App & Website Filtering
How to Force Google Safe Search
Learn how to Force Google Safe Search on your network and devices.
One of the most important features for browsing the internet is SafeSearch, especially if you are focused on self-control. For many of us, we want to filter the search results page to exclude explicit results, especially image and videos. However, making sure that it is difficult (or outright impossible) for the search results filter to be turned off can be challenging, but it can be done. In this guide, we'll walk you the best ways to force Google SafeSearch.
We recommend combining multiple SafeSearch enforcement techniques together to ensure reliable enforcement.
The Google Search Engine has the most reliable and easy to enforce SafeSearch feature, but other search providers also provide SafeSearch features as well.
We will focus on two areas in this guide:
- Enforcing SafeSearch so that it is locked on
- Restricting access to Search Engines that don't have a SafeSearch feature
How to Test if Google SafeSearch is Locked on
Use these techniques to test if Google SafeSearch is enforced properly on computers and smartphones as you're implementing our suggestions.
Each platform and device type has their own menu navigation for turning on Safe Search. With this guide, you won't need to manually turn on Google SafeSearch since these techniques do that automatically. You'll use these steps to double-check that it is locked on.
google.com/safesearch
If SafeSearch is enforced, you should see a message that says:
You can't change your SafeSearch setting right now because someone else, like a parent or administrator, controls settings on the network, browser, or device you're using.
If it is not enforced, you'll see the option to toggle between SafeSearch modes:
If you're using the Google app on your smartphone, you can tap your profile icon and find the SafeSearch settings from that menu:
Using DNS-based SafeSearch Enforcement
A universal way to automatically toggle on Google SafeSearch on all types of devices is using a DNS Filtering service, specifically DNS filtering services that specialize in blocking adult content since these are likely to support enforcing SafeSearch. Once you've identified a service, these are the general steps:
1). Enable SafeSearch for Supported Search Engines
Configure the content filtering policy to enable SafeSearch and apply it to Search Engines that support SafeSearch.
For example, using the Tech Lockdown Content Policy , we'll create a new SafeSearch rule and adjust the schedule so that it's always on:
2). Connect devices to the DNS Policy
You can connect your home router or configure specific devices to point to this DNS Content Policy .
Tech Lockdown provides two types of ways to connect to DNS filtering:
- Configuring the DNS settings on the device to point to the filter
- Using an app, which adds a VPN connection that points to the filter
To ensure that DNS SafeSearch enforcement continues to work, you have to protect that connection so that it is not intentionally or accidentally bypassed. Tech Lockdown members get access to several powerful bypass prevention tools. For example, our VPN enforcer for iOS .
Enforcing Browser SafeSearch Settings with Policies
On Windows and Mac computers, the Google Chrome browser can be configured with a policy that protects settings like SafeSearch. On iOS devices, the Safari browser can be configured to enforce SafeSearch.
Once a policy is added, you'll see a message "Your browser is managed by your organization" when you go into Chrome's settings panel.
Once a browser setting is protected, it won't be possible to override it by changing the setting in the browser interface.
For specific instruction on configuring browser a browser policy that enforces SafeSearch, see the corresponding device guides:
Using the Hosts File to Enforce SafeSearch
The Hosts file is a special file on your Windows or Mac computer that allows you to override DNS settings for specific website domains. You can use it to force Google SafeSearch at the most fundamental level on your system. As a bonus, this is the method Google themselves recommend .
To get started, check out our hosts file guide, which contains all of the entries you need to enforce SafeSearch:
Blocking Search Engines that do not Support SafeSearch
After you've enforced SafeSearch, you'll likely want to ensure that SafeSearch cannot be bypassed by using a search engine that doesn't have the SafeSearch feature.
These are the most well-known Search Engines with SafeSearch features:
- Google Search
- Bing Search
- Duckduckgo
- Brave search
- Yahoo
Combining DNS-based SafeSearch Enforcement with Allow and Block rules
The most comprehensive approach to restricting search engines that aren't on your approved list is using the DNS-based approach we detailed earlier on in this guide.
Here are the steps for restricting access to search engines without a SafeSearch feature using Tech Lockdown's DNS Content Policy
1). Enable SafeSearch for the Search Engines category
Make sure you have a SafeSearch rule created with the Search Engines category selected
2). Allow specific Search Engines
Create a new Allow rule below this that allows specific Search Engine apps:
3). Block the Search Engines category
Finally, create a new Block rule below this that blocks the Search Engines category.
The final result should look like this:
Note: You must order your rules this way for this to work properly.
Blocking Unsupported Search Engines with the Hosts file
On computers, it's possible to use the Hosts file that we introduced earlier to specify a list of known problematic search engines that you want to block.
See our hosts file guide, which includes the hosts file entries that you can copy/paste to block all of the unsupported search engines:
Using Other Website Blocking Techniques
There are many effective ways to block websites on smartphones and computers. If you're looking for additional ways to block search engines without a SafeSearch feature, reference our website blocking guide for other ideas.
Enforcing SafeSearch on other Search Providers
In addition to Google Search, there are several other search engines that provide effective safe search. Enforcement techniques are generally supported using the DNS-safesearch technique we detailed earlier on, but some providers have other enforcement options. For example, some search engines provide a dedicated web address that has Safe Search locked on like safe.duckduckgo.com.
Check out our other Safe Search guides for specific providers: