Change your default search engine in Firefox's settings in under a minute

Open Firefox and select the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Click Settings, then choose Search from the left sidebar. Under "Default Search Engine," click the dropdown menu and pick a different search engine from the list — Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, and others are built in. Your choice takes effect immediately, and Firefox will use that engine whenever you search from the address bar or the search box on the home page.

If you want a search engine that is not on the default list, you can add it manually. Scroll down to "One-Click Search Engines" and visit any search website you want to add. Right-click the search box on that site and select "Add as Search Engine." Firefox will then offer it as an option in your default search engine dropdown.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is changed through Firefox Settings under the Search section, not through your computer's system settings.
  • Firefox comes with several built-in search engines including Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Wikipedia that you can switch between instantly.
  • You can add any search engine you find online by right-clicking its search box and selecting "Add as Search Engine."
  • Changing your default search engine in Firefox does not affect other browsers on your computer — each browser has its own setting.

Where to find the search engine setting

The search setting lives in Firefox's own preferences, separate from your computer's default apps. Even if you have set a different search engine as your system default, Firefox will still use whatever you chose inside its Settings menu. This means you can have different default search engines in Firefox, Chrome, and Edge on the same computer.

To reach it, click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right of any Firefox window. The menu appears in the same location on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Select Settings from the dropdown, then click Search in the left sidebar. You will see your current default search engine at the top of the page.

Switching between built-in search engines

Firefox includes several search engines ready to use without any extra steps. Click the dropdown under "Default Search Engine" to see what is available. The list usually includes Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Wikipedia, and Amazon. Select whichever one you prefer, and Firefox switches to it right away.

You can also change your search engine temporarily by clicking the search icon next to the search box on your home page. A small menu appears showing all your installed search engines. Pick one from that menu to search with it just that once — your default stays the same for future searches.

Adding a search engine that is not on the default list

If you want to use a search engine Firefox does not include by default, you can add it yourself. Visit the website of the search engine you want to add — this works with most search sites, including specialized ones like DuckDuckGo, Startpage, or even internal search functions on some websites.

Once you are on the site, right-click inside the search box and look for an option that says "Add as Search Engine" or similar wording. Click it, and Firefox will ask you to confirm. After you confirm, that search engine appears in your list of options. You can then set it as your default or use it occasionally from the search icon menu.

Removing search engines you no longer want

If you have added search engines and want to remove them, go back to Settings and click Search. Scroll down to "One-Click Search Engines" to see all the search engines you have added manually. Hover over any one and a trash icon appears on the right. Click the trash icon to remove it.

You cannot remove the built-in search engines that come with Firefox — only the ones you added yourself. If you want to stop using one of the default engines, simply choose a different one as your default instead.

Search suggestions and privacy settings

While you are in the Search settings, you will see options for search suggestions. Firefox can show you suggested searches as you type in the address bar or search box. If you want to turn this off, uncheck the boxes next to "Suggestions from your default search engine" or "Suggestions from Firefox." These are separate from your choice of which search engine to use.

You can also control whether Firefox sends your search terms to your search engine at all. Scroll down to "Address Bar" and look for the option to show or hide search suggestions. Turning off suggestions means Firefox will not send what you type to your search engine provider until you actually press Enter.

Search engine choice on different devices

If you use Firefox on multiple devices — a laptop, tablet, or phone — each one has its own search engine setting. Changing your default search engine on your desktop Firefox does not change it on Firefox for Android or Firefox for iOS. You need to change the setting separately on each device.

Firefox for Android and iOS have the same search engine options as desktop Firefox, and the process is similar: open settings, find the search option, and pick your default. If you use Firefox Sync to keep your bookmarks and history in sync across devices, note that search engine preferences are not synced — only your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default search engine in Firefox affect other browsers?

No. Each browser on your computer has its own default search engine setting. Changing it in Firefox does not affect Chrome, Edge, Safari, or any other browser. If you want to change your search engine across all browsers, you need to change the setting in each one separately.

Can I use a search engine that does not have a website?

No. To add a custom search engine to Firefox, it must have a working search box on a website. Firefox works by capturing how that search box sends information and replicating it. If a search engine only exists as an app or does not have a web interface, you cannot add it to Firefox.

What happens if I delete my default search engine?

You cannot delete the built-in search engines that come with Firefox. If you delete a search engine you added yourself and it was set as your default, Firefox automatically switches back to Google. You can then choose a different default from the list.

Does my search engine choice affect my privacy?

Yes. Different search engines have different privacy policies. Google, Bing, and others track your searches and may use them for advertising. DuckDuckGo and Startpage claim not to track searches. Read the privacy policy of any search engine you choose to understand what data it collects.

Can I set different search engines for different situations?

You can use different search engines without changing your default by clicking the search icon next to the search box. A menu appears showing all your installed search engines. Click one to search with it just that time. Your default search engine stays the same for future searches.