How to Enable (and Disable) Google’s SmartSearch Browsing Filter

Google Search’s SafeSearch navigation feature filters out explicit content from your search results. This feature is enabled by default for account holders under the age of 13. Otherwise, you will need to manually enable this setting. Here’s how you can turn it on (or off).

Note that the Google SafeSearch filter only filters explicit content from Google search. It does not work for other browsers. Also, the setting is reflected on every device your account is activated on. So if you enable or disable SafeSearch browsing on your mobile device, it will also be reflected the next time you use Google search on your computer when you are logged into your account.

Enable (or Disable) SafeSearch Browsing on Google Search Desktop

To enable Google Search’s SafeSearch browsing feature on your desktop (Windows, Mac, and Linux), open any web browser on your computer and navigate to Google Search. If you are not already logged in to your account, click on the blue “Login” button in the upper right corner of the account to log in.

Once logged into your account, click “Settings” in the lower right corner of the screen, then select “Search Settings” from the menu that appears.

You will now be on the Search Settings screen. In the SafeSearch Filters group at the top, check the box next to “Enable SafeSearch” to enable it. To disable it, simply uncheck the box next to this option.

Click the blue “Save” button at the bottom of the screen to save these changes. A prompt will appear confirming the changes.

Enable (or disable) SafeSearch browsing on Google Search for mobile

You can also enable or disable Google Search’s SafeSearch browsing feature in two ways from your mobile device, through the Google app or the Google Chrome app.

Using the Google app

If you’re using the Google app for iOS or Android, launch the app, then tap your profile picture (or initials) in the top-right corner of the screen.

Next, tap “Settings” in the menu that appears.

You will now be in the Settings menu. Tap “Hide Explicit Results” at the top of the menu.

Toggle the slider to the “Enabled” position to enable SafeSearch browsing or to the “Disabled” position to disable it.

The settings are automatically reflected.

Using the Google Chrome app

If you’re using Google Chrome (or any web browsing app, really), launch the app and then navigate to the Google search webpage. At the bottom of the screen, tap “Settings”, then select “Search Settings” from the menu that appears.

In the SafeSearch Filters group, tap the bubble next to “Hide Explicit Results” to turn SafeSearch browsing on, or “Show Explicit Results” to turn it off.

Scroll down the screen and tap the blue “Save” button. A dialog box will appear confirming that the changes have been saved.