How to Turn Off SafeSearch?

Step by step on desktop or mobile

1. Go to google.com/preferences (or open Google Search and tap the menu).
2. Find SafeSearch (sometimes under "SafeSearch filters").
3. Toggle it off.
4. The setting saves automatically.

On the Google app (iOS/Android)

1. Open the Google app.
2. Tap your profile picture, then Settings.
3. Tap General, then SafeSearch.
4. Turn it off.

When you can't turn it off: SafeSearch cannot be disabled if:

• A school or workplace account (Google Workspace) has it locked by an administrator
• A parent has locked it through Google Family Link on a child's supervised account
• The device or network has content filtering applied at a router or ISP level, separate from the Google account setting

How to tell which situation applies: if the SafeSearch setting shows as greyed out or displays a message like "SafeSearch is locked by your administrator," it's outside your control at the account level, and the toggle in your personal settings won't change it. In that case, the lock has to be removed by the administrator (school IT, employer, or parent) rather than through search settings.

A note on scope: SafeSearch filters explicit results in Google Search itself; it's separate from browser-level parental controls, router filtering, or app-specific content restrictions, which each need to be checked individually if search results still seem filtered after SafeSearch is off.

You may also want How to Turn Off Stolen Device Protection? or How to Turn Off the Touchscreen on a Chromebook?.

Neighbouring how-tos sit on Phones, Computers & Devices. From the homepage you can ask a follow-up of your own — no account needed.