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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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  1. Anonymous
    2022-11-25T17:42:03+00:00

    Okay, thanks

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  2. Anonymous
    2022-11-25T03:43:03+00:00

    This problem has been highlighted for a very long time. Various solutions have been posted but none of them work. Why are options greyed out or just not doing anything? Completely innocuous sites are blocked, eg UNESCO, Local Council sites, religious sites. Come on Microsoft, put this right.

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  3. Anonymous
    2022-11-24T14:40:54+00:00

    I don't use an education edition of windows or bing but I am blocked because Microsoft have the wrong idea about such things in the UK. It wouldn't be a massive problem if I couldn't search for waving willies or vajazzled vaginas but when I go to search for information on a technical matter concerning my printer then safesearch may invoke it's prissy strict schoolmam identity. To cause such inconvenience for very little gain is the height of arrogance.

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  4. Anonymous
    2022-11-01T01:19:36+00:00

    I have this same question and I use Windows 11 education edition. At this point I am just going to use google because google doesn't force strict safe search on Windows 11 education.

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  5. Anonymous
    2022-10-22T19:55:12+00:00

    There is no option to change Safe Search. All I get is:

    "Your country or region requires a strict Bing SafeSearch setting, which filters out results that might return adult content. If you're seeing adult content, tell us about it so we can filter it in the future. To learn more about SafeSearch requirements in your country or region, see How Bing delivers search results.

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