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 ship with Bing or another search engine pre-selected. Changing it to Google takes less than a minute and works the same way across Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari.

The exact steps depend on which browser you use, but the principle is identical: you open settings, find the search engine section, and pick Google from a list. You do not need to download anything or restart your browser. The change takes effect immediately.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is what runs when you type in the address bar, and you can change it in your browser settings without downloading anything.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari all let you pick Google from a built-in list of search engines — you do not need to add it manually.
  • The change takes effect right away and does not affect your bookmarks, passwords, or browsing history.
  • If Google does not appear in your list of options, your browser may have restrictions set by your workplace or school.

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 under "Search engines used in the address bar." Google should already be in this list. Click on Google to highlight it, then click the three dots next to it and select Make default. That is all — Google is now your default search engine.

If Google does not appear in the list, click the three dots next to any search engine and select Edit. In the box that says "Search engine," type Google. In the box that says "URL with %s in place of query," paste this: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. Click Save, then make it default using the steps above.

Change your default search engine in Firefox

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

Under "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown menu. Click it and select Google from the list. The change happens immediately. If you want to confirm it worked, type a question into the address bar and press Enter — Google should run the search.

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 section labeled "Search engine used in the address bar." You will see a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click it and select Google. Edge will ask you to confirm — click Set as default. The change takes effect right away.

Change your default search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar (on Mac) or the gear icon (on iPhone or iPad). Select Settings or Preferences.

Click the Search tab. You will see a dropdown menu that says "Search engine." Click it and select Google. Close the settings window. The change is saved automatically.

What to do if Google is not in your list

If you open your search engine settings and Google does not appear as an option, your browser likely has restrictions set by your workplace, school, or internet provider. These restrictions prevent you from changing the default search engine.

Contact your IT department or network administrator to ask whether they can add Google to the list of available search engines. If you are on a personal device and Google is still missing, try restarting your browser and checking again. If the problem persists, your antivirus software or a browser extension may be interfering — try disabling extensions one at a time to see if one of them is blocking Google.

Confirm your change worked

After you set Google as default, test it by clicking on your browser's address bar and typing a question — for example, "weather today" or "how to change default search engine." Press Enter. If Google runs the search and shows results, your default search engine has changed successfully.

Your change does not affect your bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history, or any other browser data. It only changes which search engine runs when you use the address bar. 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 list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default search engine affect my saved passwords or bookmarks?

No. Your default search engine is a separate setting. Changing it does not touch your passwords, bookmarks, browsing history, or any other data stored in your browser.

Can I use Google for some searches and a different search engine for others?

Yes. You can set Google as your default, but you can still visit any other search engine directly by typing its web address into your browser. Your default only controls what happens when you search from the address bar.

Why does my browser keep switching back to a different search engine?

A browser extension or malware may be resetting your settings automatically. Try disabling all extensions, restarting your browser, and setting Google as default again. If it switches back, run a malware scan or contact your IT support.

Is there a difference between Google and Google.com?

No. Google.com is the same search engine — it is just the web address where Google lives. When you set Google as your default, you are setting the same search engine regardless of which version you visit.