How to Filter Out Adult Content in Google With SafeSearch
Turn on Google SafeSearch, understand Filter vs Blur vs Off, lock it with Family Link or on your home network, and close gaps explicit results slip through.
Google is the search engine most kids reach for first, whether they're researching homework, looking up song lyrics, or following a rabbit hole of curiosity. Its SafeSearch filter is the simplest way to keep explicit results out of the way. Here's how to turn it on, what the settings mean, and how to keep it from being switched off.
Google's three SafeSearch settings
| Setting | What it does |
|---|---|
| Filter | Blocks explicit results, including images, text and links |
| Blur | Blurs explicit images; explicit text and links can still appear if relevant |
| Off | Shows all relevant results, including explicit content |
Blur is Google's default for most adults. Filter is the default when Google's systems indicate a user may be under 18, and for children with Family Link-supervised accounts or under 13. For kids, Filter is the one you want.
How to turn on SafeSearch
On a computer, phone or tablet browser
- Go to google.com/safesearch.
- Choose Filter.
- That's it; the setting saves automatically.
You can also reach it from any Google search results page by selecting your profile picture or initial at the top right and finding SafeSearch.
If you're signed in to a Google account, the setting follows that account. If you're signed out, it's saved in that browser only.
In the Google app
The Google app uses the SafeSearch setting of the signed-in account. Sign your child into their own supervised account and SafeSearch will be set to Filter and locked. Google's SafeSearch help page links to app-specific instructions.
How to lock SafeSearch
A setting your child can change in two clicks isn't much protection. There are three good ways to lock it.
1. Google Family Link (recommended for most families)
If your child has a Google account supervised through Family Link, SafeSearch is set to Filter and only you can change it. To check:
- Open the Family Link app on your phone.
- Select your child.
- Go to their controls and find the Google Search settings.
- Confirm SafeSearch is on.
When your child searches while signed in, they'll see a lock icon on the SafeSearch setting.
2. Your home network
Google lets network and device administrators force SafeSearch. Google's documented method is to map Google's search domains to forcesafesearch.google.com. Many routers and family DNS services include a "force SafeSearch" option that does this for you. Once it's on, every device on your Wi-Fi gets filtered results, signed in or not.
3. A single computer
On a PC or Mac you manage, you can map Google domains to forcesafesearch.google.com in the computer's hosts file. This is more technical and only works on that machine.
Schools
If your child uses a school Google account, the school may already enforce SafeSearch. Google notes that schools can manage the setting for users under 18 or associated with a K-12 institution.
What SafeSearch covers, and what it doesn't
SafeSearch applies to Google Search results, including the Images and Videos tabs. It doesn't:
- Block websites. If your child types an address directly, SafeSearch isn't involved. Pair it with a web filter.
- Filter other search engines. Bing, Yahoo and DuckDuckGo have their own settings. See our guides for Bing and Yahoo.
- Control YouTube itself. YouTube has separate controls, including supervised accounts and Restricted Mode. Our YouTube safety mode guide explains them.
- Catch everything. Google says SafeSearch helps filter explicit content but isn't 100% accurate. If explicit content gets through with Filter on, you can report it to Google.
For more on image and video results specifically, read our guide to Google SafeSearch for images and videos.
Common loopholes
- Signing out. If SafeSearch is only set in a signed-out browser, clearing cookies or using a private window resets it. Network-level or Family Link locks prevent this.
- A second Google account. A child signed into an unsupervised account they created themselves can change the setting. Check which account they're using.
- Mobile data. Network-level SafeSearch stops working when a phone leaves your Wi-Fi.
- VPNs and custom DNS. These can bypass router settings. Use device-level controls to block VPN apps.
Talk about it
Filters reduce accidental exposure, but they don't replace guidance. Tell your kids what to do if something upsetting appears: close it, don't share it, and come to you. Make it clear they won't be in trouble for telling you.
SafeSearch on shared family devices
On a shared family computer or tablet, SafeSearch can be tricky: if a parent is signed in with an unfiltered account, kids searching on that device will see unfiltered results. A few options help:
- Give each child their own login on the computer, signed in to their own supervised Google account.
- Use separate browser profiles, with SafeSearch set to Filter in the children's profile.
- Turn on force SafeSearch at the router so filtering applies regardless of who is signed in.
Quick checklist
- Set SafeSearch to Filter at google.com/safesearch in every browser your child uses.
- Give your child a Family Link-supervised Google account so the setting is locked.
- Turn on "force SafeSearch" on your router or family DNS service if available.
- Set up SafeSearch on other search engines and YouTube controls.
- Check periodically for a lock icon on your child's SafeSearch setting.
- Keep talking about what to do when filters miss something.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SafeSearch Filter and Blur?
Filter removes explicit results entirely. Blur only blurs explicit images, and explicit text and links can still appear. For children, choose Filter.
Why can't I change my SafeSearch setting?
If you see a lock icon, someone else manages it, such as a parent through Family Link, a school, or a network or device administrator.
Is SafeSearch on by default for kids?
Google turns SafeSearch Filter on by default for signed-in users its systems think may be under 18, and for Family Link-supervised children, where only parents can change it.