Firefox lets you pick which search engine opens when you search from the address bar

When you click on Firefox's address bar and type a search term instead of a web address, Firefox sends that search to a default search engine. By default, that engine is Google. You can change it to Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, Amazon, or several others — or add a search engine that isn't on the built-in list. The change takes effect immediately and applies only to your Firefox profile, not to other browsers on your computer.

This is different from changing your home page or search bar settings. This specifically controls what happens when you search from the main address bar at the top of the window.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Firefox Settings, go to Search, and pick a new default search engine from the dropdown menu under "Default Search Engine."
  • Firefox comes with Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, and Amazon built in; you can switch between them without installing anything.
  • You can add other search engines by visiting their website and using the "Add Search Engine" option that appears in the search settings.
  • Changing your default search engine in Firefox does not affect Google Chrome, Edge, Safari, or any other browser on your computer.

Steps to change your default search engine

Open Firefox and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown menu.

On the left side of the Settings page, click Search. You will see a section labeled "Default Search Engine" with a dropdown menu showing your current search engine.

Click the dropdown and select the search engine you want to use instead. Firefox will immediately switch to that engine. Close the Settings tab when you are done — your choice is saved automatically.

Built-in search engines you can choose from

Firefox includes five search engines by default: Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, and Amazon. Google is the default when you first install Firefox. Each one works the same way — type in the address bar, press Enter, and Firefox searches using that engine.

DuckDuckGo is popular with people who want a search engine that does not track your searches or build a profile of your interests. Wikipedia is useful if you want to search an encyclopedia instead of the whole web. Bing and Amazon are alternatives if you prefer Microsoft's search results or want to search products directly.

Adding a search engine that is not on the built-in list

If you want to use a search engine that Firefox does not include by default — such as Ecosia, Startpage, or a specialized search tool — you can add it yourself. Go to the website of the search engine you want to add and look for a search box on the page.

Right-click inside that search box and select Add Search Engine from the menu that appears. Firefox will ask you to confirm the name and keyword for the search engine. Click Add, and it will appear in your search engine list. You can then set it as your default the same way you would switch to a built-in engine.

Not every search engine website supports this feature. If you right-click on a search box and do not see the "Add Search Engine" option, that website does not allow Firefox to add it this way. In that case, you can still use the search engine by visiting the website directly, but you cannot set it as your Firefox default.

Managing your search engine list

Once you have added search engines, you can see all of them in the Search settings page. Scroll down to the section labeled "Search Engines" to see every engine you have installed, including the built-in ones.

To remove a search engine you added, find it in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Remove. You cannot remove the built-in search engines, but you can remove any that you added yourself. To change which engine appears first in the list, click the three dots next to it and select Set as Default.

What happens when you search from the address bar versus the search bar

Firefox has two places where you can search: the address bar at the very top (which also accepts web addresses) and a separate search bar if you have added one to your toolbar. Both use your default search engine by default.

If you want the search bar to use a different engine than the address bar, you can change that separately. In the Search settings, scroll down to "Search Shortcuts" and click the dropdown next to the search bar icon. This lets you pick a different engine just for the search bar, while keeping your address bar searches on your main default engine.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my search engine in Firefox affect other browsers on my computer?

No. Each browser has its own settings. Changing Firefox's default search engine does not change the default in Chrome, Edge, Safari, or any other browser. You would need to change each browser separately if you want them all to use the same search engine.

Can I use a different search engine for private browsing windows?

No. Firefox uses the same default search engine in both regular and private windows. The only difference is that private windows do not save your browsing history or cookies — the search engine itself stays the same.

What if I want to search with a different engine just one time?

You can visit the search engine's website directly and search from there. For example, if your default is DuckDuckGo but you want to use Google once, go to google.com and search from that page. Firefox will not change your default setting.

Why does Firefox keep suggesting Google even after I changed my default?

Firefox may show search suggestions from Google in the dropdown menu below the address bar even if your default engine is different. This is a suggestion feature, not a search. When you press Enter, Firefox will search using your actual default engine. If you want to turn off suggestions entirely, go to Search settings and uncheck "Provide search suggestions."

Can I add a search engine that requires a login?

Most search engines that require a login cannot be added as a Firefox default. You can still use them by visiting the website directly, but Firefox cannot set them up as a quick search option from the address bar.