Google is already your default search engine in Chrome — you likely don't need to change anything
When you open a new tab in Chrome and type into the search box, Google handles that search automatically. Chrome ships with Google as the default, and most people never need to touch this setting. If you're seeing a different search engine — Bing, Yahoo, or something else — then you have a real problem to fix. If you're seeing Google, you're already set.
This guide covers two separate things: what search engine Chrome uses when you type in the address bar, and what search engine opens when you click the home button. They're controlled in different places, and you may want different engines for each.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome uses Google as the default search engine by default, so you only need to change this if you're seeing a different engine.
- The search engine for the address bar and the search engine for the home button are two different settings in two different places.
- Malware or browser extensions sometimes change your search engine without permission — check your extensions first if something changed.
- Changing your default search engine takes one minute and requires only the Settings menu.
Check what search engine you're actually using right now
Open a new tab in Chrome. Look at the search box in the middle of the page. Type a word — anything — and press Enter. Watch the URL bar at the top. If the URL contains "google.com", you're using Google. If it contains "bing.com" or "yahoo.com" or something else, that's your current default.
Write down what you see. You need to know whether you're changing the address bar search, the home page search, or both. Most people only care about one of them.
Change the search engine for the address bar
This is the search engine Chrome uses when you type directly into the address bar at the top of the page.
- Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner.
- Click Settings.
- On the left side, click Search engine.
- Look at the section labeled "Search engine used in the address bar". You'll see a list of options with radio buttons next to them.
- Click the radio button next to Google.
- Close the Settings tab. The change takes effect immediately.
If Google doesn't appear in that list, scroll down to see if there's an "Add" button or a section for custom search engines. Click it and type "Google" into the name field, then paste this into the URL field: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. The %s tells Chrome where to put your search term. After you add it, select Google from the list.
Change the search engine for the home button
This is separate from the address bar. The home button is the house icon that appears in your toolbar (you may need to turn it on first). When you click it, it takes you to a page with a search box. That search box might use a different engine than your address bar does.
To change it, go back to Settings and click Home on the left side. Under "New Tab page", make sure the toggle next to "Show home button" is turned on. Then scroll down to "Search engine" and select Google from the dropdown. Close Settings when you're done.
Why your search engine might have changed without you doing anything
If you didn't change your settings but Google stopped being your default, something else changed it. The most common cause is a browser extension you installed. Extensions can modify your search engine, homepage, and new tab page without asking permission first.
Go to Settings, click Extensions on the left, and look through the list. If you see anything you don't recognize or don't remember installing, click the trash icon next to it to remove it. Then go back to the Search engine settings and set Google as your default again.
Malware can also change your search engine, though this is less common on Chrome than on other browsers. If you've removed extensions and your search engine keeps changing back, run a malware scan using your computer's built-in security tool (Windows Defender on Windows, or Activity Monitor on Mac to look for suspicious processes).
Restore Google if you accidentally deleted it from the list
If you deleted Google from your search engine options and now can't find it to select it, you can add it back. Go to Settings, click Search engine, and scroll to the bottom. Click Manage search engines and site search. Look for Google in the list — it may say "Not in use" next to it. Hover over Google and click the three dots that appear, then click Make default.
If Google doesn't appear in that list at all, click the "Add" button at the bottom. Type "Google" in the first field, leave the second field blank, and paste https://www.google.com/search?q=%s into the third field. Click Add, then hover over the new Google entry and click the three dots, then Make default.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default search engine affect my Google account or my saved passwords?
No. Your search engine setting is completely separate from your Google account. Changing it won't sign you out, delete your bookmarks, or affect your passwords. You can use Google Search while signed into a different account, or use a different search engine while signed into Google.
Can I use different search engines for different types of searches?
Not automatically. Chrome only lets you set one default search engine for the address bar. However, you can manually type a different search engine's URL into the address bar whenever you want — for example, typing "bing.com" and searching there. Some extensions let you switch search engines with a keyboard shortcut, but they're optional.
What if Google doesn't show up in my search engine list at all?
This usually means an extension removed it or malware changed your settings. Remove any unfamiliar extensions first. Then go to Settings, Search engine, and scroll to "Manage search engines and site search" at the bottom. If Google still isn't there, click Add and paste the Google search URL manually.
Does changing my default search engine in Chrome affect other browsers on my computer?
No. Each browser has its own settings. If you use Firefox, Safari, or Edge, they each have their own default search engine that you'd need to change separately. Chrome settings only affect Chrome.
Why does Chrome keep switching my search engine back to something else?
An extension is probably doing it. Check your Extensions page regularly and remove anything you don't recognize. If it keeps happening after you've removed extensions, malware may be involved — run a full scan with your computer's security tool.