Protect a Windows 11 device with Safe Surfer
It’s easy with Safe Surfer to block harmful online content on a Windows 11 device. On your first protection installation, it will take around 20 minutes for the full installation, or 30 minutes for the entire guide. Step 1: Visit the Safe Surfer dashboard | If you were directed to this guide from the online Safe Surfer dashboard (My Safe Surfer), skip ahead to step 2. On the device to be protected, click the Microsoft Edge app (or any other web browser app, such as Google Chrome) on the tasFeaturedWhy does the Safe Surfer Windows app installer say, "This app package's publisher certificate could not be verified"?
The Safe Surfer for Windows app installer might mention, "This app package's publisher certificate could not be verified", if you have an old version of the installer. You can resolve this by downloading the latest version of the Safe Surfer for Windows installer on the Safe Surfer dashboard. The installer is downloaded as part of the protection setup process, which you can find out how to perform by [clicking this link](https://helpdesk.safesurfer.io/en-nz/article/protect-a-windows-11-device-wFew readersWhy does the Safe Surfer for Windows installer report that "App Installer failed to install package dependencies"?
The Safe Surfer for Windows app uses a Microsoft technology for Windows called App Installer, which is designed to retrieve what's called a "runtime". In most cases, the runtime is automatically download through the Microsoft Store app in the background. If the Safe Surfer for Windows installer reports that "App Installer failed to install package dependencies", try the following: Update Microsoft Store apps | If you're trying to update the Safe Surfer Windows app (that is, if it was previouFew readersWindows full installation guides
You can find out how to install Safe Surfer for Windows step by step with the following guides. To learn how to protect a Windows 11 device, click this link. To learn how to protect a Windows 10 device, click this link. Most Windows devices manufactured since 2018/2019 support running WindFew readersUnsupported apps on Windows
Due to various technical reasons, Safe Surfer for Windows does not support running alongside some apps. There are two categories of apps: incompatible apps, and unsupported apps. As of app version 1.3.1, Safe Surfer will attempt to detect these apps, and if it finds any, it will warn you during installation. Incompatible apps | Incompatible apps are apps that directly interfere with how Safe Surfer works on Windows. If you attempt to install protection with one of the following apps, Safe SuFew readersWhy does Safe Surfer for Windows not work after installing or replacing a Wi-Fi or Ethernet adaptor?
If you installed the Safe Surfer for Windows app on a device before January 2025 (version 1.2.2, which features our new Protection enforcement feature), the protection installation won't be automatically applied to new Wi-Fi or Ethernet adapters installed or replaced for the device. If this is the case, you can resolve this by uninstalling protection, and then installing the latest version of the Windows aFew readersHow to block Tor Browser on Windows
Based in New Zealand, Safe Surfer develops special technology to help parents protect their loved ones from porn and other harmful online content. If you would like to block Tor Browser on a Windows computer, you can do this with the Safe Surfer for Windows app. Block Tor Browser on Windows After installing Safe Surfer for Windows, we automatically block Tor networking systems for you. ThisFew readersWhy does the Safe Surfer for Windows installer get stuck on "Installing required frameworks"?
The Safe Surfer for Windows app installer might need to automatically download what's called a "runtime" package through the Microsoft Store app in the background. In specific situations, this can take a little while to download and might look like it's stuck when it's actually busy in the background doing work. This is normal, and might take anywhere between 1–3 minutes to download. | If it takes longer than a few minutes to download, try restarting the device to see if that helps. If you're sFew readersWhy does the Safe Surfer Windows app installer say that "sideloading is blocked by policy"?
The Safe Surfer for Windows app uses a Microsoft technology for Windows called App Installer. If a Windows device that you're wanting to protect is signed in to a Microsoft work/school account, the Safe Surfer app installer might report that "sideloading is blocked by policy". This is a setting applied to the device remotely by the organisation responsible for managing how the device can be used. Allow app sideloading | To figure out the specific work/school account that is responsible for aFew readersWhy is the Safe Surfer for Windows app getting stuck on a spinning progress ring?
Safe Surfer for Windows relies on a Windows technology called Edge WebView2. We use this to serve some Safe Surfer dashboard content within the Windows app. This can fail in rare situations, causing the app to get stuck. If the app is loading with a progress ring, this process shouldn't take any more than a minute to load. If it's still spinning after a minute, close the app and try the following steps: Install Microsoft Edge WebView2 Runtime Download and install the Edge WebView2 installerFew readersWhy does a VPN web browser extension say that "your admin has blocked this item"?
