How to Change SafeSearch Settings in Windows 11

How to Change SafeSearch Settings in 🪟 Windows 11

In current Windows 11, Settings › Privacy & security › Search permissions still exists, but the SafeSearch section only appears on some builds and regions. On many current PCs it is missing. Where it is missing, set SafeSearch in Bing or Edge instead.

Check that your PC offers the setting before you start. On some builds, or where web results in Windows Search are limited, the Search permissions page looks different or has no SafeSearch section. On a PC managed by a work or school account, an administrator can also hide the section or lock it.

Where the section is present, it works the same on Windows 11 Home and Pro. The change applies to the account you are signed in with and does not need a restart.

If your PC has no SafeSearch section, the Bing setting is the dependable fallback. Edge searches with Bing by default, so this also covers searches you run in Edge. Follow these steps in any browser:

1. Open Bing in your browser. The Bing home page loads.
2. Select the menu icon at the top right. A short menu opens.
3. Choose Settings. The Bing settings page opens.
4. Find SafeSearch and pick Strict, Moderate or Off.
5. Click Save if Bing asks you to. Bing then returns you to your search page.

That’s it. Bing now filters results at the level you chose. For a child’s account, Microsoft Family Safety is another option, and the last section of this tutorial explains it.

1. Open Windows Settings⚙️. Click the Start button⊞ and then the gear icon, or press Windows + I on your keyboard. The Settings⚙️ window opens with the System page showing. More about opening Settings
2. On the left side, click Privacy & security. The privacy options appear on the right.
3. On the right side, find and click Search permissions. It sits in the Windows permissions group, so you may need to scroll down to reach it. The Search🔍 permissions page opens. If this page has no SafeSearch section, use the Bing steps earlier in this tutorial instead.

4. 

5. Scroll down until you see the SafeSearch section. It lists the three filter levels as options you can select. If you cannot find this section, your build or region does not include it, as noted above. Use the Bing or Edge settings in that case.
6. Choose your SafeSearch setting. Click the option you want and the selection moves to it right away:

   • StrictBlocks most adult content. Pick this on a shared or family PC.
   • ModerateBlocks some adult content (this is the default setting).
   • OffNo filtering. You see all results.

7. 

8. Close the Settings⚙️ app when you are done. Windows saves your change automatically, and you do not need to restart. To undo it, come back to the same page and select your previous level. If the options are greyed out or the page will not let you change them, the PC is probably managed by a work or school account, and your administrator controls the setting.

That’s it. Windows Search now filters web results at the SafeSearch level you picked, and you can change it again at any time from the same page.

Another Way: Change SafeSearch Using the Registry Editor (For Advanced Users)

You need an administrator account to use this method, because Registry Editor asks for administrator approval when it opens. The value may also be overwritten or ignored where a work or school account manages the setting, or where your build has no SafeSearch section. In those cases, use the Bing steps earlier in this tutorial.

You can set SafeSearch through the Registry Editor, the Windows tool that stores system and app settings. This suits you if you want to script the change or check the value directly. Press Win+R, type regedit, and press Enter to open the tool.

Then go to 🗝️HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettingscopy to update the SafeSearch value manually. Registry Editor is available on both Home and Pro. Because the key sits under 🗝️HKEY_CURRENT_USERcopy, it applies to the account you are signed in with, not to every user on the PC.

⚠️ Registry Editor asks for administrator approval (UAC prompt); the 🗝️HKEY_CURRENT_USERcopy change itself applies only to your account.

If the Settings app already does what you need, use that instead. The registry method depends on the same availability as the Settings page. On builds without a SafeSearch section, the value may have no visible effect.

1. Open the Registry Editor. Press Windows + R to open the Run box. Type regedit and press Enter. Click Yes if User Account Control asks for permission. The Registry Editor window opens. Learn how to open Registry Editor
2. Navigate to this folder path: Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings. You can expand the keys in the left pane one at a time, or paste the path into the address bar at the top of the window. The keys under SearchSettings appear in the left pane and its values in the right pane.
3. Look for an entry named SafeSearchMode in the right pane. Check the Name column carefully, since the spelling has to match exactly.
4. If the entry is there, double-click it. If not, right-click in the empty space and choose New › DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it SafeSearchMode. A new entry appears in the list. Double-click it to open the edit window.
5. Set the value for the SafeSearch level you want. Type the number in the Value data box:

   • 0 = SafeSearch Off (no filter)
   • 1 = Moderate filter
   • 2 = Strict filter

6. 

7. Click OK and close the Registry Editor. The new number now shows in the Data column.
8. Restart your🔄 computer to apply the change. After you sign back in, open Settings › Privacy & security › Search permissions and confirm the SafeSearch level matches what you set. If your build has no SafeSearch section, you cannot confirm it there. To undo the change, set the value back to its previous number or import the backup you exported.

You should now have the SafeSearch value set in the registry for your account. If Windows later resets it or the level does not change, a policy or your build is likely overriding it, so use the Bing settings instead.

Summary

SafeSearch in Windows 11 helps keep web searches cleaner by blocking inappropriate content. It offers levels from Strict to Off, and the Settings app is the better choice for most users when the section is present. Use the registry method only if you need to script the change, and back up the key first.

The Windows setting does not control your browser. To get the same filtering in the places where you search, set each one yourself:

• Bing: Open Bing in your browser, select the menu icon at the top right, choose Settings, and then pick a level under SafeSearch. Choose Strict, Moderate or Off, and save if Bing asks you to.
• Microsoft Edge: Edge searches with Bing by default, so Bing’s SafeSearch setting applies. Edge also has search and privacy options under Settings › Privacy, search, and services. The exact wording changes between Edge versions.
• Google: Open Google Search settings from the Settings link on the Google results page and find the SafeSearch option. Google offers filter levels such as Filter, Blur and Off. Your choice is saved with your Google account or in the browser.