Set Google as your default search engine in three steps

Your default search engine is the one that runs when you type a question into your browser's address bar without visiting a search site first. Most browsers come set to Bing or another engine, but you can change it to Google in your browser settings — it takes about two minutes and works the same way across Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

The exact steps depend on which browser you use, but the principle is identical: you go into settings, find the search engine section, and pick Google from a list. You do not need to download anything or change any files on your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is what runs when you type into the address bar, and you can change it in your browser settings without downloading anything.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you pick Google as default in under two minutes through their settings menus.
  • If Google does not appear in your search engine list, you may need to add it first by visiting Google.com and allowing your browser to save it as an option.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect your browsing history or any other browser settings — only what happens when you search from the address bar.

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.

Under "Search engine used in the address bar," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click it and select Google from the list. If Google is not in the list, visit Google.com in a new tab, and Chrome will offer to add it as an option the next time you search there. Then return to Settings and select it.

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, click Search.

Under "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown showing your current choice. Click it and select Google. If Google does not appear, scroll down to "One-Click Search Engines" and look for Google there — click it once to make it your default. If it is not listed at all, visit Google.com and Firefox will offer to add it.

Change your default search engine in Safari

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

Under "Search engine," click the dropdown menu and select Google. That is all you need to do — Safari will use Google the next time you search from the address bar.

Change your default search engine in Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services.

Scroll down to "Search engine" and click the dropdown under "Address bar search engine." Select Google from the list. If Google is not there, visit Google.com in a new tab and Edge will offer to add it as an option.

What to do if Google does not appear in your search engine list

If you open your search engine settings and Google is not in the dropdown menu, your browser has not registered it yet. The fix is simple: visit Google.com in a new tab and perform a search — type anything you want and press Enter. Your browser will recognize Google as a usable search engine and add it to the list automatically.

Return to your browser settings and refresh the page if needed. Google should now appear in the dropdown. Select it and you are done. This happens most often on fresh browser installations or if you have never used Google as a search engine before on that browser.

Verify that Google is now your default

To confirm the change worked, click on your browser's address bar and type a question — for example, "weather today" — then press Enter without visiting a website first. If Google loads and shows search results, your default search engine has been changed successfully.

If a different search engine still appears, return to your browser settings and repeat the steps above. Make sure you clicked the dropdown and selected Google, not just viewed the settings page. Some browsers require you to close and reopen them for the change to take effect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default search engine affect my browsing history?

No. Your browsing history, bookmarks, passwords, and all other browser data remain exactly as they were. Changing your default search engine only affects what happens when you type into the address bar — nothing else changes.

Can I have different default search engines on different devices?

Yes. Each device has its own browser settings, so you can set Google as default on your phone and Bing on your laptop if you want. The change on one device does not affect any other device.

What if my browser is controlled by my workplace or school?

Some organizations lock browser settings so employees or students cannot change them. If you open Settings and the search engine dropdown is grayed out or missing, contact your IT department — they control which search engines are available on that device.

Do I need to do this on my phone too?

Yes, phone browsers have separate settings. On iPhone, open Safari Settings and scroll to "Search Engine" to change it. On Android, open Chrome, tap the three dots, go to Settings, then Search Engine. The steps are the same as on a computer.

Will Google remember my searches after I change the default?

Google will record your searches if you are signed into a Google account, the same way it does now. If you want to prevent that, you can sign out of your Google account or use your browser's private or incognito mode for searches you do not want saved.