Google is the default search engine on most browsers, but you may need to change it back if another search engine took over
When you open a new tab or use your browser's search bar, it sends your search to whichever search engine is set as default. On Chrome, Edge, and Firefox, Google usually starts as the default, but other search engines — Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo — can replace it during software installation or through browser settings changes. Switching back to Google takes two to five minutes and works the same way across all major browsers.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari, but the principle is identical: open your browser settings, find the search engine section, and select Google from the list. You do not need to reinstall your browser or clear any data.
Key Takeaways
- On Chrome, go to Settings > Search engine, click the dropdown next to "Search engine used in the address bar", and select Google.
- On Firefox, open Preferences > Search, and choose Google from the "Default Search Engine" dropdown.
- On Edge, select Settings > Privacy, search and services, scroll to "Search engine", and click Google under "Search engines used in the address bar".
- On Safari, go to Preferences > Search, and select Google from the "Search engine" dropdown.
- Once you change the setting, every new search from your address bar or search box will use Google until you change it again.
How to change the default search engine on Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left sidebar, click Search engine.
You will see a section labeled "Search engine used in the address bar" with a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click the dropdown and select Google from the list. If Google does not appear, click Manage search engines and site search, find Google in the list, hover over it, and click the three dots next to it, then select Make default.
Chrome saves the change immediately. The next time you search from the address bar or a new tab, it will use Google.
How to change the default search engine on Firefox
Open Firefox and click the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Search.
Under "Default Search Engine", you will see a dropdown showing your current default. Click it and select Google. Firefox saves the change right away. If you want Google to be the default only in the search bar but use a different engine in the address bar, you can set them separately — Firefox allows this, but most people use the same engine for both.
How to change the default search engine on Edge
Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Privacy, search and services.
Scroll down to the "Search engine" section. Under "Search engines used in the address bar", you will see your current default with a blue radio button next to it. Find Google in the list below and click the radio button next to it. Edge saves the change immediately. If Google is not in the list, click Manage search engines, scroll to Google, and click the radio button next to it.
How to change the default search engine on Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Preferences (or Settings on newer versions). Click the Search tab.
Under "Search engine", click the dropdown menu and select Google. Close the preferences window. Safari saves the change immediately, and all future searches from the address bar will use Google.
What to do if Google does not appear in the search engine list
On rare occasions, Google may not show up in your browser's search engine list. This usually happens if your browser has been heavily modified or if malware has altered your settings. The fix depends on your browser.
On Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can manually add Google back. In Chrome, go to Settings > Search engine > Manage search engines and site search, then click Add at the bottom. Enter "Google" as the name, "google.com" as the URL, and "https://www.google.com/search?q=%s" in the URL with %s field. Do the same process in Firefox under Preferences > Search > Manage Search Engines. On Edge, the process is identical under Settings > Privacy, search and services > Manage search engines.
If you added Google manually and it still will not appear, your browser may have been compromised by unwanted software. Running a full antivirus scan and then reinstalling your browser usually resolves the issue.
Why another search engine replaced Google as your default
Search engines become the default through three main routes: during software installation, through browser extensions, or through changes to your browser settings file.
When you install certain free programs — toolbars, download managers, or other utilities — they often bundle a search engine change as part of the installation. The option to keep your current search engine is usually buried in the "Custom" or "Advanced" installation screen, so many people miss it and end up with a new default by accident. Reading the full installation screen before clicking "Next" prevents this.
Browser extensions can also change your default search engine, either intentionally or as a side effect of what they claim to do. If you installed an extension around the time your search engine changed, disabling or removing it may restore Google. Go to your browser's extension or add-on page, find the extension, and click Remove or Disable.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default search engine delete my search history?
No. Changing your default search engine only changes where new searches go. Your existing search history remains in your browser and your Google account (if you are signed in). If you want to delete your search history, that is a separate step in your browser settings.
Can I use different search engines for the address bar and the search box?
Yes, on Firefox and some other browsers. Firefox lets you set one default for the search box and a different one for the address bar. Chrome and Edge do not offer this option — they use the same search engine for both. Check your browser's search settings to see what options are available.
Why does my search engine keep changing back to something else?
Malware or unwanted browser extensions are the most common causes. Run a full antivirus scan on your computer, then check your browser extensions and remove anything you do not recognize. If the problem persists after that, try reinstalling your browser, which will reset all settings to factory defaults.
Does Google track my searches if I set it as my default?
Google records searches you make while signed into your Google account. You can view and delete your search history in your Google account settings under "My Activity". If you want to search without Google recording your activity, use an incognito or private browsing window, or switch to a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo.