Set Google as your default search engine in four browsers
Your default search engine is the one that runs when you type a question directly into the address bar without visiting a search site first. Most browsers ship with a default already chosen — often Bing in Edge, Yahoo in Firefox, or Google in Chrome — but you can change it to Google in any browser in under a minute.
The steps differ slightly by browser because each one stores this setting in a different place. Below are the exact paths for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. If you use a different browser, the principle is the same: look for Settings, then Search Engine or Search, then pick Google from the list.
Key Takeaways
- Your default search engine runs when you type a question into the address bar, separate from which search site you visit by clicking a link.
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you change the default in Settings, usually under a Search or Search Engine section.
- Google is offered as an option in all major browsers and requires no installation or account to use as your default.
- Changing your default search engine does not affect which search results you see when you click a search link from another website.
Change your default search engine in Google Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left sidebar, click Search engine.
You will see a list of search engines under "Search engines used in the address bar." Google should already be in that list. Click on Google to highlight it, then click the three dots next to it and select Make default. Chrome will confirm the change immediately — you do not need to restart the browser.
If Google does not appear in the list, scroll down to "Other search engines" and look for it there. If it still is not present, you can add it manually by clicking Add, typing "Google" as the name, "google.com" as the URL, and using https://www.google.com/search?q=%s as the search URL.
Change your default search engine in Mozilla Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (the menu button) in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Search.
Under "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click the dropdown and select Google. Firefox saves the change immediately. The search engine icon next to the address bar will update to show Google's logo once you refresh the page or open a new tab.
If you want to add or remove search engines from the list that appears when you click the search icon in the address bar, scroll down to "One-Click Search Engines" and use the Add or Remove buttons. This does not affect your default — it only changes which engines appear in that quick-access menu.
Change your default search engine in Apple Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions). Click the Search tab.
At the top, you will see a dropdown labeled "Search engine." Click it and select Google. Close the Settings window — Safari saves the change automatically. On iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app, scroll down and tap Safari, then tap Search Engine and select Google.
Change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Privacy, search, and services.
Scroll down to the "Search engine" section. You will see your current default listed. Click the dropdown under "Search engine used in the address bar" and select Google. Edge applies the change right away. If Google is not in the dropdown, click Manage search engines, find Google in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Make default.
What happens after you change your default
Once you set Google as your default, typing a question into the address bar will send that question to Google and show you Google search results. This applies only to searches you type directly into the address bar — it does not change what happens when you click a search link from another website or use a search box on a website itself.
Your browser may still show you other search engines in a dropdown menu when you click the address bar or search icon. Clicking one of those engines will use that engine for that single search without changing your default. Your default remains Google until you change it again.
If you sync your browser across devices — for example, if you sign into Chrome on multiple computers — your default search engine setting will sync to those devices as well. You can change it on one device and see the change reflected on others within a few minutes.
Why your browser came with a different default
Browsers choose their defaults based on deals with search engine companies and revenue-sharing agreements. Firefox receives funding from Google but also offers Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo as defaults depending on your region. Edge defaults to Bing because Microsoft owns both. Chrome defaults to Google because Google created Chrome.
None of these defaults are permanent or locked in. You can change your default search engine as many times as you want, and the change takes effect immediately. If you ever want to switch back or try a different search engine, the same steps apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default search engine affect my bookmarks or browsing history?
No. Your default search engine setting is separate from your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords. Changing it will not delete or modify any of those. If you ever change your default back to something else, your bookmarks and history remain untouched.
Can I use different default search engines on different devices?
Yes. Each device has its own settings. If you sign into the same browser account on multiple devices, the default you set will sync across them, but you can change it on any individual device without affecting the others. Just go through the settings steps on that device.
What if Google does not appear in my search engine list?
Google is built into all major browsers and should appear in the list by default. If it is missing, you can add it manually through the "Add search engine" option in your browser's search settings. You will need to enter Google's search URL, which is https://www.google.com/search?q=%s.
Does my default search engine affect which ads I see?
Your default search engine determines which search results you see when you search from the address bar, but ads across the web are targeted based on your browsing history and Google account activity, not your default search engine setting. Changing your default will not significantly change the ads you see on other websites.
Can I set different defaults for different types of searches?
Most browsers do not support multiple defaults based on search type. However, you can keep other search engines in your quick-access menu and click them when you want to use them for a single search. This is faster than changing your default back and forth.