The Censored Filter Blocks Profanity and Gore — Here's How to Turn It Off

Saints Row 3 on PC ships with a Censored mode that bleeps out profanity, pixelates gore, and removes some violent animations. If you want to play the uncensored version, you need to edit a single configuration file in your game folder. The process takes about two minutes and requires no third-party tools.

The censorship settings live in a text file called SaintsRow3.ini, located in your Saints Row 3 installation directory. You edit one line, save the file, and launch the game. The change persists until you reverse it.

Key Takeaways

  • The Censored filter is controlled by a setting in the SaintsRow3.ini file inside your game folder, not in the game menu.
  • You need to change the line CensoredMode=1 to CensoredMode=0 using any text editor, including Notepad.
  • The game folder is usually located at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Saints Row The Third if you installed it through Steam.
  • You must close the game completely before editing the file, or your changes will not save properly.
  • Changing the setting back to 1 will re-enable censorship the next time you launch the game.

Locate Your Saints Row 3 Game Folder

The first step is finding where Saints Row 3 is installed on your PC. If you bought it through Steam, the default path is C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Saints Row The Third. If you installed it elsewhere or own a non-Steam copy, navigate to wherever you chose during installation.

To find your Steam folder quickly, open Steam, right-click Saints Row 3 in your library, select Properties, then click the Local Files tab. Click Browse Local Files and Steam will open the game folder directly in Windows Explorer.

Open the SaintsRow3.ini File

Inside your Saints Row 3 folder, look for a file named SaintsRow3.ini. This is a plain text configuration file. Right-click it and select Open with, then choose Notepad (or any text editor you have installed). Do not double-click it, because Windows may try to open it with an incorrect program.

If you do not see the file, make sure you have Show hidden files enabled in Windows Explorer. Click the View tab at the top, then check the box for Hidden items. The SaintsRow3.ini file should then appear.

Find and Change the CensoredMode Setting

Once the file is open in Notepad, use Ctrl+F to open the Find dialog. Type CensoredMode and press Enter. The search will jump to the line you need to edit.

You will see a line that reads CensoredMode=1. Change the 1 to a 0. The line should now read CensoredMode=0. This disables the censorship filter. If you ever want to turn censorship back on, change it back to 1.

After making the change, press Ctrl+S to save the file. Close Notepad. Do not make any other changes to the file — editing other settings can cause the game to crash or behave unexpectedly.

Launch the Game and Verify the Change

Close Saints Row 3 completely if it is running. Then launch the game normally through Steam or your game shortcut. The censorship filter should now be off. You will hear uncensored dialogue, see blood and gore without pixelation, and notice more violent animations during combat and cutscenes.

If the game still appears censored, make sure you saved the SaintsRow3.ini file correctly and that you closed the game before editing it. If the game was running when you changed the file, it may not have read the new setting.

Troubleshooting If the Change Does Not Work

If the censorship is still active after you restart the game, verify that you edited the correct file. Some players accidentally edit a backup copy or a file in a different folder. Check that the file path matches your actual installation location.

Another common issue is that the file did not save properly. Open SaintsRow3.ini again and confirm that the line reads CensoredMode=0. If it still shows 1, the save did not take. Make sure you have write permission to the file. If your game is installed in Program Files, Windows may block edits. Try moving the game to a folder outside Program Files, or run Notepad as Administrator before opening the file.

If the game crashes after the change, restore the original setting by changing CensoredMode back to 1. Crashes are rare, but they can happen if other settings in the file were accidentally altered during editing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing this setting get me banned from online play?

No. Saints Row 3 does not have active online multiplayer on PC, and single-player configuration changes do not trigger any anti-cheat system. You can edit the file without any risk to your account.

Can I undo this change if I want censorship back?

Yes. Open SaintsRow3.ini again, find the line CensoredMode=0, and change the 0 back to 1. Save the file and restart the game. Censorship will be re-enabled the next time you launch.

Does this work on the Epic Games version of Saints Row 3?

Yes. The Epic Games Store version uses the same SaintsRow3.ini file in the same location. The process is identical. Find your Epic Games installation folder, locate the file, and make the same edit.

What if I cannot find the SaintsRow3.ini file?

Make sure hidden files are visible in Windows Explorer. Click View at the top and check Hidden items. If the file still does not appear, verify you are looking in the correct game folder. Use Steam's Browse Local Files option to confirm the path.

Will this affect my saved games?

No. The censorship setting is separate from your save data. Changing it will not delete or corrupt any saves. You can switch between censored and uncensored mode as many times as you want without losing progress.