What "default browser" and "default search engine" actually mean
When you click a link in an email, text message, or document, your computer or phone opens it in your default browser — the one set as your main web application. When you type a question into the address bar without specifying a website, your browser sends that search to your default search engine. These are two separate settings, and you can change either one independently.
Google is both a browser (Chrome) and a search engine. You might want Google as your search engine but keep a different browser as your default, or vice versa. The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android, and whether you want to change your browser, your search engine, or both.
Key Takeaways
- Your default browser and default search engine are separate settings — you can use Chrome as your browser but Bing as your search engine, or any other combination.
- On Windows, change your default browser in Settings under Apps, and change your default search engine inside your browser's settings menu.
- On Mac, change your default browser in System Settings under General, and change your search engine in your browser's preferences.
- On iPhone and Android, you can only set Google as your default search engine within the Chrome app itself — the operating system does not let you change the default browser.
- Some browsers and search engines may reset your defaults after updates, so check your settings periodically if you notice changes.
Changing your default browser on Windows
Open the Windows Settings app (press the Windows key and type "Settings"). Go to Apps in the left menu, then select Default apps. Scroll down to find your current default browser listed under "Web browser". Click on it, and a menu will show you all installed browsers. Select Google Chrome (or whichever browser you want), then click Set default.
Windows 11 requires you to confirm this choice by clicking the browser name again in the list that appears. Once you do, Chrome becomes your default, and all links from emails, documents, and other applications will open in Chrome going forward.
Changing your default search engine on Windows
Your browser's search engine is controlled inside the browser itself, not in Windows Settings. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Go to Settings, then select Search engine from the left menu. Under "Search engine used in the address bar", click the dropdown and select Google. If Google is not listed, click Manage search engines, find Google in the list, and click the three dots next to it, then select Make default.
This setting controls what happens when you type a question directly into Chrome's address bar. It does not affect Google searches you perform by visiting google.com directly.
Changing your default browser on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top left and select System Settings. Go to General in the left sidebar, then scroll down to Default web browser. Click the dropdown menu and select Google Chrome. Close System Settings — the change takes effect immediately.
If Chrome does not appear in the dropdown, it may not be installed on your Mac. You can download Chrome from google.com/chrome.
Changing your default search engine on Mac
Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Search engine in the left menu. Under "Search engine used in the address bar", click the dropdown and select Google. If you do not see Google listed, click Manage search engines and site search, find Google in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Make default.
Once you save this change, any search you type into Chrome's address bar will go to Google instead of whatever search engine was previously set.
Setting Google as your default on iPhone and iPad
iPhone and iPad do not allow you to change your system-wide default browser — Safari remains the default for all links opened outside of apps. However, you can set Google as your default search engine within Chrome itself. Open the Chrome app, tap the three-dot menu at the bottom right, go to Settings, then tap Search Engine. Select Google from the list.
When you use Chrome to search, it will use Google. If you want Google to be your search engine everywhere on your device, you can change Safari's search engine instead: go to Settings on your iPhone, scroll down to Safari, tap Search Engine, and select Google.
Setting Google as your default on Android
Open the Chrome app and tap the three-dot menu in the bottom right corner. Go to Settings, then tap Search Engine. Select Google from the list. This makes Google your search engine within Chrome.
Android does not allow you to change your system-wide default browser through settings the way Windows and Mac do. However, if you open a link from an email or text message and Android asks which app to use, you can select Chrome and tap Always to make it your default for that action.
What to do if your defaults keep changing
Some browser updates or software installations can reset your default settings without asking. If you notice your browser or search engine has changed back to something else, the steps above will reset it again. Check your defaults after major browser updates or after installing new software.
If a particular website or application keeps trying to change your defaults, you can usually prevent this by unchecking an option during installation. Look for checkboxes that say "Set as my default browser" or "Change my search engine" and leave them unchecked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use Chrome as my browser but keep a different search engine?
Yes. Your browser and search engine are independent settings. You can use Chrome with Bing, DuckDuckGo, or any other search engine by changing only the search engine setting inside Chrome's preferences. The browser handles how you view websites; the search engine handles where your searches go.
Why does my browser keep resetting to something other than Chrome?
Software updates, new application installations, or malware can reset your defaults. Check your settings after updates. If defaults keep changing without your action, run a malware scan using Windows Defender (Windows) or Malwarebytes, and review what permissions you granted to recently installed programs.
Is Google Chrome the same as Google Search?
No. Chrome is a browser — the application that displays websites. Google Search is a search engine — the service that finds web pages when you search for something. You can use Chrome with a different search engine, or use a different browser with Google as your search engine.
Do I need to change both my browser and my search engine to use Google?
No. If you only want Google Search results when you search, you only need to change your search engine setting. If you want all your links to open in Chrome, you only need to change your default browser. Most people change both, but they are separate choices.
What happens to my bookmarks and history if I change my default browser?
Your bookmarks and history stay in whichever browser you saved them in. If you switch from Firefox to Chrome as your default, your Firefox bookmarks remain in Firefox. You can import bookmarks from one browser to another through the browser's settings menu, usually under "Import bookmarks" or "Import settings".