Your browser has a default search engine, and you can change it in a few clicks

When you type a question or phrase into the address bar at the top of your browser, it sends that search to a specific search engine — usually Google, Bing, or Yahoo depending on which browser you use and who set it up. You can change which search engine handles those searches. The steps differ slightly between Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge, but the process takes less than a minute in any of them.

This guide walks you through changing your default search engine in each major browser. You might want to do this if you prefer a different search engine, if your browser was set to one you did not choose, or if you want to use a privacy-focused alternative.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is the one that runs searches when you type in the address bar, and you can change it without installing anything new.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you pick from several built-in search engines, or add a custom one if you know its search URL.
  • The setting is usually found under Settings or Preferences, in a section labeled Search or Search Engine.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect search results you get from visiting a search website directly — only searches from the address bar.

How to change your search engine in Google 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 Chrome already knows about — Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo are usually there. Click the one you want to use as your default. If you want to use a search engine that is not on the list, click the Manage search engines and site search option at the bottom, then click Add next to "Search engines" at the top. Type the name of the search engine, then paste its search URL (you can find this by searching for "[search engine name] search URL" in your browser). Click Add to save it, then go back to the main Search engine settings and select it as your default.

How to change your search engine in Mozilla Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Search.

Under "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current choice. Click it to see Firefox's built-in options: Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and others depending on your region. Select the one you want. If you want to add a search engine that is not listed, scroll down to "One-Click Search Engines" and look for the one you want — many popular search engines appear there as clickable options. If it is not there, you can add a custom search engine by finding its search URL and entering it manually, though this requires a few more steps than the other browsers.

How to change your search engine in Apple Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Search tab.

You will see a dropdown menu labeled "Search engine." Click it to choose from Safari's options: Google, Yahoo, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. Select the one you want to use. Safari does not have a simple way to add custom search engines through the settings menu, so if you want to use a search engine not on this list, you will need to visit that search engine's website directly and set it as your default through the search engine's own settings.

How to change your search engine 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 your current default search engine listed. Click the dropdown menu next to it to see Edge's built-in options: Bing, Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and others. Select the one you want. To add a custom search engine, click Manage search engines under the dropdown, then click Add next to "Search engines." Type the name and the search URL, then click Add as default to make it your default search engine.

What happens after you change your search engine

Once you have selected a new default search engine, any search you type into the address bar will use that search engine from that point forward. The change takes effect immediately — you do not need to restart your browser or sign out and back in.

Keep in mind that changing your default search engine only affects searches you run from the address bar. If you visit Google.com or Bing.com directly and search there, you will still get results from that website regardless of what your default is set to. Your default search engine also does not affect which search engine you see in search results on other websites.

Reasons to switch search engines

Some people switch to DuckDuckGo or other privacy-focused search engines because they do not want their searches tracked or stored. Others prefer Bing because it integrates with Microsoft products, or Yahoo for different search results. Some users switch because their browser came set to a search engine they did not choose and want to go back to what they prefer.

There is no single "best" search engine — it depends on what matters to you. If you try a different search engine and do not like the results, you can always switch back using the same steps above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different search engine for different searches?

Your browser only has one default search engine for the address bar. However, you can always visit a search engine's website directly and search there instead. For example, you could set Google as your default but visit DuckDuckGo.com whenever you want to use DuckDuckGo.

Will changing my search engine affect my bookmarks or browsing history?

No. Changing your search engine only changes where your address bar searches go. Your bookmarks, history, passwords, and all other browser data stay exactly the same.

What if I cannot find the search engine I want in the list?

Most major search engines are built into browsers, but if yours is not there, you can add it manually in Chrome or Edge by finding its search URL. In Firefox and Safari, your options are more limited — you may need to visit that search engine's website directly to use it.

Can I change my search engine on my phone?

Yes. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have mobile versions with search engine settings. The steps are similar to the desktop versions, though the menus look slightly different. Look for Settings, then Search engine or Search.

Does changing my search engine cost anything?

No. All major search engines are free to use, and changing your default search engine does not cost anything or require you to pay for anything.