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 less than a minute and works the same way on phones and computers.

The exact steps depend on which browser you use. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all store this setting in different places, but the process is straightforward in each one. Once you change it, Google will handle every search you do from the address bar until you change it again.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine runs automatically when you type in the address bar, and you can change it to Google through your browser settings in under a minute.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge each have different menus where this setting lives, but the change works immediately once you save it.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect search results or your browsing history — it only changes which engine handles searches from your address bar.
  • If you use multiple browsers on the same device, you 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 Chrome has detected. Find Google in that list and click the radio button next to it. Chrome saves this change automatically — you do not need to click a save button. The next time you search from the address bar, Google will handle it.

If Google does not appear in the list, scroll down and click Manage search engines and site search. Type "Google" in the search box, and if it still does not show up, you can add it manually by clicking the Add button and entering Google's search URL.

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 Default Search Engine section, you will see a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click that dropdown and select Google from the list. Firefox saves the change immediately. If you want Google to be your default only in private windows, you can set a separate engine under the Private Windows section below.

Change your default search engine in Safari

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

You will see a dropdown menu labeled Search engine. Click it and select Google. The change takes effect immediately. Safari also lets you set a separate default for private browsing — that option is in the same menu.

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 next to Address bar search engine and select Google. Edge saves this change right away. You can also set a separate default for InPrivate browsing in the same section if you want different behavior in private windows.

Change your default search engine on your phone

On an iPhone, open Safari and tap the address bar at the bottom of the screen. Tap Settings (the gear icon). Scroll down and tap Search Engine, then select Google.

On an Android phone, open Chrome and tap the three dots in the top right. Select Settings, then Search engine. Tap Google to set it as your default. The process is the same whether you are using Chrome, Firefox, or another browser on Android — look for the settings menu and find the search engine option.

What happens after you change your default

Once you set Google as your default, every time you type a question or web address into your browser's address bar, Google will run that search. You do not have to visit google.com first — the search happens automatically. This does not change how you search on Google's website itself or affect your search history.

If you ever want to switch back to a different search engine, you can follow the same steps and pick a different option from the dropdown. Your browser will remember your choice until you change it again, even if you close and reopen the browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default search engine delete my search history?

No. Your search history stays the same no matter which search engine you set as default. Changing your default only changes which engine handles new searches from your address bar going forward.

Do I need to change the default in every browser I use?

Yes. Each browser stores its own settings separately. If you use Chrome on your computer and Firefox on your phone, you need to change the default in both. Changing it in one does not affect the others.

What if Google does not show up in my search engine list?

This is rare, but if it happens, you can add Google manually. Look for an "Add" or "Manage search engines" option in your browser's search settings, then enter Google's search URL. Your browser will then let you select it as your default.

Can I use different default search engines in regular and private browsing?

Yes. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you set separate defaults for private or incognito windows. Look for a "Private browsing" or "InPrivate" option in the same search engine settings menu.

Will my default search engine change if I update my browser?

No. Browser updates do not reset your search engine settings. Your choice will stay in place unless you manually change it or your browser is reset to factory settings.