Since late 2024, the Safe Surfer for Windows app disables VPN web browser extensions by default to prevent protection evasion. If you need to use these, you can re-enable them. Re-enable VPN web browser extensions Open the Safe Surfer app (and enter the PIN if asked), then click the Settings cog icon at the upper-right corner. Click the switch found next to Block VPN web browsFew readersWhy does Safe Surfer for Windows not work when using a SIM card (mobile broadband) connection on my laptop?
Some laptops (especially in the business market) feature a 4G/5G mobile broadband modem. This is very similar to the technology used to provide a cellular connection for smartphones, along with some tablets. Due to how Windows works, Safe Surfer unfortunately does not support filtering when connecting to the Internet over a mobile broadband modem. In app version 1.2.0Few readersWhy does the Windows Settings app say that "Some of these settings are managed by your organisation"?
The Safe Surfer for Windows app blocks a small amount of Windows settings by default, so that we can provide the protected device user with a safer online experience. If you see a message in the Windows Settings app that "Some of these settings are managed by your organisation", it's possible that the Safe Surfer app is controlling these settings. For example, Safe Surfer blocks the Widgets feature by default. If you want to reenable a Windows feature that the Safe Surfer app is blocking, you cFew readersWhy can't I find my company VPN connection after installing Safe Surfer for Windows?
Since late 2024, the Safe Surfer for Windows app supports disabling Windows VPN features to stop some consumer VPN apps from evading Safe Surfer filtering. If you need these features (for example, in a company situation) for a device that you're protecting, you can turn this setting off. Re-enable built-in Windows VPN features Open the Safe Surfer app (and enter the PIN if asked), then click the Settings cog icon at the upper-right corner.  rather than full links (such as [https://my.safesurfFew readersWhy are there two (or more) versions of Safe Surfer installed on a Windows device?
| As of Windows version 1.4.0 (late 2025), Safe Surfer will automatically clean up any old version of the Windows app when installing or uninstalling protection inside the app. We rebuilt and published the new Safe Surfer for Windows app in September 2023. The new app features the latest Windows technology to provide an easy protection experience. If you're seeing more than one Safe Surfer app listing on your computer, it could be due to the following reasons: Reason 1: You have an old versiFew readersWindows system requirements and notes
In rare cases, some things could interfere with your Windows protection experience. You can find out more about this as follows: Safe Surfer doesn't support Windows devices in S mode (being a very small range of devices). If you find that the the app installer doesn't work for some reason, you can find out how to check if the device is in S mode by clicking this link.Few readersWhy doesn't Safe Surfer for Windows support Windows devices in S mode?
To protect Windows devices, Safe Surfer requires the person installing protection to allow something called administrative changes to the device. By design, Windows devices in S mode do not allow these changes to be made, which is why Safe Surfer cannot be installed if a device is in S mode. If the device is in S mode, you can find out how to switch the device out of S mode (so that it can be protected by Safe Surfer) by [clicking this link](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/switching-Few readersWhy is my mobile broadband SIM network adapter not working after installing Safe Surfer for Windows?
Due to how Windows manages mobile broadband network adapters, Safe Surfer unfortunately does not work with them. Using Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or connecting to a hotspot is still fully supported. When Safe Surfer is installed on a device, we automatically disable mobile broadband adapters. If you absolutely need to use a mobile broadband adapter, you can find out how to re-enable it as follows. ||| Due to how Windows works, we strongly recommend not using a mobile broadband network adapter, and ratherFew readersWindows full uninstallation guides
You can find out how to uninstall Safe Surfer for Windows step by step with the following guides. To learn how to remove Safe Surfer from a Windows 11 device, click this link. To learn how to remove Safe Surfer from a Windows 10 device, click this link. If you're not sure what version of WinFew readersWhy does the Windows VPN menu say that "some of these settings are managed by your organisation"?
Since late 2024, the Safe Surfer for Windows app supports disabling Windows VPN features to stop some consumer VPN apps from evading Safe Surfer filtering. If you need these features (for example, in a company situation) for a device that you're protecting, you can turn this setting off. Re-enable built-in Windows VPN features Open the Safe Surfer app (and enter the PIN if asked), then click the Settings cog icon at the upper-right corner. ![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/websiFew readersWhy does the Windows proxy menu say that "some of these settings are managed by your organisation"?
