Blocking Google Images

Tech Lockdown Team

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Updated January 9, 2025

Google Images is a useful tool when it comes to finding content on the internet. Unfortunately, it doesn't always provide useful content, and it's possible to find adult content while using that search engine feature. For this reason, it is helpful to know how to block google images.

There are techniques that can be used to limit the features of Google Images or block it entirely. These techniques can be layered together to make a much more secure defense. 

When preparing these techniques, it is strongly recommended to limit as much as possible. For example, if you do not use Google Images at all, it is better to block it completely. If you do need to use Google Images, there are ways to limit the options provided, and as a result, reduce the opportunities to be accidentally exposed to sensitive content online.

Reliably Filter out Explicit Images and Videos in Google Search

The first area to consider is filtering out explicit image results from the Google search results page. This allows you to still use Google Image search without seeing explicit results. Google is pretty good at identifying explicit content, so we've found this approach to be extremely effective.

It's possible to enforce Google SafeSearch so that it can't be bypassed. You can lock it on and completely protect the SafeSearch strictness from being overridden.

Check out our guide to Enforcing Google SafeSearch to learn more.

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Create a DNS Content Policy

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Blocking Image Preview on Google Images

It's possible to block some (but not all) of the image previews on Google. You can block the following domains with a DNS Content Policy or other website blocking techniques .

# Google Images
encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com
encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com
encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com
encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com
encrypted-tbn.l.google.com
encrypted-tbn.l.gstatic.com
tbn.l.google.com

Blocking Google Images with URL Filtering

Another option for blocking Google Images (or any other website) is to use URL filtering to block searches on Google for images. On computers, you can add a browser plugin like Cold Turkey and block Google image search queries.

When you switch from a standard Google search to Google image search, the URL should change to include a parameter like this: &tbm=isch. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=apples....&tbm=isch

If you want to block Google image search entirely, you can create a block like this to target image search specifically using wildcards:

*google.com/search*tbm=isch*