Set the SafeSearch setting for Search
Verified with Windows 11 25H2 — updated on July 29, 2026
Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
Path in the GPO console
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\Search Description
This policy setting allows you to control the SafeSearch setting used when performing a query in Search. If you enable this policy setting, you can specify one of three SafeSearch settings, which users won't be able to change: -Strict: Filter out adult text, images, and videos from search results; -Moderate: Filter adult images and videos but not text from search results; -Off: Don't filter adult content from search results. If you disable or don't configure this policy setting, users can specify the SafeSearch setting. Windows 10 users should use Search/DoNotUseWebResults
Registry
HKLM
SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search Value name: ConnectedSearchSafeSearch
Export Builder
BETAConfigure the state, scope and options, then generate .reg, PowerShell, Intune and SCCM outputs — or add the setting to a multi-setting collection.
These exports write the registry — this is not a managed GPO. ⓘ
.reg file
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
; Exported from gporais.com
; Policy: Set the SafeSearch setting for Search
; State: Enabled
; Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search]
"ConnectedSearchSafeSearch"=dword:00000001
"ConnectedSearchSafeSearch"=dword:00000002More formats (PowerShell, Intune, SCCM)
PowerShell
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the SafeSearch setting for Search
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Value 2 -Type DWordIntune XML
No direct Policy CSP / OMA-URI mapping for this policy. Use the Intune Remediation tab, or ingest the ADMX in Intune.Intune Remediation
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the SafeSearch setting for Search
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Expected 2 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the SafeSearch setting for Search
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Value 2 -Type DWordSCCM scripts
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the SafeSearch setting for Search
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
# SCCM Configuration Item guidance:
# Create a Configuration Item of type "Setting: Script".
# Discovery script: use the Detection script below.
# Remediation script: use the Remediation script below.
# Compliance rule: the Discovery script output equals 'Compliant'.
# === Detection script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the SafeSearch setting for Search
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
function Test-RegistryValue {
param(
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Path,
[Parameter(Mandatory = $true)][string]$Name,
[object]$Expected,
[ValidateSet('String', 'DWord', 'MultiString')][string]$Kind = 'String',
[switch]$Absent
)
try {
$item = Get-ItemProperty -LiteralPath $Path -Name $Name -ErrorAction Stop
} catch {
return $Absent.IsPresent
}
if ($Absent.IsPresent) { return $false }
$actual = $item.$Name
if ($Kind -eq 'DWord') { return ([int64]$actual) -eq ([int64]$Expected) }
if ($Kind -eq 'MultiString') {
$actualValues = @($actual)
$expectedValues = @($Expected)
if ($actualValues.Count -ne $expectedValues.Count) { return $false }
for ($i = 0; $i -lt $expectedValues.Count; $i++) {
if ([string]$actualValues[$i] -ne [string]$expectedValues[$i]) { return $false }
}
return $true
}
return [string]$actual -eq [string]$Expected
}
$checks = @(
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Expected 1 -Kind DWord)
(Test-RegistryValue -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search' -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Expected 2 -Kind DWord)
)
if ($checks -notcontains $false) {
Write-Output 'Compliant'
exit 0
}
Write-Output 'Non-compliant'
exit 1
# === Remediation script ===
# Exported from gporais.com
# Policy: Set the SafeSearch setting for Search
# State: Enabled
# Supported on: Microsoft Windows 8.1. Not supported on Windows 10 or later
$path = 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\Windows Search'
New-Item -Path $path -Force | Out-Null
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Value 1 -Type DWord
Set-ItemProperty -Path $path -Name 'ConnectedSearchSafeSearch' -Value 2 -Type DWordBuilding a multi-setting collection? Add this setting and generate combined .reg / PowerShell / GPO scripts.