Change SafeSearch Setting in Windows 10  

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    Change SafeSearch Setting in Windows 10

    Change SafeSearch Setting in Windows 10

    How to Change SafeSearch Filter Setting in Windows 10
    Published by Category: Apps & Features
    18 Sep 2020
    Designer Media Ltd

    How to Change SafeSearch Filter Setting in Windows 10


    Search Windows and the web from the taskbar to find help, apps, files, settings—you name it. You can also get quick answers from the web—like weather, stock prices, currency conversion, and much more—and get to websites faster by using links in the preview pane.

    Cortana and Search has been separated starting with Windows 10 version 1903.

    In Windows Search, web previews will not automatically load web results if they may contain adult content.

    SafeSearch settings allows you to change your search filter levels to Strict, Moderate, or Off. This SafeSearch setting will override your Bing SafeSearch setting when viewing the web search results.

    SafeSearch Filter Level Description
    Strict Filter out adult text, images, and videos from my web results
    Moderate (default) Filter out adult images and videos, but not text from my web results
    Off Don't filter adult content from my web results

    This tutorial will show you how to change the SafeSearch filter setting for web search results for your account in Windows 10.


    Contents

    • Option One: Change SafeSearch Filter Setting in Settings
    • Option Two: Change SafeSearch Filter Setting using a REG file






    OPTION ONE

    Change SafeSearch Filter Setting in Settings


    1 Open Settings, and click/tap on the Search icon.

    2 Click/tap on Permissions & History on the left side, and select (dot) the Strict, Moderate (default), or Off for the SafeSearch setting you want on the right side.

    3 When finished, you can close Settings if you like.

    Change SafeSearch Setting in Windows 10-safesearch_settings.jpg






    OPTION TWO

    Change SafeSearch Filter Setting using a REG file


    The downloadable .reg files below will modify the DWORD value in the registry key below.

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings

    SafeSearchMode DWORD

    0 = Off
    1 = Moderate
    2 = Strict


    1 Do step 2 (strict), step 3 (moderate), or step 4 (off) below for what you would like to do.


    2 To Set SafeSearch Filter to Strict

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Set_SafeSearch_to_Strict.reg

    Download


    3 To Set SafeSearch Filter to Moderate

    This is the default setting.

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Set_SafeSearch_to_Moderate.reg

    Download


    4 To Turn Off SafeSearch Filter

    A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 5 below.

    Turn_off_SafeSearch.reg

    Download


    5 Save the .reg file to your desktop.

    5 Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.

    6 When prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

    7 You could now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.


    That's it,
    Shawn






  1. Posts : 68,679
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
       #1

    Tutorial updated for Windows 10 version 1903 and higher.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 42
    Windows 10 x64
       #2

    hello, this is exactly what I'm searching for, just need to turn if off (third and last option) but via registry?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 68,679
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Kishvand said:
    hello, this is exactly what I'm searching for, just need to turn if off (third and last option) but via registry?
    I haven't been able to find a viable registry setting for this yet.
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 68,679
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Tutorial updated to add option 2.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       #5

    Hello @Brink ,

    I tried the REG files, and on MY system at least it did NOT change the SafeSearch criteria.

    I looked in the Registry and the ONLY two instances [ one which is included in the REG file ] are . . .

    Code:
    
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings
    HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-326897316-3025538635-3687187165-1001\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SearchSettings

    I Signed-Out and Restarted, but it did NOT change, although the REG entries showed the correct number as per the REGfile used.

    • 0 = Off
    • 1 = Moderate
    • 2 = Strict

    I could however change it Manually, and when I Signed-Out and Restarted the change was still valid.

      My Computer


  6. Posts : 68,679
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello @Paul Black,

    I just tested on my system, and the .reg files are working for me to change the SafeSearch setting in Settings.

    I do need to refresh the Settings page to see the change though.
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       #7

    Brink said:
    Hello @Paul Black,

    I just tested on my system, and the .reg files are working for me to change the SafeSearch setting in Settings.

    I do need to refresh the Settings page to see the change though.

    Very strange!

    As a test, I set it to Off and then ran the Set_SafeSearch_To_Strict.reg and then closed Windows Settings and then reopened it. This is what I got . . .

    Change SafeSearch Setting in Windows 10-off.png

    It's NOTa problem because I can change it Manually.
    Thanks anyway for your help.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 68,679
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Paul Black said:
    Very strange!
    As a test, I set it to Off and then ran the Set_SafeSearch_To_Strict.reg and then closed Windows Settings and then reopened it. This is what I got . . .
    It's NOTa problem because I can change it Manually.
    Thanks anyway for your help.
    Odd. It should be changing for you.

    As a test, what happens when you use the .reg files with Settings closed, and then open Settings to check?
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       #9

    Brink said:
    Odd. It should be changing for you.

    As a test, what happens when you use the .reg files with Settings closed, and then open Settings to check?

    No, it does NOT change. I have just changed it Manually instead.
    Thanks anyway @Brink, it is appreciated.
      My Computer


 

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