Startpage is a privacy-focused search engine that pulls its results directly from Google but acts as a protective middleman, stripping away all tracking cookies, IP address logging, and personalized profiling before returning the results to you. Because it uses Google’s index, it also inherits a strict content filtering system to hide explicit, violent, or mature content from standard search queries.
If you are an adult conducting research on sensitive topics, medical anatomy, or artistic expression, this filtering can aggressively hide highly relevant, legitimate websites. You will need to manually disable the Family Filter (SafeSearch) to view an unfiltered internet.
Understanding Startpage Settings and Cookies
Unlike Google, Startpage does not require you to create an account to save your preferences. Because of its strict privacy model, your settings (like turning off SafeSearch) are saved entirely using an anonymous, localized browser cookie. If you clear your browser cookies, or if you use an “Incognito” or “Private Browsing” window, Startpage will instantly forget your preference and default back to filtering explicit content.
How to Turn Off the Family Filter (Desktop)
- Open your web browser and navigate to startpage.com.
- Look at the top right corner of the homepage and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) to open the main menu.
- Select Settings from the dropdown list.
- The Settings page is divided into sections. Scroll down slightly to the Search section.
- Look for the option labeled Family Filter.
- By default, it is set to “On.” Click the toggle or radio button to switch it to Off.
- Scroll to the very bottom of the page and click the blue Save your settings button. (If you do not click Save, the change will not take effect).
You will be redirected back to the Startpage homepage. Your future searches will now be completely unfiltered.
How to Turn Off the Family Filter (Mobile Device)
The process on a smartphone browser (like Safari on iOS or Chrome on Android) is identical, though the menu layout is compressed.
- Navigate to startpage.com on your mobile browser.
- Tap the three horizontal lines in the top right corner.
- Tap Settings.
- Scroll down to the Family Filter option and change it to Off.
- Scroll to the bottom of your screen and tap Save your settings.
The Privacy-Preserving Alternative: The Settings URL
If you have your web browser configured to automatically delete all cookies every time you close it (a common practice for privacy advocates), your SafeSearch preference will be deleted every single day. Having to manually turn it off every morning is frustrating.
Startpage provides a brilliant workaround: a custom URL that inherently contains your settings.
- Go to the Startpage Settings menu and turn the Family Filter Off.
- Scroll to the very bottom of the page. Under the “Save your settings” button, look for the section titled Obfuscated Settings URL.
- You will see a long, random-looking web address (e.g.,
https://www.startpage.com/do/mypage.pl?prfe=xxxxxxxx). - Copy this exact URL.
- Set this unique URL as your browser’s homepage or save it as a bookmark.
By navigating to Startpage using that specific link instead of just typing “startpage.com,” the search engine will instantly read the URL, recognize your preference to turn the filter off, and apply the setting without ever needing a cookie.