Google SafeSearch is a search filter which, as default, removes explicit results from searches made via the Google app or web browser, such as pronographic and violent or sensitive sites. Turned off, your search results through Google will be unfiltered, showing you all relevant search results including explicit content.
To learn how to turn Google SafeSearch off on Android, follow the step-by-step tutorials below. For all other information, or if you have further questions on the subject, please check out our FAQ section at the end of this article.
Table of Contents
How to turn off Google SafeSearch on Android
- On your Android device, locate and tap on the Google app to open it
- Once the search engine app is open, ensure that you’re logged into the Google account you wish to affect the settings of
- To change which account you’re logged into, tap your profile picture in the top right of the Google app screen, then tap the downward-pointing arrow to the right of your Google account name and select the account you wish to log into
- Tap your profile picture in the top right of the Google homepage
- From the pop-up menu, select ‘Settings’
- Next, select ‘Hide explicit results’ from the settings menu
- Finally, tap the toggle slider next to ‘Explicit results filter’ to turn it from default ON (blue) to OFF (gray)
- You have successfully turned Google SafeSearch off on Android. You can turn it back on at any time by following steps 1-6 and instead of toggling SafeSearch OFF (gray), toggling it to ON (blue) instead
That’s all you need to know in order to turn Google SafeSearch off on an Android device. See our FAQs below for more.
FAQs
What is Google SafeSearch?
SafeSearch is a default feature of the Google app and Google web browser on Android devices, iPhones and desktops. It is designed to filter out search results deemed unsafe for younger or sensitive users, including pornography, as well as search results deemed violent or to include gore.
SafeSearch is, in essence, a set of ‘parental controls’ to make browsing the internet cleaner, safer, and more accessible to the average user. It is geared toward preventing users under 18 years of age from searching for, and thus accessing, sensitive materials not tended for their use.
You’re here because you’re wondering if it’s possible to turn Google SafeSearch off, and the answer is: Yes! You can turn Google SafeSearch off by following the instructions in our tutorials above.
Is it safe to turn Google SafeSearch off on Android smartphones?
Google SafeSearch, as we’ve described above, is set to ON as default on the vast majority of Android devices, including smartphones. Its primary purpose is to prevent Google users from being shown disturbing, pornographic, violent or otherwise sensitive information, articles, and web pages upon a search return.
Thus, the answer to whether turning Google SafeSearch off is safe or not ultimately depends on who uses your devices, and whether you deem it appropriate to remove this SafeSearch filter from that device’s Google searches.
If, for example, you are a single older adult who is the sole user of your Android device and are happy to be shown links to pornographic or violent sites through your Google searches, then it would be completely safe to turn Google SafeSearch off. On the other hand, if you’re a parent with young children who occasionally use your device, we recommend keeping Google SafeSearch turned on to ensure safe internet browsing for your youngsters.
If I turn Google SafeSearch off on my Android, will it turn it off across other devices too?
Google accounts are linked across several devices owned by the same user. Or, at least, this is usually the case. What this means is that sometimes when you apply a change to the default settings of your Google app on one device, you’ll see the same changes applied whenever you’re using another device whilst logged into the same, corresponding Google account.
The same goes for if you choose to turn Google SafeSearch off on your Android. Whatever Google account you’re logged into at the time of turning SafeSearch off, this will ensure that SafeSearch is turned off right across any device also using that same Google account.
The only way to get around this is to use different Google accounts for different devices, otherwise you’ll find, for example, that turning Google SafeSearch off on your Android smartphone also turns it off on your computer, tablet, and so on.
