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
    2023-12-03T17:32:31+00:00

    it does not have that option.

    it says we've set Safe Search to strict because your browser communicated your preference for a safe web browsing experience.

    and it won't let me turn safe search of.

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  2. Don Varnau 19,930 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-12-04T01:35:27+00:00

    Paya Pourbeik wrote:

    it does not have that option.

    it says we've set Safe Search to strict because your browser communicated your preference for a safe web browsing experience.

    and it won't let me turn safe search of.

    Are you...

    1. Running an education version of Windows?
    2. In the UK?
    3. In a country where the government may have mandated Safe Search?

    What browser are you using? Is Bing Safe Search turned on with several browsers- Edge, Chrome, Firefox?

    Don

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-04T21:52:19+00:00

    So I check and it says US and the browser is Microsoft edge and I’m I don’t know if it’s a education edition one but when I bought it it did not say it was a education.

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  5. Don Varnau 19,930 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-12-04T23:48:50+00:00

    So I check and it says US and the browser is Microsoft edge and I’m I don’t know if it’s a education edition one but when I bought it it did not say it was a education.

    Another message due to an edit.

    >it says US

    Are you in the US?

    Do you have multiple browsers installed? Is Safe Search forced on you with Firefox or Chrome?

    Hit [Windows key+r] type in winver and hit enter. Is Education mentioned?

    Don

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