Since late 2024, the Safe Surfer for Windows app supports disabling Windows proxy features to stop proxies from evading Safe Surfer filtering. If you need these features (for example, in a company situation) for a device that you're protecting, you can turn this setting off. Re-enable built-in Windows proxy features Open the Safe Surfer app (and enter the PIN if asked), then click the Settings cog icon at the upper-right corner.  for a device that you're protecting, you can turn this setting off. Re-enable built-in Windows proxy features Open the Safe Surfer app (and enter the PIN if asked), then click the Settings cog icon at the upper-right corner. , you can re-enable them. Re-enable built-in Windows VPN features Open the Safe Surfer app (and enter the PIN if asked), then click the Settings cog icon at the upper-right corner.  for a device that you're protecting, you can turn this setting off. Re-enable built-in Windows proxy features Open the Safe Surfer app (and enter the PIN if asked), then click the Settings cog icon at the upper-right corner. ?
If a device that you're protecting is running the Windows 11 2024 Update, and you try to install or uninstall protection inside the app, the process probably won't work correctly. In Windows 11 2024 Update, Microsoft disabled a core Windows tool that Safe Surfer used to install/uninstall protection. We have ported our protection code to a completely new system, which fully supports the Windows 11 2024 Update. To resolve this issue, you'll need to go through the following steps: Update to SafeFew readersProtect a Windows 10 device with Safe Surfer
It’s easy with Safe Surfer to block harmful online content on a Windows 10 device. On your first protection installation, it will take around 20 minutes for the full installation, or 30 minutes for the entire guide. Step 1: Install protection | If you were directed to this guide from the online Safe Surfer dashboard, skip ahead to step 2. On the device to be protected, click the Microsoft Edge app (or any other web browser app, such as Google Chrome) on the taskbar.  for most web browser apps Offering to block Windows VPN and proxy features, which can stop filter evasion Blocking hundreds of web browser VPN extensions, which could be used to evade filtering Blocking Tor Browser, a filter evasion appPopularReset my Safe Surfer app PIN on Windows
Locked out of the Safe Surfer app? This guide will help you reset the PIN on Safe Surfer for Windows. Reset the PIN Open the Safe Surfer app, then click the Reset button. Enter the password for the Safe Surfer account used to install protection, then tap the Log in button. | If you've updated your account email address since Safe Surfer was installed, you can manually specifyFew readersSafe Surfer Windows app changelog
Find out what we've changed recently in Safe Surfer for Windows: Version 1.4.9 (release TBA) | 1.4.9 is the version that follows 1.3.4 due to new technology innovations, along with various revisions by the Safe Surfer team. New! Ported from our flagship Android technology, Safe Surfer for Windows now features support for app blocking (having full control over individual apps), social media monitoring, and nudity detection. This can be managed in the Settings menu. New! After installingFew readersHow to upgrade to the new version of the Safe Surfer for Windows app
In 2023, Safe Surfer released a new version of the Windows app. We started from scratch, and we're really excited about the various improvements underneath! The following guide will show you how to upgrade. ||| Please note that this guide is intended for Windows app installations performed before September 2023, which was when we released our brand new Windows app. If Safe Surfer was installed after SepteFew readersHow to block porn on Windows 11
It’s easy with Safe Surfer to block harmful online content on a Windows 11 device. On your first protection installation, it will take around 20 minutes for the full installation, or 30 minutes for the entire guide. Step 1: Visit the Safe Surfer dashboard | If you were directed to this guide from the online Safe Surfer dashboard (My Safe Surfer), skip ahead to step 2. On the device to be protected, click the Microsoft Edge app (or any other web browser app, such as Google Chrome) on the tasPopularHow to block porn on Windows 10
It’s easy with Safe Surfer to block harmful online content on a Windows 10 device. On your first protection installation, it will take around 20 minutes for the full installation, or 30 minutes for the entire guide. Step 1: Install protection | If you were directed to this guide from the online Safe Surfer dashboard, skip ahead to step 2. On the device to be protected, click the Microsoft Edge app (or any other web browser app, such as Google Chrome) on the taskbar.  on the device itself so that you can uninstall the protection from within the app. Uninstalling the app won't uninstall the protection—this can only be doneFew readersHow to uninstall Safe Surfer for Windows 10
This guide will show you how to uninstall the Safe Surfer for Windows app on a Windows 10 computer, along with any protection installation remaining on the device. | If you have already uninstalled the Safe Surfer app itself and the protection still remains on the computer, you will need to redownload the app installer from the Safe Surfer dashboard (https://my.safesurfer.io) on the device itself so that you can uninstall the protection from within the app. Uninstalling the app won't uninstallFew readers