Chrome lets you change your default search engine in Settings in about two minutes

When you type in Chrome's address bar, the browser sends your search to Google by default. You can change this to Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or several others. The change takes effect immediately, and you can switch back anytime.

This guide walks you through the exact steps. The process is the same whether you use Chrome on Windows, Mac, or Linux.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chrome Settings, go to Search engine, and pick a new default from the dropdown menu.
  • Your choice applies to searches typed in the address bar, but not to searches you run directly on a website like Google.com.
  • You can manage search engines you have used before and remove ones you no longer want.
  • Changing your search engine does not affect your browsing history, bookmarks, or any other Chrome data.

Open Chrome Settings and find the Search engine section

Start by opening Chrome. In the top right corner, click the three vertical dots (the menu button). A dropdown menu appears. Click Settings.

On the left side of the Settings page, click Search engine. You will see a section labeled "Search engine used in the address bar" with a dropdown menu showing your current default.

Pick a new search engine from the dropdown

Click the dropdown menu under "Search engine used in the address bar." Chrome shows you a list of search engines it has detected from websites you have visited. Common options include Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and Ecosia.

Click the one you want to use. Chrome saves your choice immediately — you do not need to click a Save button or restart the browser.

If the search engine you want does not appear in the list, you can add it manually. Scroll down to the "Other search engines" section and click the Add button, then enter the search engine's name and the URL it uses for searches. Most search engines display this information on their settings page.

Test your new search engine

Open a new tab in Chrome. Click in the address bar at the top and type a search term — for example, "weather" or "recipe ideas." Press Enter. Your search should now go to the search engine you just selected instead of Google.

If the search does not work or takes you to an unexpected page, go back to Settings and double-check that you selected the right engine. If you added a custom search engine manually, the URL format may be incorrect — check the search engine's documentation and try again.

Remove search engines you no longer use

In the Search engine settings, scroll down to the "Other search engines" section. This lists search engines Chrome has detected from your browsing history. If you see one you do not want, hover over it and click the three vertical dots that appear on the right, then select Remove from list.

Removing a search engine from this list does not delete your browsing history or affect any websites you have visited. It only removes it from the dropdown menu so the list stays clean.

Understand what this change does and does not affect

Changing your default search engine affects only searches you type in Chrome's address bar. If you visit Google.com directly and search there, or if you search on any other website, your default setting does not apply — you are using that website's search instead.

This change does not affect your bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, or any other Chrome data. It also does not change the search engine on other browsers you may use, like Firefox or Safari. Each browser has its own separate settings.

Switch back to Google or change again anytime

If you want to go back to Google, follow the same steps: open Settings, click Search engine, and select Google from the dropdown. You can change your default search engine as many times as you want with no penalty or waiting period.

Some websites or programs may try to change your default search engine without asking. If you notice your search engine has changed on its own, return to Settings and pick the one you prefer again. Repeat this step if it keeps changing — this usually means a browser extension or installed program is overriding your choice, and you may want to remove that extension or program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my search engine affect my Google account or Gmail?

No. Your search engine setting is separate from your Google account. You can use a different search engine in Chrome while staying signed into Gmail, Google Drive, and other Google services. They work independently.

Can I use different search engines for different types of searches?

Chrome does not have a built-in way to assign different search engines to different searches. You can only set one default. If you want to search with multiple engines, you can open each search engine's website directly in a new tab and search there instead.

What if my search engine does not appear in the dropdown list?

You can add it manually. Go to the "Other search engines" section in Settings and click Add. Enter the search engine's name and the search URL (most search engines show this in their settings or help pages). Once added, it will appear in the dropdown menu.

Does changing my search engine in Chrome affect other browsers?

No. Firefox, Safari, Edge, and other browsers have their own separate search engine settings. Changing Chrome does not change any other browser. You need to change each browser individually if you want them all to use the same search engine.

Why does my search engine keep changing back to Google?

A browser extension or installed program may be overriding your choice. Check your Chrome extensions (click the puzzle piece icon in the top right, then manage extensions) and remove any you do not recognize. If the problem continues, a program on your computer may be changing it — check your installed programs and uninstall anything suspicious.