How to change your default search engine

Your default search engine is the one that runs when you type in the address bar without a full web address. You can change it in your browser's settings in under a minute. The steps differ slightly by browser, but the principle is the same: go to settings, find the search section, and pick a different engine from the dropdown menu.

Most people use Google by default because it comes pre-set that way in Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. But you might want to switch to DuckDuckGo, Bing, Yahoo, Ecosia, or another option. The change affects only your browser on that device — if you use multiple browsers or devices, you'll need to change each one separately.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari all let you change your default search engine through their settings menu without installing anything new.
  • Your choice of search engine affects what data gets sent when you search — Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo collect different amounts of information about your searches.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect which results you see on Google.com itself; it only changes what happens when you search from the address bar.
  • If a search engine keeps resetting to Google or Bing, a browser extension or malware may be changing it — check your extensions and run a malware scan.

How to change your search engine in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Search engine in the left sidebar. You'll see a dropdown menu showing your current default search engine — click it to see all available options. Chrome includes Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo by default. Select the one you want.

If you want to use a search engine that isn't in the list, scroll down to the Search engines section and click the Add button next to "Other search engines." You'll enter the search engine's name, the keyword you want to use for it, and the URL format it uses for searches. Most search engines display this information in their settings or help pages.

How to change your search engine in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Search in the left sidebar. Under "Default Search Engine," you'll see a dropdown menu with Firefox's built-in options: Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, and others depending on your region. Click the dropdown and select your choice.

To add a search engine that isn't listed, scroll down to One-Click Search Engines and look for the engine you want. If it's there, click the star icon next to it to add it to your default options. If it's not listed, you can visit the search engine's website directly — most have an option to add them to Firefox, usually found in their settings or help section.

How to change your search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar, then select Settings. Click the Search tab. You'll see a dropdown menu labeled "Search engine" with options including Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. Click the dropdown and select the one you want to use.

Safari does not allow you to add custom search engines through its settings the way Chrome and Firefox do. If you want to use a search engine not in Safari's list, you'll need to visit that search engine's website directly and search from there, or use a different browser.

How to change your search engine in Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar. Scroll down to the Search engine section. You'll see your current default listed with a dropdown menu showing Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and others. Click the dropdown and select your choice.

To add a search engine not in the list, scroll down further to Address bar search engine and click Manage search engines. Click the Add button, enter the search engine's name, keyword, and search URL, then click Add as default. The next time you search from the address bar, it will use your new default.

Why your search engine might keep changing back

If you set a new default search engine but it keeps reverting to Google or Bing, a browser extension or unwanted software may be overriding your choice. Check your installed extensions first: in Chrome, click the three dots, go to More tools, then Extensions. Look for any extension you don't recognize or remember installing. Click the trash icon to remove it, then check your search engine setting again.

If removing extensions doesn't fix it, run a malware scan using Windows Defender (built into Windows) or a free tool like Malwarebytes. Some malware specifically changes browser settings to redirect your searches. After scanning and removing any threats, restart your browser and check your search engine setting once more. If it still changes, try resetting your browser to its default settings — in Chrome, go to Settings > Advanced > Reset and clean up > Restore settings to their original defaults.

What happens when you change your search engine

Changing your default search engine changes where your search queries go and what data that company collects about them. Google stores your search history tied to your Google account (if you're signed in) and uses it for personalized results and advertising. DuckDuckGo does not store search history or use it for ads. Bing and Yahoo fall somewhere in between, storing less data than Google but more than DuckDuckGo.

Your choice of search engine does not change the results you see when you visit Google.com directly — that site always uses Google's index. It only affects what happens when you search from your browser's address bar or search box. If you want to use multiple search engines for different purposes, you can set one as your default and manually visit another engine's website when you want to use it instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my search engine affect my Google account or Gmail?

No. Your Google account, Gmail, and Google Drive work the same regardless of which search engine you set as your default. Changing your default search engine only affects what happens when you search from your browser's address bar.

Can I use a different search engine on my phone?

Yes. On iPhone, go to Settings > Safari > Search Engine and pick a different option. On Android, open Chrome, tap the three dots, go to Settings > Search engine, and select your choice. The steps are similar to desktop browsers.

What's the difference between DuckDuckGo and Google?

DuckDuckGo does not store your search history or create a profile of your interests for advertising. Google does both. DuckDuckGo's results come from multiple sources including Bing. Google's results come from Google's own index. Both are free to use.

If I change my search engine, will websites know what I searched for?

The search engine itself knows what you searched for. Websites you visit afterward can see which search engine referred you, but not the specific search terms you used — that information stays between you and the search engine.

Can I set different search engines for different purposes?

You can only set one default search engine per browser. If you want to use multiple engines regularly, you can bookmark each one's homepage or use browser extensions that let you right-click and search with a specific engine. Some people keep multiple browsers open for this reason.