned off as follows:

1. Open your web browser and go to the DuckDuckGo homepage.
2. Click the Settings icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner.
3. Select All Settings from the menu.
4. Scroll down to the SafeSearch section.
5. You'll see a toggle switch. If SafeSearch is enabled, the switch will be in the On position.
6. Click the switch to turn it off.
7. The settings are saved automatically, so there is no need to click the Save button.

DuckDuckGo's SafeSearch will now be turned off, and all search results will be displayed without filters.

Safari browser

If you use Safari and want to disable SafeSearch, follow these steps:

1. Open the Safari browser on your device.
2. Go to the search engine you use.
3. To turn off SafeSearch, follow the specific steps above for your search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo).

Note that Safari itself doesn't offer a built-in SafeSearch feature, so you'll need to disable SafeSearch directly on your favorite search engine's website.

Chrome browser

Google Chrome users can disable SafeSearch using these simple steps:

1. Open the Chrome browser on your device.
2. Go to the homepage of your favorite search engine.
3. Follow the specific instructions above to disable SafeSearch on that search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo).

There are no native settings for SafeSearch in Chrome; adjustments must be made directly on the search engine's site.

Edge browser

If you use Microsoft Edge and want to turn off SafeSearch, follow these steps:

1. Open the Edge browser on your device.
2. Go to the homepage of your chosen search engine.
3. From there, follow the specific instructions for the search engine (Google, Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo) outlined in the sections above to disable SafeSearch.

Like other browsers, Edge doesn't include a built-in SafeSearch setting; changes must be made through the search engine's preferences.

Mobile devices

The process for disabling SafeSearch on a mobile device is very similar to that of a desktop browser, although the interface may look slightly different. Below are the general steps for disabling SafeSearch on mobile:

Google (mobile)

1. Open the Google app or mobile browser and go to the Google homepage.
2. Tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-left or top-right corner.
3. Select Settings from the menu.
4. Scroll down and tap Search settings.
5. In the SafeSearch Filters section, uncheck the box labeled Turn on SafeSearch to disable it.
6. Scroll down and tap Save to apply the changes.

Bing (mobile)

1. Open the Bing app or mobile browser and go to the Bing homepage.
2. Tap the Menu icon (three horizontal lines) to access Settings.
3. Select SafeSearch from the options.
4. To turn off SafeSearch, select Off.
5. Scroll down and tap Save to confirm your changes.

Yahoo (mobile)

1. Open the Yahoo app or mobile browser and go to the Yahoo homepage.
2. Tap the Settings icon (gear icon) in the upper-right corner.
3. Select Preferences from the menu.
4. Tap a search category.
5. Select Off from the SafeSearch options.
6. Scroll down and tap Save to apply the changes.

DuckDuckGo (mobile)

1. Open the DuckDuckGo app or mobile browser and go to the DuckDuckGo homepage.
2. Tap the Settings icon (three horizontal lines).
3. Select All Settings.
4. Scroll down to the SafeSearch section.
5. Move the switch to the Off position.

The settings will be saved automatically and no further action will be required.

Reflections and final thoughts

Turning off SafeSearch may provide more comprehensive search results, but it's important to note that this will also cause you to see explicit and potentially inappropriate content. This feature is especially useful when browsing the Internet in a controlled environment or when content filtering is not required.

Parents or guardians should note that turning off SafeSearch may not be appropriate for children and younger users. In such cases, it is advisable to keep SafeSearch enabled to maintain a safe browsing experience.

When you turn off SafeSearch on a particular device or browser, it's usually saved as a cookie or setting in that browser or app. If you periodically clear your cookies or cache, you may need to turn SafeSearch off again each time you do so.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter an issue where SafeSearch can't be turned off, consider the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Make sure you're signed in to your account, if applicable, as some settings may be tied to your profile.
2. Check for any browser extensions or plugins that may be enforcing SafeSearch. Temporarily disable these extensions/plugins to see if they are causing the issue.
3. Make sure that the parental controls or family safety settings on your device do not override the search settings. Check your device's settings and disable all controls if necessary.
4. If you're using a work or school device, verify that there are no administrative restrictions that prevent changes to SafeSearch settings.

Following these guidelines ensures that you can effectively manage SafeSearch settings across multiple devices and platforms, giving you a more customized and controlled Internet browsing experience.

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