Chrome uses Google by default, but you can change it in Settings

When you open a new tab in Chrome and type in the search box, Chrome sends your search to whatever search engine is set as default. Most of the time that's Google, but it might be Bing, Yahoo, or something else depending on how Chrome was installed or what extensions you've added. Changing it back to Google takes about 30 seconds and happens in Chrome's Settings menu.

The steps are the same whether you're on Windows, Mac, or Linux. You don't need to restart Chrome or remove anything — just change one setting and you're done.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chrome Settings, go to Search Engine, and pick Google from the dropdown list under "Search engine used in the address bar".
  • If Google doesn't appear in the list, click Manage Search Engines to add it manually.
  • Some browser extensions or malware can override your search engine choice, so if it keeps changing back, check your extensions or run a malware scan.
  • The search engine setting only affects searches you type in the address bar or the search box on a new tab — it doesn't change what search engine a website itself uses.

Open Chrome Settings and find the Search Engine section

Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of Chrome. A menu will drop down. Click Settings near the bottom of that menu.

On the left side of the Settings page, click Search Engine. You'll see a dropdown that says "Search engine used in the address bar" with the current search engine listed. Click that dropdown to see all the search engines Chrome knows about.

Select Google from the list

Google should appear in the dropdown list. Click on it. That's it — Chrome will now use Google for searches you type in the address bar or the search box on a new tab.

If you close Settings, the change is already saved. You don't need to do anything else or restart Chrome.

Add Google manually if it's not in the list

Occasionally Google won't appear in the dropdown. This usually happens if Chrome was installed in an unusual way or if an extension removed it. Click Manage Search Engines at the bottom of the dropdown.

A new page opens showing all the search engines Chrome knows about. Look for Google in that list. If you see it, click the three dots next to it and select Make Default. If Google isn't there at all, scroll down to the bottom where it says "Add search engine" and click that.

A small form appears. Type Google in the first box, g in the second box, and https://www.google.com/search?q=%s in the third box. Click Add. Then go back to the Search Engine section and select Google from the dropdown.

Check your extensions if the search engine keeps changing

Sometimes an extension will override your search engine choice and change it back to something else every time you restart Chrome. Open Chrome's extension page by typing chrome://extensions into the address bar and pressing Enter.

Look through the list for anything you don't recognize or anything related to search. Hover over it and click the trash icon to remove it. Then go back to Settings and set Google as default again. If it stays this time, that extension was the problem.

If you don't see an obvious culprit in your extensions, run a malware scan using Windows Defender (on Windows) or Malwarebytes (on any system). Some malware changes your search engine and makes it hard to change back. A scan will catch it and remove it.

Understand what this setting does and doesn't control

Changing your default search engine in Chrome only affects searches you type directly into the address bar or into the search box on a new tab. It does not change what search engine a website itself uses. If you go to Yahoo.com and search there, you'll still get Yahoo results even if Google is your default.

It also doesn't affect searches you do through a search box on any other website. This setting is only about what Chrome does when you use its own search features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my search engine change without me doing anything?

An extension you installed probably changed it, or malware did. Check your extensions first by going to chrome://extensions. If you find something suspicious, remove it and set Google as default again. If nothing looks wrong there, run a malware scan with Malwarebytes or Windows Defender.

Does changing my search engine in Chrome affect other browsers?

No. Each browser has its own search engine setting. If you use Firefox or Edge, you'd have to change the search engine in those browsers separately. Chrome's setting only affects Chrome.

Can I use different search engines for different situations?

Not built into Chrome, but you can use search engine shortcuts. Go to Settings, Search Engine, Manage Search Engines. Each search engine has a shortcut letter next to it. Type that letter in the address bar, press Tab, then type your search. For example, if you set up DuckDuckGo with the shortcut "d", you'd type d, press Tab, then search.

What if I want to search with a different engine just once?

Go directly to that search engine's website and search there. Type google.com, bing.com, or duckduckgo.com into the address bar and use their search box. That search will use their engine regardless of what your default is set to.