Change your search engine in the address bar and search box

Firefox lets you pick which search engine runs when you type in the address bar or use the search box. The fastest way is to click the search icon next to the address bar, select the engine you want, and set it as default. You can also change this in Firefox settings if you prefer to do it all in one place.

By default, Firefox uses Google. You can switch to Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, Amazon, or several others without installing anything. If you want a search engine that is not in the built-in list, you can add it through a website or Firefox add-ons.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the search icon in the address bar, then click the engine name at the bottom to set it as your default when ready.
  • You can also go to Settings > Search and pick your default from the dropdown menu under "Default Search Engine".
  • Firefox comes with Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, and Amazon built in — no read needed to switch between them.
  • Some websites let you add their search engine to Firefox by right-clicking the search box and selecting "Add a Keyword for this Search".
  • Your choice only affects Firefox — other browsers keep their own separate defaults.

Set a default search engine from the search box

The quickest method is to use the search box itself. Look for the icon with three horizontal lines or a magnifying glass to the left of the search box in the address bar area. Click it once.

A small menu will drop down showing all the search engines Firefox has available. At the bottom of that menu, you will see each engine name with a star icon next to it. Click the star next to the engine you want to use as your default. That engine is now set — you will see a filled-in star next to it the next time you open the menu.

This method works when ready and does not require opening any settings. If you want to see all your options or change the order they appear in, you can also manage them in Firefox settings.

Change your default search engine in Firefox Settings

If you prefer to make the change in one central location, open Firefox Settings. Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner of Firefox, then select Settings.

On the left side of the Settings page, click Search. Under the "Default Search Engine" heading, you will see a dropdown menu showing your current choice. Click the dropdown and select the engine you want. The change takes effect when ready.

In this same Settings page, you can also see all your available search engines listed below the dropdown. You can remove any you do not use by clicking the X next to its name, or reorder them by dragging them up and down. The order here determines which engines appear in your search box menu.

Add a search engine that is not on the built-in list

If you want to use a search engine that Firefox does not include by default, you have two main options. The first is to visit the website itself and add it directly from there. Go to the site, find its search box, right-click inside it, and select "Add a Keyword for this Search". Firefox will prompt you to name it and confirm.

The second option is to use Firefox add-ons. Open the menu, select Add-ons, then search for the engine you want. Many search engines have official add-ons that install their engine into your Firefox search options. Once installed, you can set it as your default using either method described above.

Adding a custom search engine this way does not change what other websites do — it only affects Firefox on this computer. If you use Firefox on another device, you will need to add the engine there as well.

Understand the difference between address bar and search box searches

Firefox has two places where you can search: the address bar (where you type web addresses) and the search box (a separate box to the right of the address bar). By default, both use the same search engine. If you want them to use different engines, you can set that up in Settings.

Go to Settings > Search and scroll down to "Search Shortcuts". Here you can assign different engines to different keywords. For example, you could type "w wikipedia" in the address bar to search Wikipedia, or "a amazon" to search Amazon. This is useful if you regularly search multiple sites but want one as your main default.

Know what happens when you change your search engine

Changing your default search engine in Firefox does not affect any other browser on your computer. Chrome, Edge, Safari, and other browsers keep their own separate defaults. If you want to change the default in another browser, you need to go into that browser's settings separately.

Your choice also does not affect search engines you use by visiting their websites directly. If you go to google.com and search there, you are using Google regardless of what your Firefox default is set to. The default only matters when you search from the Firefox address bar or search box.

Firefox will remember your choice even after you close and reopen the browser. If you switch computers or use Firefox on a different device, you will need to set your preference again on that device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different search engine for private browsing?

No — Firefox uses the same default search engine in both regular and private windows. However, you can use search shortcuts to search a different engine by typing a keyword in the address bar, which works in both modes.

What if I accidentally removed a search engine and want it back?

Go to Settings > Search and look for the engine name in the list. If it is not there, click the dropdown under "Default Search Engine" — removed engines sometimes still appear there. If it is completely gone, you can reinstall it by visiting the engine's website and adding it again, or by reinstalling the Firefox add-on if it came from one.

Does changing my search engine affect my bookmarks or browsing history?

No. Your bookmarks, history, and all other Firefox data stay exactly the same. Changing your search engine only changes where searches go when you use the address bar or search box.

Why does Firefox show different search engines than another browser?

Each browser manages its own list of search engines. Firefox includes Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, and Amazon by default, but other browsers may have different built-in options. You can add any search engine to Firefox independently.