How to Turn Off NSFW on Reddit (Browser, Android and iPhone)

You open Reddit on the train, or at your desk with a client behind you, and something you'd rather not have on screen appears. Reddit marks that kind of content NSFW, short for not safe for work, and a single setting controls whether it turns up in your feed.

The wording for that setting has changed over the years. Reddit's help now calls it mature (18+) content, and I'll use both names so you can match what's on your screen. Here's where to find it on each device, plus the related settings people forget.

Turning off mature content on Reddit from a browser

Reddit's help says the website is where the setting lives, and the app follows it. Here's the route it describes:

1. Log in at reddit.com.
2. Open Settings.
3. Go to the Preferences tab.
4. Find the Show mature (18+) content toggle and switch it off.
5. Save, and the change should carry across your devices.

Reddit says that after your settings are saved, the preference updates across all platforms. In some countries you may also be asked for your birthdate before you can change it.

Switching off NSFW on the Reddit Android app

On Android you can do it without a browser. Reddit's FAQ for the app gives these steps:

1. Tap your avatar icon to open your profile.
2. Open the menu and choose Settings.
3. Under View options, find Show mature content (I'm over 18).
4. Set it the way you want, which for this guide means off.

Changing the NSFW setting on Reddit for iPhone

This is the one that trips people up. According to Reddit's help, the iPhone app's NSFW setting is managed through the desktop site. So log in to reddit.com in a browser, change your preferences there as above, then restart the app. After that, the app should follow your choice.

If you've toggled it and nothing changed, a restart is usually the missing step.

Blur instead of block: Reddit's mature images setting

Maybe you don't want to lose NSFW content entirely, you just don't want it flashing up in public. Reddit's Android FAQ describes a separate setting called Blur mature (18+) images and media. It keeps NSFW posts in your feed but blurs them until you tap to reveal them.

What you want	Setting to use
No NSFW posts in my feed	Turn off the mature (18+) content toggle
Posts visible but hidden until I tap	Turn on the blur setting
NSFW results out of search	Check the Safe Search toggle
Less NSFW showing to visitors	Profile curation

NSFW search results and the Safe Search toggle on Reddit

Search has its own control. Reddit's help mentions a Safe Search toggle in search results, and says that if you want NSFW results and can't see the toggle, you first need to confirm you're 18 or over in your preferences. If you want the opposite, to keep search clean, leave Safe Search on.

Hiding NSFW posts on your own Reddit profile

This is a different feature, and people mix it up with the feed setting. Reddit's profile curation lets you show or hide all NSFW posts and comments on your profile, so visitors don't see them. It doesn't change what you see.

Reddit adds two cautions. Hidden content isn't deleted, and it stays in its original community and in search. Your account can also still be marked NSFW if you take part in NSFW communities, even if you hide those posts on your profile.

NSFW settings for a Reddit community you run

If you moderate a community, mature content is partly in your hands. Reddit's help describes a mature content filter that mods can switch on. It sends likely sexual or graphic images, videos and GIFs to the mod queue, where they're blurred or unblurred depending on each viewer's Safe browsing preferences. Reddit says it can make mistakes, so a person still needs to check the queue.

For brands and creators, my advice is simple. Decide before you post whether a community suits your audience, and read how brands build a Reddit presence that wins before you pick one. If you're using Reddit to find customers, my guide to Reddit lead generation explains why a clean, helpful profile matters.

Using Reddit at work or in public with NSFW settings in mind

If you browse Reddit between meetings or on a shared screen, the toggle is only half the answer. I'd combine it with the blur setting, keep the app locked behind your phone passcode, and check your home feed before you hand your device to someone. A two-minute check beats an awkward moment, and it works whether you use Reddit for research, for customers or just for fun.

If the NSFW setting won't turn off on Reddit

• On iPhone, change the setting on reddit.com and restart the app.
• Make sure you're signed in to the same account on both devices.
• Check the blur setting too. A blurred image can look like a bug when it's a choice.
• If a birthdate prompt appears, follow it. Reddit says some countries ask for one.
• Update the app, because menus vary by version.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off NSFW on Reddit?

On reddit.com, open Settings, go to Preferences and switch off Show mature (18+) content. Reddit says the choice updates across platforms once saved.

How do I turn off NSFW on the Reddit app?

On Android, tap your avatar, open Settings and set Show mature content (I'm over 18) under View options. On iPhone, Reddit says to change it on reddit.com, then restart the app.

Can I blur NSFW images instead of removing them?

Yes. Reddit's Android FAQ describes a Blur mature (18+) images and media setting that keeps posts in your feed but blurs them until you tap.

Does turning off NSFW hide it from my profile?

No. Hiding NSFW posts on your profile is a separate setting called profile curation. It changes what visitors see, not what appears in your feed.

Why am I asked for my birthdate on Reddit?

Reddit says in some countries you may be asked to enter your birthdate when you change the mature content setting.