To prevent seeing images that contain nudity when you receive, send, or forward messages in Google Messages, turn on the sensitive content warnings feature.
The sensitive content warnings can:
- Detect and blur images that may contain nudity in Google Messages.
- Trigger a warning if you try to receive, send, or forward a nude image.
- Provide resources for you to get help when you receive this type of content.
All detection and blurring of nude images happens on the device. This feature doesn’t send detected nude images to Google.
How sensitive content warnings are triggered
Sensitive content warnings use SafetyCore to perform classification on devices and doesn't send identifiable data or any of the classified content or results to Google servers. Learn more about SafetyCore.
As a system service, SafetyCore is only active when an application integrates with SafetyCore and specifically requests that content be classified. Images aren't classified unless they're sent through Google Messages with the Sensitive Content Warnings feature turned on.
Tip: The sensitive content warnings feature isn’t perfect. It may occasionally detect images that don’t contain nudity or not detect images that contain nudity.
Turn on sensitive content warnings
Important:
- To use this feature, you need to sign in to your Google Account from Google Messages.
- For Google supervised users and unsupervised teens, this feature is on by default.
- Supervised users: This feature can't be turned off but parents can control it through the Family Link app.
- Unsupervised teens (13–17 years of age): This feature can be turned off in the Google Account settings.
- Adults (18+ years of age): This feature is off by default but it can be turned on in Google Messages settings.
- This feature doesn't currently work on videos.
For unsupervised teens and adults:
- On your Android device, open Google Messages
.
- At the top right, tap your Profile picture or Initial
Messages settings.
- Scroll to “Protection & safety.”
- Tap Protection & safety
- This redirects you to the Google Account setting “Sensitive content warnings.”
- Turn on Warnings in Google Messages.
.
Messages settings.Learn about sensitive content warnings
When “Warnings in Google Messages” is on, sensitive content warning detects images that contain nudity. If sensitive content warning detects an image that may contain nudity, it blurs the image and displays a warning that offers guidance and resources.
If you decide to check the image you received:
- To open a helpful resource page, tap Learn why nude images can be harmful.
- To block the sender’s number, tap Block this number.
- To open the image, tap Next
- To go back to the messages, tap Back.
If you decide to send a nude image:
- To open a helpful resource page, tap Learn about image sharing and safety.
- To block the sender’s number, tap Block this number.
- To send the image, tap Next.
- To continue, swipe right Yes, send.
- To cancel, select No, don't send.
- To go back to the messages, tap Back.
If you decide to forward a nude image:
- To open a helpful resource page, tap Learn about image sharing and safety.
- To forward the image:
- Select a recipient.
- Tap Next.
- To go back to the messages, tap Back.
Tips:
- If you’re not sure what to do, try to talk to or message someone you trust.
- When you send, receive, and forward an image, you can unblur and blur the image back.
- To unblur the image: At the bottom right of the image, tap Preview
.
- To blur the image back: At the bottom right of the image, tap Remove preview
.
- To unblur the image: At the bottom right of the image, tap Preview
Learn how to troubleshoot
Check why sensitive content warnings don't work
You can check if you’re logged in to your Google Account from Google Messages.