What is SafeSearch and How to Enforce It

Step 1: What is SafeSearch?

SafeSearch is a content filtering feature offered by major search engines like Google, Bing, and YouTube. It helps block explicit content such as pornography, graphic violence, or adult content from appearing in search results.

It’s widely used by parents, schools, and organizations to create a safer online experience for children and employees.

Step 2: How SafeSearch Works

SafeSearch works by modifying how search engines respond to queries. When enabled, it filters results to hide explicit text, images, or videos.

This can be enforced:

By user settings in browser or Google account
Via network-level controls (DNS or HTTP headers)
Through third-party parental control software

Network-level enforcement is the most reliable way, especially in shared or public environments.

Step 3: SafeSearch via DNS

The easiest and most consistent way to enforce SafeSearch across all devices is to use DNS filtering.

When configured properly, DNS can redirect all requests to search engines to their SafeSearch-enabled versions. CleanBrowsing does this automatically on all its filters (Family, Adult, and Security).

No software installation is required. The SafeSearch enforcement happens automatically at the DNS layer.

Step 5: Understand Google’s Blur Option & How to Disable It

Google now offers a Blur option in SafeSearch. Instead of fully blocking explicit content, this mode blurs images while still displaying related text and links. Users may see this option even when SafeSearch is locked.

The available modes are:

Filter – Completely blocks explicit results
Blur – Blurs explicit images but shows text content
Off – Shows all content with no filtering or blurring

To ensure SafeSearch is truly enforced:

Use CleanBrowsing DNS filtering to enforce strict SafeSearch across all devices
Use Group Policies, browser restrictions, or Chrome cloud policies to lock Google SafeSearch settings
Block browser access to DNS-over-HTTPS to prevent bypasses

Even if users see the Blur setting in their interface, CleanBrowsing will enforce full SafeSearch mode behind the scenes, making toggles ineffective.

For technical implementation details, read our full guide: Lock Google SafeSearch and Disable Blur .

Step 6: Test and Verify SafeSearch

After setting up CleanBrowsing or another SafeSearch-enforcing DNS, test your configuration using the following tools and queries:

Try explicit search terms on Google, Bing, and YouTube — results should be filtered
Google SafeSearch Status: https://www.google.com/safesearch
YouTube Restricted Mode Status: https://www.youtube.com/check_content_restrictions
DNS Leak Test: Visit dnsleaktest.com and confirm CleanBrowsing is listed

Command-line DNS Checks

You can use the nslookup command to verify SafeSearch redirection:

🔹 Google SafeSearch

nslookup forcesafesearch.google.com

Example output:

Server:  185.228.168.10
          Address: 185.228.168.10#53

          Non-authoritative answer:
          Name:    forcesafesearch.google.com
          Address: 216.239.38.120

🔹 Bing SafeSearch

nslookup strict.bing.com

Example output:

Server:  185.228.168.10
          Address: 185.228.168.10#53

          Non-authoritative answer:
          Name:    strict.bing.com
          Address: 204.79.197.220

🔹 YouTube Restricted Mode

nslookup restrict.youtube.com

Example output:

Server:  185.228.168.10
          Address: 185.228.168.10#53

          Non-authoritative answer:
          Name:    restrict.youtube.com
          Address: 216.239.38.120

You can also check: nslookup restrictmoderate.youtube.com if using Moderate Restricted Mode.

Finally, use our custom tool to verify SafeSearch enforcement: SafeSearch Status Tool.