Where to find and change your search engine

Microsoft Edge comes set to use Bing as its default search engine, but you can change it to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or several others in about two minutes. The setting lives in Edge's main menu, not buried in advanced options, so you do not need to know where to look beyond the three-dot icon in the top right corner.

When you change your default search engine, Edge will use your choice whenever you type a search directly into the address bar at the top of the window. This does not affect searches you run from Google's website or any other search site directly — it only changes what happens when you use Edge's built-in search box.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Edge, then select Settings to reach the search engine options.
  • Go to Privacy, search, and services on the left side, then scroll down to find the Search engine section.
  • Click the dropdown under "Search engine used in the address bar" and pick from Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Bing, or other options.
  • Your choice takes effect when ready — you do not need to restart Edge or confirm the change.
  • You can also set a different search engine for private browsing windows if you want to keep searches separate.

Step-by-step: changing your search engine

Start by opening Microsoft Edge and looking at the top right corner of the window. You will see three horizontal dots stacked on top of each other — this is the menu button. Click it.

A dropdown menu will appear. Look for the word Settings near the bottom of this menu and click it. Edge will open a new tab with your settings page.

On the left side of the settings page, you will see a list of categories. Find and click Privacy, search, and services. The page will scroll to show options related to search.

Scroll down the page until you see a section labeled Search engine. Under this heading, you will find a dropdown menu that says "Search engine used in the address bar" with Bing currently selected. Click this dropdown to see your options.

Which search engines you can choose

Edge offers several search engines in its dropdown menu. Google is the most widely used and will show results from Google's search index. DuckDuckGo does not track your searches or store your search history, which appeals to people concerned about privacy. Yahoo uses Bing's search results but presents them in Yahoo's format.

You will also see Bing, which is Microsoft's own search engine and the current default. The list may include other options depending on your region and Edge version. Click whichever search engine you want to use, and Edge will switch to it when ready.

If you do not see your preferred search engine in the dropdown, you can add it manually. Some search engines like Ecosia or Startpage are not in the default list but can be added by visiting their websites and following their instructions to set them as your default in Edge.

What happens when you search from the address bar

Once you have changed your default search engine, try it out. Click in the address bar at the top of the window (where you normally type a web address) and type a search term — for example, "weather today" or "how to fix a leaky faucet". When you press Enter, Edge will send your search to whichever engine you selected and show you the results.

The address bar is the quickest way to search while browsing. You do not have to navigate to Google's website or any other search site first. Edge handles the routing for you based on your default choice.

Setting a different search engine for private browsing

Edge allows you to use one search engine for normal browsing and a different one for private browsing windows. This is useful if you want searches in private windows to stay more anonymous while keeping your regular browsing on a search engine you prefer for other reasons.

To set this up, go back to Settings and Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to the Search engine section again. Below the main dropdown, you will see another option labeled "Search engine used in private windows". Click that dropdown and choose a different engine if you want. Many people select DuckDuckGo here while keeping Google as their default for regular browsing.

Resetting to Bing if you change your mind

If you switch to a different search engine and later decide you want to go back to Bing, the process is identical. Open Settings, go to Privacy, search, and services, find the Search engine dropdown, and select Bing. There is no penalty for changing back and forth — Edge does not restrict how many times you can switch.

Some people find they prefer Bing for certain types of searches or decide they want to stick with Microsoft's ecosystem. Your choice is not permanent, and you can change it again whenever you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my search engine affect my saved passwords or bookmarks?

No. Your search engine setting is completely separate from your passwords, bookmarks, browsing history, and other data. Changing the search engine does not touch any of that information.

Will websites I visit know which search engine I use?

Websites cannot see which search engine you have set as your default in Edge. They can only see that you arrived from a search result, not which search engine you used to find them.

Can I use a search engine that is not in the dropdown list?

Yes, but you have to add it manually. Visit the search engine's website, look for an option to set it as your default browser search, and follow their instructions. Some search engines like Ecosia provide a button that adds them to Edge automatically.

What if I want different search engines on different devices?

Each device's Edge browser has its own settings. If you sign into the same Microsoft account on multiple devices, your search engine choice will sync across them unless you turn off sync for settings. You can manage this in Settings under Profiles and sync.

Does the search engine change affect searches I do on Google's website directly?

No. If you visit google.com and search there, you are using Google's website directly, not Edge's default search engine setting. The default only affects searches you type into Edge's address bar.