Google is the default search engine on most devices, but if it has changed, you can set it back in a few steps
Your default search engine is the one that runs a search when you type words into the address bar or click a search box without picking a specific engine first. If Google is no longer your default, it usually means another program installed itself as the default during setup, or you changed it yourself and forgot. The steps to change it back depend on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — and whether you are on a computer or phone.
The process takes less than a minute on any device. You will not lose any bookmarks, passwords, or browsing history by changing your default search engine.
Key Takeaways
- Your default search engine is the one that runs when you type in the address bar, and it is separate from which browser you use.
- On Chrome, go to Settings, then Search Engine, and pick Google from the dropdown menu.
- On Firefox, go to Settings, then Search, and select Google from the "Default Search Engine" section.
- On Safari, go to Preferences, then Search, and pick Google from the dropdown.
- On Edge, go to Settings, then Privacy, then Search Engines, and set Google as default.
How to set Google as default 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 dropdown menu that currently shows your active default search engine — it might say Bing, Yahoo, or another engine.
Click the dropdown and select Google from the list. If Google does not appear in the list, click Manage search engines at the bottom, find Google in the full list, and click the three dots next to it, then select Make default. Chrome will remember this choice the next time you search.
How to set Google as default in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called the hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Search. Under the "Default Search Engine" section at the top, you will see a dropdown showing your current default engine.
Click the dropdown and select Google. Firefox saves this change immediately. If you use the search bar in the middle of the Firefox home page, it will now search with Google by default.
How to set Google as default in Safari
Open Safari. At the top of the screen, click Safari in the menu bar, then select Preferences (or Settings on newer versions). Click the Search tab. You will see a dropdown menu labeled "Search engine" showing your current default.
Click the dropdown and select Google. Close the preferences window — Safari saves the change automatically. The next time you search from the address bar, it will use Google.
How to set Google as default in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to the "Search engine" section. You will see a dropdown showing your current default search engine.
Click the dropdown and select Google. Edge will apply this change right away. If Google does not appear in the dropdown, click Manage search engines, find Google in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Make default.
How to set Google as default on iPhone or iPad
On Apple devices, Safari is the built-in browser and it controls the default search engine for the whole phone. Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and tap Safari. Tap Search Engine. Select Google from the list.
If you use Chrome on your iPhone, note that Chrome uses Google by default and does not let you change it — the search engine setting in the phone's Settings app only affects Safari. Your choice in Settings will apply to Safari searches from that point forward.
How to set Google as default on Android
On Android phones, the default search engine depends on which browser you use. If you use Chrome, open Chrome and tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner. Tap Settings, then Search engine, and select Google. If you use Firefox, open Firefox, tap the three horizontal lines at the bottom, tap Settings, then Search, and select Google.
Some Android phones also have a system-wide default search engine that applies when you search from the home screen or voice assistant. To change this, open Settings on your phone, search for "search engine," and look for an option to change the default. The exact location varies by phone manufacturer.
What to do if Google does not appear in the search engine list
If you do not see Google in the dropdown menu, it means your browser does not have Google saved as an option yet. Most browsers let you add a search engine manually. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, click Manage search engines or Add search engine (the exact wording varies). Type "Google" as the name, then enter the search URL, which is https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. The %s is a placeholder that your browser will replace with whatever you search for.
After you add Google, it will appear in the dropdown menu and you can set it as default. This is rare on new installations, but it can happen if a program removed Google from your browser's list or if you are using an older browser version.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default search engine delete my bookmarks or passwords?
No. Your default search engine is completely separate from your bookmarks, saved passwords, browsing history, and other data. Changing it affects only where searches go — nothing else on your browser changes.
Why does my search engine keep changing back to Bing or Yahoo?
This usually happens when you install a new program that changes your browser settings without asking. Check your installed programs for anything you do not recognize, and uninstall it. Then set Google as default again. Some programs try to change your default search engine every time you restart your computer, so you may need to uninstall them completely.
Is there a difference between my browser's default search engine and my phone's default search engine?
Yes. On phones, Safari (iPhone) and Chrome (Android) each have their own default search engine setting. If you use multiple browsers on the same phone, each one can have a different default. The setting you change in your phone's Settings app usually only affects the built-in browser.
Can I set different default search engines for different browsers?
Yes. Each browser has its own search engine setting, so you can use Google in Chrome and Bing in Edge if you want. Most people keep the same default across all browsers for consistency, but there is no requirement to do so.
What if I want to search with a different engine just one time?
You can visit Google.com directly and search there without changing your default. You can also type the search engine name into your address bar — most browsers will let you search with Google, Bing, or another engine by typing "google.com" or "bing.com" followed by your search words, even if it is not your default.