Change your default search engine in three steps

Open Microsoft Edge and select the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Go to Settings, then Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar. Under the "Search engine" section, you'll see a dropdown menu showing your current default — click it and pick a different search engine from the list, or add a new one.

Edge comes with Bing set as the default, but you can switch to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or several others without installing anything extra. The change takes effect immediately for searches you run from the address bar or the search box on a new tab.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine controls which service handles searches from Edge's address bar and new tab page.
  • Edge offers Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and Bing as built-in options without needing to add anything manually.
  • You can add a custom search engine if your preferred service isn't in the default list.
  • Changing the default search engine does not affect other browsers on your computer — each browser keeps its own setting.

Where to find the search engine setting

Start in Edge and click the three-dot menu (called the "app menu") in the top right corner of the window. From the dropdown, select Settings. On the left side of the Settings page, you'll see several options — click Privacy, search, and services.

Scroll down until you see the "Search engine" section. This is where Edge shows you which search engine is currently set as your default. The setting appears roughly in the middle of the page, below options for privacy and above options for address bar suggestions.

Picking a search engine from the built-in list

Under "Search engine," you'll see a dropdown menu with your current choice highlighted. Click the dropdown to see the available options. Edge includes Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Yahoo by default — the exact list may vary slightly depending on your region.

Select whichever engine you prefer. The change happens right away. The next time you type something into the address bar or use the search box on a new tab page, Edge will use your new default search engine instead of the old one.

Adding a search engine that isn't on the list

If your preferred search engine doesn't appear in the dropdown, you can add it manually. In the same "Search engine" section, look for the option that says Manage search engines (or sometimes Manage search engines and site search). Click it to open a new page.

On this page, you'll see two sections: "Search engines" and "Site search." Under "Search engines," click the Add button. You'll need to enter the search engine's name, the keyword you want to use (usually a short abbreviation), and the search URL. If you're unsure about the search URL, you can often find it by visiting the search engine's website and looking in your browser history or checking their help documentation.

Once you've added the search engine, go back to the main search engine dropdown and select your new entry as the default. The custom search engine will now appear in your list alongside the built-in options.

What happens when you change the default

Changing the default search engine in Edge only affects Edge itself. If you use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or any other browser on the same computer, those browsers will keep their own default search engines unchanged. Each browser stores its settings separately.

The change also does not affect search results you've already visited or your browsing history. It only controls which search engine handles new searches you perform going forward. Your saved passwords, bookmarks, and other data remain exactly the same.

Resetting to Bing if you change your mind

If you want to go back to Bing (Edge's original default), follow the same steps: Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Search engine dropdown > select Bing. There's no penalty for switching back and forth — you can change your default search engine as many times as you want.

Some websites or programs may try to change your default search engine without asking. If you notice Edge is using a search engine you didn't choose, return to the same settings page and switch it back to what you prefer. If this happens repeatedly, check your installed programs for anything suspicious or consider running a security scan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the search engine affect my saved passwords or bookmarks?

No. Your passwords, bookmarks, browsing history, and all other saved data remain exactly the same. Changing the search engine only affects which service handles searches from the address bar and new tab page.

Can I use different search engines for different searches?

Not automatically from the address bar. However, you can always visit a search engine's website directly and search there instead. You can also add multiple search engines and switch between them in settings whenever you want.

What if a website keeps changing my default search engine back to something else?

Some websites or programs attempt to change your default without permission. Return to Settings > Privacy, search, and services and switch it back to your preference. If this keeps happening, check your installed programs for anything suspicious, or consider running a security scan.

Will changing the search engine make Edge faster or slower?

No. Search engine choice does not affect Edge's speed. Performance depends on your internet connection, the search engine's servers, and how much data Edge is storing locally — not on which search engine you've chosen.