Change your search engine in three steps

Your browser has a default search engine — the one that runs when you type in the address bar. You can change it to Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or another search engine entirely. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way whether you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

The steps differ slightly by browser, but the principle is identical: you go into settings, find the search section, and pick a new default from a list. You do not need to download anything or restart your computer. Once you change it, every search you type into the address bar will use your new choice.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is the one that runs automatically when you type a question into your browser's address bar, and you can change it anytime.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you pick from several built-in search engines, and the change takes effect immediately.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect search results you get from visiting a search website directly — only searches typed into the address bar.
  • If your default search engine changed without your action, a browser extension or malware may have altered it, and you should check your installed extensions.

How to change your 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." The one with a dot next to it is your current default. Click on whichever search engine you want to use instead — Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or Ecosia are usually available. The change happens immediately; you do not need to save anything or close the tab.

If the search engine you want is not in the list, you can add a custom one. Scroll down to "Other search engines" and click Add. You will need the search engine's name and its search URL, which you can find on the search engine's website or by searching online for "[search engine name] search URL."

How to change your search engine in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right. Select Settings. On the left, click Search.

Under "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current choice. Click it to see Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Wikipedia, and other options. Select the one you want. Firefox switches to it right away.

Firefox also shows a row of search engine icons below the address bar when you start a new search. You can click any of those icons to search with a different engine for just that one search, without changing your default. To remove an icon you do not use, right-click it and select Remove.

How to change your 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," you will see a dropdown showing your current default. Click it to choose from Google, Yahoo, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. Safari applies the change immediately and closes the settings window.

Safari also lets you set a separate search engine for private browsing if you want. Under "Search engine," there is a second dropdown for "Private Browsing" — you can use one search engine for normal browsing and another for private sessions.

How to change your search engine in Edge

Open Microsoft 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 showing your current default. You can choose from Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and others. Edge switches to your choice immediately.

Edge also lets you manage search engines used in the address bar. Under "Search engine," click Manage search engines to see all available options, remove ones you do not use, or add a custom search engine by entering its name and search URL.

What to do if your search engine changed on its own

If your default search engine switched without you changing it, a browser extension or malware may have altered your settings. Start by checking your installed extensions. In Chrome, click the three dots, go to More tools, then Extensions. Look for anything unfamiliar or anything you do not remember installing. Click the trash icon to remove it.

Do the same in Firefox: click the menu button, select Add-ons and extensions, and review what is installed. Remove anything suspicious. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click Extensions, and uninstall anything you do not recognize.

After removing suspicious extensions, change your search engine back to your preferred choice using the steps above. If your search engine keeps changing or you see other unexpected behavior, run a malware scan using your computer's built-in security tool (Windows Defender on Windows, or Malwarebytes on Mac) or contact a technical support person.

Searching with a different engine for just one search

You do not have to change your default to use a different search engine once in a while. You can visit the search engine's website directly — go to google.com, duckduckgo.com, bing.com, or wherever — and search from there. Your default search engine does not affect searches you run this way.

In Firefox, you can also right-click in the address bar and choose "Search with" followed by a different engine. In Chrome and Edge, you can click the search engine icons that appear below the address bar when you start typing a search, and it will search with that engine instead of your default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my search engine affect my bookmarks or browsing history?

No. Changing your default search engine only changes which search engine runs when you type in the address bar. Your bookmarks, history, passwords, and all other browser data stay exactly the same.

Can I use different search engines on different devices?

Yes. Each device has its own browser settings. You can set Chrome to use Google on your laptop and DuckDuckGo on your phone, or any other combination. The change on one device does not affect the others.

What if I want to switch back to my old search engine?

Follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. Open your browser settings, go to the search engine section, and click on your old choice. You can switch back and forth as many times as you want.

Does changing my search engine make my searches private?

Changing to a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo may reduce tracking, but it does not make your searches completely private. Your internet service provider can still see what you search for. For more privacy, use your browser's private browsing mode in addition to choosing a privacy-focused search engine.

Why would I want to change my search engine?

Different search engines have different strengths. Some prioritize privacy, some have better image search, some show results differently. You might switch because you prefer how one engine displays results, or because you want to use a search engine that does not track your activity as much.