Chrome as your default search engine means Chrome handles web searches from your address bar
When you set Google Chrome as your default search engine, any time you type a question or search term into Chrome's address bar (called the omnibox), Chrome sends that search to Google instead of to Bing, Yahoo, or another search engine. This is different from making Chrome your default browser — that controls which program opens when you click a link. A default search engine only affects what happens when you search from within that browser.
Chrome comes set to Google by default, but if you switched it to something else and want Google back, or if you use multiple browsers and need to set Chrome specifically, the process takes less than a minute.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome's default search engine is Google, but you can change it to Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, or others in Settings.
- Your search engine choice only affects searches typed into the address bar, not links you click or websites you visit directly.
- The setting is in Chrome Settings under Search Engine, and you can change it back anytime.
- If you use Chrome on multiple devices, you will need to set the default search engine on each device separately.
Where to find the search engine setting in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu. On the left side, click Search engine. You will see a list of search engines Chrome knows about, with a radio button next to each one. The one with a filled-in circle is your current default.
If Google is already selected, your default search engine is already set to Google and you do not need to change anything. If a different search engine has the filled circle, click the circle next to Google to switch to it.
What to do if Google is not in the list
Chrome usually includes Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo in the default list. If Google is missing, you may have accidentally removed it, or it may not have been added yet. Scroll down to the bottom of the search engine list and look for a field that says "Add a new search engine" or "Manage search engines."
Click that field and type "Google" in the search engine name box. In the URL field, paste this: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. The %s tells Chrome where to put your search term. Click Add, then click the radio button next to Google to make it your default.
Why your search engine might change on its own
If you installed a browser extension or downloaded software that promised to speed up your searches or improve your browsing, it may have changed your default search engine without asking. Check your installed extensions by clicking the three dots, then More tools, then Extensions. Look for anything you do not recognize or remember installing. Click the trash icon next to it to remove it.
After you remove an unwanted extension, go back to Settings and Search engine to confirm your default is still set to Google. Some extensions reset your search engine when you remove them, so you may need to set it again.
The difference between default search engine and default browser
Your default search engine only controls what happens when you type into Chrome's address bar. Your default browser controls which program opens when you click a link in an email, a document, or another process. You can have Chrome as your default browser but use Bing as your search engine, or vice versa. They are separate settings.
If you want to make Chrome your default browser as well, that setting is in your computer's system preferences, not in Chrome itself. On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and select Chrome. On Mac, go to System Preferences > General and select Chrome as your default web browser.
Changing your search engine back if you want to switch later
You can change your default search engine as many times as you want. Go back to Settings > Search engine and click the radio button next to whichever search engine you prefer. Chrome remembers all the ones you have used before, so you do not have to add them again.
If you want to try a search engine that is not in the list, you can add it the same way you added Google — click Manage search engines, then Add a new search engine. You will need the search URL for that engine, which you can usually find by searching "how to add [search engine name] to Chrome."
What happens on your phone or tablet
If you use Chrome on an Android phone or iPad, the default search engine setting is separate from your computer. Open Chrome on your phone, tap the three dots in the bottom right, then Settings, then Search engine. Select Google from the list. On iPhone, the search engine is controlled by your phone's system settings, not by Chrome itself — go to Settings > Safari (or Chrome) and change the search engine there.
Chrome syncs many settings across your devices if you are signed into the same Google account, but search engine choice is not one of them. You will need to set it on each device you use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my search engine affect which websites I can visit?
No. Your search engine only controls what happens when you search from the address bar. You can visit any website directly by typing its address, and you can use any search engine you want by going to its website directly, regardless of your default setting.
Will changing my search engine slow down Chrome?
No. Search engine choice does not affect Chrome's speed or performance. The difference between search engines is where your search goes and what results you see, not how fast Chrome runs.
Can I use different search engines in different Chrome profiles?
Yes. If you have multiple Chrome profiles on the same computer, each profile has its own search engine setting. Go to Settings > Search engine while logged into each profile and set them separately.
What if I want to search with a different engine just once without changing my default?
You can visit the search engine's website directly — google.com, bing.com, duckduckgo.com — and search there. Your default setting will not change, and you can use any engine you want for that single search.