Chrome lets you pick which search engine runs your searches from the address bar

When you type a question or a term into Chrome's address bar (the box at the top where you type web addresses), Chrome sends that search to a search engine. By default, Chrome uses Google. You can change this to Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or several others in about 30 seconds through Chrome's settings.

This is different from changing which program opens a file type. Instead, you are telling Chrome which company's search service to use when you search from the address bar. The change applies only to Chrome — it does not affect searches you do in Firefox, Edge, or any other browser.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chrome settings by clicking the three vertical dots in the top right corner, then select Settings.
  • Go to Search engine in the left sidebar and click Manage search engines and site search.
  • Find the search engine you want in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Make default.
  • Chrome will use your chosen search engine the next time you search from the address bar.
  • You can add a search engine that is not in the default list by entering its search URL in the Add search engine section.

Open Chrome Settings

Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of your Chrome window. A menu will drop down. Click Settings near the bottom of that menu.

Chrome will open a new tab showing your Settings page. On the left side, you will see a sidebar with options like Autofill, Privacy and security, and Advanced. Look for the option called Search engine.

Find and Select Your Search Engine

Click Search engine in the left sidebar. Chrome will show you a section called Default search engine with a dropdown menu. This dropdown currently shows whichever search engine is set as your default — usually Google.

Click that dropdown to see a list of search engines Chrome already knows about. The list typically includes Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo. Click the one you want to use. Chrome will switch to it when ready.

Manage Search Engines if Your Choice Is Not Listed

If the search engine you want is not in the dropdown list, click the link that says Manage search engines and site search, just below the dropdown. A new section will expand showing all the search engines Chrome has on file.

Scroll down to the section labeled Other search engines. If your search engine is listed there, click the three dots next to it and select Make default. If it is not listed at all, you can add it yourself by scrolling to the bottom and clicking Add.

Add a Search Engine Manually

If you want to use a search engine that Chrome does not recognize, you will need its search URL. This is the web address that the search engine uses when you search. For example, DuckDuckGo's search URL is https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%s. The %s is a placeholder — Chrome replaces it with whatever you type.

In the Add section at the bottom of the Manage search engines page, fill in three fields: the search engine name (what you want to call it), the shortcut (a short code you can type in the address bar), and the URL with query parameter (the search URL with %s in place of your search term). Click Add, then click the three dots next to your new entry and select Make default.

Test Your New Default Search Engine

Close the Settings tab and go to a new tab. Click in the address bar at the top and type a search term — anything you want to look up. Press Enter. Chrome should now send your search to the search engine you chose instead of Google.

If Chrome still uses Google, go back to Settings and check that you clicked Make default next to the correct search engine. Sometimes the change does not take effect until you close and reopen Chrome completely.

Switch Back to Google or Change Again Anytime

You can change your default search engine as many times as you want. Just go back to Settings, click Search engine, click the dropdown under Default search engine, and pick a different one. There is no limit to how many times you can switch.

If you want to go back to Google, follow the same steps and select Google from the dropdown. You have not broken anything — Chrome will work exactly as it did before.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my search engine affect other browsers like Firefox or Edge?

No. Each browser has its own settings. Changing the default search engine in Chrome only affects Chrome. If you use Firefox or Edge, they will keep their own default search engines unless you change them separately in those browsers' settings.

Can I use a different search engine just for one search without changing my default?

Yes. Type your search term in the address bar, but before you press Enter, look at the dropdown that appears below the address bar. It will show your current default search engine. Click on a different search engine in that dropdown, then press Enter. That single search will use the engine you picked, but your default stays the same.

What if I want to search with Google sometimes and Bing other times?

Set whichever one you use more often as your default. For the other search engine, use the dropdown method described above — just click the search engine name in the dropdown before pressing Enter. You do not have to change your settings each time.

Is it safe to add a search engine I found online?

Be cautious. Only add search engines from sources you trust. Some search engines collect more data about your searches than others. DuckDuckGo and Bing are both widely used and considered safe. If you are unsure about a search engine, research it first before adding it to Chrome.