Google is already your default search engine in Chrome unless you changed it

When you open a new tab in Chrome and type in the address bar, Chrome searches using Google by default. You do not need to change any settings for this to happen — it is the factory setting. If your searches are going somewhere else, another search engine was set as default at some point, either by you, by an extension you installed, or by software on your computer.

If you want to confirm Google is your default or switch back to it from Bing, Yahoo, or another search engine, the process takes about one minute and happens entirely in Chrome's settings. Most of the time, the issue is not that Google disappeared — it is that something else was installed on top of it.

Key Takeaways

  • Google is Chrome's default search engine out of the box, so you may not need to change anything.
  • To check or change your default search engine, go to Chrome Settings, then Search Engine, then Manage Search Engines and Site Search.
  • Find Google in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select "Make Default".
  • If Google does not appear in the list, you can add it manually by entering the search URL.
  • Browser extensions and malware can override your default search engine, so check your extensions list if the setting does not stick.

How to set Google as your default search engine in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three-line menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown. On the left side of the page, click Search engine.

You will see a list of search engines Chrome knows about. Look for Google in that list. Click the three dots next to Google's name, then select Make default. Chrome will immediately use Google for searches in the address bar.

Close the Settings tab. The next time you open a new tab and search, Google will handle the results. You can test this by opening a new tab, clicking in the address bar, and typing a question — Google's search results should appear.

What to do if Google is not in the search engine list

If you do not see Google listed, click Manage Search Engines and Site Search at the top of the Search Engine settings page. Scroll to the bottom of the list and look for a section called Other Search Engines.

Click the Add button. In the first field, type Google. In the second field, type google. In the third field, paste this URL: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. Click Add. Google will now appear in your search engine list, and you can make it default using the steps above.

This situation is rare on a fresh Chrome installation but can happen if you removed Google from your search engine list at some point or if a program on your computer deleted it.

Why your default search engine keeps changing

If you set Google as default but your searches keep going to another search engine, a browser extension or piece of software on your computer is overriding your choice. The most common culprit is a browser extension you installed, often without realizing what it does.

Go to Chrome's three-line menu, click Extensions, then Manage Extensions. Look through the list for anything you do not recognize or anything related to search, shopping, deals, or coupons. Click the toggle to turn it off, then check whether your default search engine has changed back to Google. If it has, that extension was the problem — you can delete it by clicking Remove.

If no extension is the cause, malware on your computer may be responsible. Run a full antivirus scan using Windows Defender (on Windows) or the built-in security tools on your device, then check your default search engine again. After the scan completes, restart your computer and verify that Google is still set as default.

The difference between your default search engine and your home page

Your default search engine is what Chrome uses when you type a question or phrase in the address bar. Your home page is the page that loads when you click the home button or open a new tab (if you have that setting turned on). They are separate settings, and changing one does not affect the other.

If you want to change your home page instead, go to Settings, click Appearance on the left, and toggle Show Home Button on. Then click the radio button next to Custom URL and type the web address you want to load when you click home. This is useful if you want your home button to go to a news site, email, or another page you visit often.

How to check which search engine is currently set as default

To see which search engine Chrome is actually using right now, open a new tab and look at the address bar. Type a single letter or number and pause — the search engine's name will appear below the address bar, showing you which engine will handle your search.

You can also go to Settings, click Search engine, and look at the top of the list. The search engine with a checkmark next to it is your current default. If you see a search engine you did not choose, follow the steps above to change it back to Google or remove the unwanted engine entirely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Chrome use Google by default on all devices?

Chrome uses Google as the default search engine on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS. If you see a different search engine, it was changed either by you, by an extension, or by software on your device.

Can I use Google for some searches and a different search engine for others?

Chrome does not have a built-in way to use different search engines for different types of searches. You can set one default search engine. If you want to search with a different engine, you can visit that site directly and search there instead.

What if I want to search without using the address bar?

You can visit google.com directly in any tab and search from there, regardless of what your default search engine is set to. This bypasses the address bar search entirely and is useful if you want to use Google even when another search engine is set as default.

Will changing my default search engine affect my search history?

No. Your search history in Chrome is separate from which search engine you use. Changing your default search engine will not delete or change any searches you have already done.