Bing safesearch stuck at "strict" on Edge

Anonymous
2022-02-16T09:34:31+00:00

Recently, I discovered that when I browse Bing using Edge on my desktop, SafeSearch appears to be fixed on "strict" when it was "off" previously.

When I attempt to change this setting, I see the following message with no options to change SafeSearch permissions:

"Your country or region requires a strict Bing SafeSearch setting, which filters out results that might return adult content."

I live in the US, so this is definitely incorrect. Using a VPN to switch countries does not allow me to change the setting.

I am able to change SafeSearch settings when using a different browser and/or using a different device and Edge, so the issue appears to be specific to my desktop and Edge. I am using a Windows 10 Education key that I bought almost 5 years ago.

How do I turn off SafeSearch when using Edge on my desktop?

Edit: Only solution was to move to a different Windows 10 version. Seems to be an issue with Windows 10 Education and usergroup policy. I'm not IT savvy enough to find out how to change that, so the nuclear option of downgrading to a different version of Windows 10 was my only option. Hope this helps others that have this issue.

Bing | Safety and privacy | Adult content and SafeSearch

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-02-16T23:39:38+00:00

    I don't have an option to set SafeSearch in my Bing settings. Again, I live in the US so this message is incorrect. Updating windows and edge didn't solve the issue either.

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-08-16T22:19:40+00:00

    Microsoft is not a solution to a problem. Microsoft is the problem.

    Microsoft is never going to fix this "Safesearch" problem.

    Here is a way out:

    1. Stop using Bing and switch to a different search engine.
           or
      
    2. Stop using Edge and switch to a different web browser.
         or
      
    3. Stop using Windows and switch to a different operating system.

    As long as you continue to use Microsoft services and products, you will continue to have problems.

    If you continue to use Microsoft services and products, you are the only person to blame.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-02-24T00:41:34+00:00

    I am having the same issue. No option is available to turn off Safesearch.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-03-15T23:51:43+00:00

    I am having the same issue as well. I live in the United States!

    It's bad enough that Bing censors search results with SafeSearch off, this is just icing on the cake!

    Edit: I have Windows 11 Education. I assume that this change is due to some idiotic assumption that anyone using the Education edition would want SafeSearch to be "strict".

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-03-07T22:47:07+00:00

    I'm having this issue as well. Changing the country or language does nothing.

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