How to change your browser's default search engine

Updated: 07/31/2022 by Computer Hope
Internet browsers

Each Internet browser uses a default search engine. When you type a query into the address bar, a specific search service (e.g., Google, Bing, Yahoo!, etc.) sends you the results. If you don't care for the search engine that comes with your preferred browser, you may change it. To proceed, select the appropriate Internet browser from the list below and follow the instructions.

Google Chrome

Chrome logo
  1. Open the Chrome browser.
  2. Select Customize and control Google Chrome in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  3. In the drop-down menu, select Settings.

Settings selector in Chrome.

  1. On the left side of the screen, click the Search engine option.

Search engine selector in Chrome.

  1. In the Search engine section, click the Manage search engines selector.

Manage search engines selector in Chrome.

  1. Under Manage search engines and site search, in the Search engines section, there are the available search engines in Chrome.

List of search engines in Chrome.

Search engine options

Clicking the icon next to a non-default entry lets you change it to the default search engine or remove it from the list.

Search engine options in Chrome.

Add a search engine

If you don't like any of the listed search engines, you may add a new one by clicking the Add button in Chrome. button and filling out a form.

Adding a search engine to Chrome.

Note

Any newly-added search engine is listed under the Other search engines section.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox logo
  1. Open the Firefox browser.
  2. Click the icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
  3. In the drop-down menu, select Settings.
  4. Select Search from the menu on the left side of the screen.

Firefox search selector.

  1. In the main window, locate the Default Search Engine section, and click the down arrow in the box below it.

Changing the search engine in Firefox.

  1. Select a new default search engine from the drop-down menu.

List of available search engines in Firefox.

Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge logo
  1. Open the Microsoft Edge browser.
  2. Click the Settings and more icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  3. In the drop-down menu, select Settings.

Settings selector in Edge.

  1. Under the Settings section on the left, click Privacy, search, and services.

Site permissions selector

  1. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. In the Services section, click Address bar and search.

Address bar and search selector.

  1. Under the Privacy, search, and services / Address bar and search section, at the bottom, click Manage search engines.

Manage search engines selector in Edge.

  1. Under Address bar and search / Manage search engines, there are available search engines in Edge.

List of search engines in Edge.

Edit search engine settings

Clicking the icon next to a non-default entry lets you change the default search engine, edit its title and keyword, or remove it from the list.

Search engine options in Edge.

Add a search engine

If you don't like any of the listed search engines, you may add a new one by clicking the Add button in Edge. button and filling out a form.

Adding a search engine to Edge.

Microsoft Edge Legacy

Microsoft Edge Legacy logo
  1. Open the Microsoft Edge Legacy browser.
  2. In the upper-right corner, select the More button.
  3. In the drop-down menu, select Settings.

Settings selector in Edge.

  1. In the next window, scroll to the bottom and select View advanced settings.
  2. Look for the Search in the address bar with option. Below that text, click the Change search engine button.
  3. Choose your new default search engine, then select Set as default.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer logo
  1. Open the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser.
  2. In the upper-right corner, click the gear icon.
  3. In the drop-down menu, select Manage add-ons.

Manage add-ons selector in Internet Explorer.

  1. On the left side of the new window, click Search Providers.

Search Providers selector in Internet Explorer.

  1. Choose a search engine from the middle section, then click the Set as default button. button.

Changing the default search engine in Internet Explorer.

Opera

Opera logo
  1. Open the Opera browser.
  2. Click the Opera menu button button in the upper-left corner of the screen.
  3. In the drop-down menu, select Settings.

Settings selector

  1. In the Settings window, scroll down to the Search engine section and click the Manage search engines selector.

Manage search engines selector in Opera.

  1. Under Manage search engines, in the Default search engines section, there are the available search engines in Opera.

List of search engines in Chrome.

Change default search engine

You can change the default search engine by clicking the icon next to any non-default entries and selecting Make default.

Make default selector in Opera.

Add a search engine

If you don't like any of the listed search engines, you may add a new one by clicking the Add button in Opera. button and filling out a form.

Adding a search engine to Opera.

Note

Any newly-added search engine is listed under the Other search engines section.

Safari

Safari logo
  1. Open the Safari browser.
  2. Select Safari selector from the menu bar in the top-left corner of the screen.
  3. Select Settings... from the drop-down menu.

Safari Settings selector.

  1. In the Preferences window, select the Search tab (A), then click the box next to Search engine (B).

Search tab in Safari.

  1. Select a new default search engine from the drop-down menu.

Search engine list in Safari.