Change your default search engine in your browser settings

Your default search engine is the one that runs when you type a question into the address bar or click the search box on a new tab. You can change it to Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or another search engine directly in your browser — it takes about one minute and requires no downloads or restarts.

The steps differ slightly between browsers, but the setting lives in the same place in all of them: your browser's settings menu. Once you change it, every search you do from the address bar will use your new default until you change it again.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is set in your browser settings, not on your computer itself, so changing it in Chrome does not change it in Firefox or Edge.
  • Most browsers let you choose from a list of pre-installed search engines, but you can also add a custom search engine if you know its search URL.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect search results you get from clicking links or using search engine websites directly.
  • If you use multiple browsers on the same computer, you will need to change the default in each one separately.

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 that appears. On the left side, click Search engine.

You will see a list of search engines under "Search engines used in the address bar." Click the one you want to use as your default — a filled-in circle will appear next to it. That search engine is now your default. Close the settings tab and you are done.

If the search engine you want is not in the list, scroll down to "Other search engines" and click the three dots next to the one you want, then select Make default. If it is not there either, you can add a custom search engine by clicking Add at the bottom, but you will need the search URL, which most search engine websites provide in their settings.

Change your default search engine in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Click Settings. On the left side, click Search.

Under "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click it and select the search engine you want. The change takes effect immediately. Firefox comes with Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, and Amazon pre-installed, and you can add others by scrolling down to "One-Click Search Engines" and clicking the plus sign next to any search engine listed there.

Change your default search engine in 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.

Under "Search engine used in the address bar," click the dropdown menu and select your new default. Edge includes Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Yahoo by default. If you want to use a search engine that is not listed, click Manage search engines, then click Add and enter the search engine's name and search URL.

Change your default search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar (on Mac) or Edit (on Windows). Select Preferences or Settings. Click the Search tab.

Under "Search engine," click the dropdown menu and choose your default from the list. Safari offers Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. The change takes effect immediately when you close the preferences window.

What to do if your default search engine keeps changing

If you set a new default search engine but it keeps reverting to the old one, a browser extension or unwanted software may be changing it without your permission. Open your browser's extension or add-on menu and look for anything you do not recognize. In Chrome, click the three dots, go to More tools, then Extensions. In Firefox, click the hamburger menu and select Add-ons and themes. Remove any extension you did not intentionally install.

If you use Windows and extensions are not the problem, run a full scan with Windows Defender or another antivirus program. Some unwanted software installs at the system level and changes browser settings across all your browsers. Restart your computer after the scan completes, then check your default search engine again.

Difference between default search engine and search history

Your default search engine is where your searches go when you type in the address bar. Your search history is a record of what you have searched for. Changing your default search engine does not erase your search history — those are two separate things. If you want to clear your search history, that is a different process that happens in your browser's privacy or history settings.

Some people change their default search engine because they want more privacy. DuckDuckGo, for example, does not track your searches the way Google does. Switching your default search engine is one way to change that behavior, but it does not affect the history your browser stores locally on your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default search engine affect my bookmarks or saved passwords?

No. Your default search engine setting is separate from everything else in your browser. Bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and extensions all stay exactly as they are. Only searches you type into the address bar will use the new default.

Can I use different default search engines in different browsers?

Yes. Each browser has its own settings, so you can set Chrome to use Google, Firefox to use DuckDuckGo, and Edge to use Bing all at the same time. The default in one browser does not affect the others.

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

You can visit the search engine's website directly and search there without changing your default. For example, go to duckduckgo.com and search from that page, and your default will stay the same. You can also highlight text on any webpage, right-click it, and select "Search with [engine name]" if your browser offers that option.

Does changing my default search engine speed up my internet?

No. Your internet speed depends on your connection and your internet service provider, not on which search engine you use. Different search engines may load at slightly different speeds, but the difference is usually not noticeable.

Can I add a search engine that is not on the list?

Yes, but you need the search engine's search URL, which you can usually find in its settings or help section. In most browsers, go to your search engine settings, click "Add" or "Manage," and paste the URL. The search engine will then appear in your list of options.