Your browser has a default search engine — and you can change it

When you type a question or phrase into your browser's address bar without a full web address, your browser sends that search to a default search engine. For most people, that engine is Google. You can change it to Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or several others, depending on which browser you use. The steps differ by browser, but the process takes less than a minute.

You might want to change your default search engine for privacy reasons — some engines collect less data about your searches than others. You might prefer a different search engine's results. Or you might want to use a search engine that doesn't track your activity. Whatever your reason, the choice is yours to make, and you can change it back anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is where your browser sends searches typed into the address bar, and you can change it in your browser's settings.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you pick from a list of search engines, though the exact steps and available options vary by browser.
  • Some search engines like DuckDuckGo and Startpage focus on privacy and collect less data about your searches than Google or Bing.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect searches you do on Google's website directly — only searches typed into your browser's address bar.
  • You can change your default search engine back to what it was before at any time, and the change takes effect immediately.

How to change your default search engine in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left side, click Search engine. You will see a list of search engines Chrome already knows about — Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo are usually there. Click the one you want to use as your default.

If the search engine you want is not on the list, you can add it. Scroll down to the section labeled Other search engines and click Add. You will need to type the search engine's name, the keyboard shortcut you want to use for it (optional), and the search URL. Most search engines publish this information on their website, or you can search for "[search engine name] search URL" to find it.

How to change your default search engine in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Search. Under the heading Default Search Engine, you will see a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click it and choose a different search engine from the list. Firefox offers Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia by default.

If you want to add a search engine that is not on the list, scroll down to One-Click Search Engines. Visit the website of the search engine you want to add, right-click in its search box, and select Add a Keyword for this Search. Firefox will remember it and add it to your list. You can then set it as your default by going back to the dropdown menu.

How to change your default search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions of macOS). Click the Search tab. You will see a dropdown menu labeled Search engine. Click it and choose from Google, Yahoo, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. Safari has fewer options than Chrome or Firefox, and does not allow you to add custom search engines.

If none of Safari's built-in options work for you, you can use a workaround: set your default to one of the available engines, then use that engine's website directly when you want a different search. This is less convenient than having your preferred engine as the default, but it is an option if Safari does not support the engine you want.

How to change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to the Search engine section. Click the dropdown menu under Address bar search engine and choose your preferred engine. Edge offers Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo.

To add a search engine that is not on the list, scroll down further to Address bar search engine and click Manage search engines. Click Add, then fill in the name, keyword, and search URL. Once you have added it, go back to the dropdown and set it as your default.

Privacy-focused search engines and what they do differently

Google and Bing track your searches and link them to your account or device. They use this data to build a profile of your interests, which they sell to advertisers. If privacy is your concern, DuckDuckGo and Startpage are two alternatives that do not store your search history or create a profile of you. Ecosia is another option — it does not track you, and it donates its search revenue to environmental projects.

These privacy-focused engines work well for most searches, though some people find that Google's results are more relevant to what they are looking for. You can try one for a week and switch back if you prefer Google's results. There is no penalty for changing your default search engine, and you can experiment to find what works best for you.

What happens when you change your default search engine

When you change your default search engine, the change applies only to searches you type into your browser's address bar. If you go to Google's website directly and search there, you will still use Google, even if your default is set to DuckDuckGo. The same is true for any other search engine's website — visiting the site directly bypasses your default setting.

The change takes effect immediately. You do not need to restart your browser or sign out and back in. If you change your mind, you can switch back to your old default in the same settings menu. Your browser does not delete your search history when you change your default search engine — that is a separate setting you can adjust if you want to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default search engine make my searches private?

Changing to a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo means that engine will not store your searches. However, your internet service provider and the websites you visit can still see that you are searching. If you want more privacy, consider using a VPN in addition to a privacy-focused search engine.

Can I use different search engines for different types of searches?

Most browsers do not let you set multiple defaults based on what you are searching for. However, you can bookmark search pages for different engines and use them manually, or use browser extensions that let you choose a search engine for each search.

What if my search engine is not on the list?

Chrome, Firefox, and Edge let you add custom search engines if you have the search URL. Safari does not support custom search engines, so you would need to visit the engine's website directly each time you want to use it.

Does changing my default search engine affect my phone or tablet?

No. Your default search engine is set separately on each device. If you change it on your computer, your phone will keep its old default unless you change it there too. The steps are similar on mobile browsers, but the menus look slightly different.

Can my employer or internet provider see which search engine I use?

Your employer or internet provider can see that you are making searches, but not which search engine you are using — that happens inside your browser. They can see the websites you visit and the searches you make on those websites, regardless of which search engine is your default.