You can remove Bing as your search engine, but the steps depend on whether you mean the search tool, the browser, or the default setting

Bing is Microsoft's search engine, and it comes built into Windows and Edge browser by default. Removing it entirely means different things depending on what bothers you: you might want to stop Bing from being your default search engine, uninstall the Bing app from Windows, or switch to a different browser altogether. The fastest route is usually just changing your search engine setting, which takes under a minute. Uninstalling Bing itself from Windows is possible but more involved, because Microsoft ties it to the operating system.

If you arrived here from the search history article, you know that Bing stores your searches unless you use InPrivate mode or delete your history manually. Removing Bing as your default search engine stops new searches from going to Bing, but it does not erase searches you already made — you will need to delete those separately in your browser history.

Key Takeaways

  • Changing your default search engine in Edge or another browser takes one minute and stops Bing from receiving your new searches.
  • Deleting your existing Bing search history requires going into your browser history or your Microsoft account settings separately.
  • Uninstalling the Bing app from Windows is possible through Settings but does not remove Bing from Edge or Windows Search.
  • Switching to a different browser like Chrome or Firefox removes Bing entirely from your daily use if you do not open Edge.

Change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge

This is the fastest way to stop using Bing. Open Microsoft Edge, select the three-dot menu in the top right corner, then go to Settings. On the left sidebar, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to the Search engine section and click the dropdown that currently shows "Bing". You will see options like Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and others. Select whichever you prefer, and Edge will use that for all future searches.

Your old Bing searches remain in your history until you delete them. To clear those, go back to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, then scroll to Clear browsing data. Select All time from the dropdown, check Search history, and click Clear now. This removes the record of searches you made in Edge, but it does not affect searches stored in your Microsoft account if you were signed in.

Remove Bing from Windows Search

Windows Search — the search box in your taskbar — also defaults to Bing. To change this, open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing Settings, then press Enter. Go to Privacy & security on the left sidebar, then scroll down and click Search permissions. Under Search on the web, toggle the switch to Off. This stops Windows Search from sending your searches to Bing and instead searches only your local files.

If you want Windows Search to use a different search engine instead of Bing, that option is not available in Windows settings — you can only turn web search off entirely. To search the web from your taskbar, you would need to use a different browser or open your chosen search engine directly.

Uninstall the Bing app from Windows

Windows includes a Bing app separate from Edge and Windows Search. To remove it, open Windows Settings and go to Apps on the left sidebar, then click Apps & features. Scroll through the list or search for "Bing" at the top. When you find it, click it and select Uninstall. Windows will ask you to confirm; click Uninstall again. The app will be removed from your system.

Uninstalling the Bing app does not affect Bing in Edge or Windows Search — those are separate. If you want Bing completely gone, you need to change your search engine in Edge and turn off web search in Windows Search as well. Some Windows updates may reinstall the Bing app, so you may need to uninstall it again later.

Switch to a different browser entirely

If you use Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or another browser instead of Edge, Bing is not your default search engine unless you specifically set it that way. read Chrome or Firefox from their official websites, set it as your default browser in Windows Settings, and use that for browsing instead. This removes Bing from your daily routine without having to manage multiple settings.

You can keep Edge installed for compatibility with certain websites or Microsoft services, but if you do not open it, Bing will not receive your searches. Your old searches in Edge remain stored until you delete them, so go through Edge's history one more time before switching browsers if you want a clean break.

Delete Bing searches from your Microsoft account

If you were signed into your Microsoft account while searching, Bing stored those searches in your account history, not just in your browser. To delete them, go to account.microsoft.com in any browser, sign in, and click Privacy on the left sidebar. Select Activity history, then look for Search history. You can delete individual searches or clear all of them. This removes the record from your Microsoft account, separate from your browser history.

Microsoft keeps this history for a set period depending on your privacy settings. You can also adjust your privacy settings to limit how much Microsoft stores. Go to Privacy settings in your account and toggle Personalization of ads or Tailored experiences to Off if you do not want Microsoft using your searches to target ads.

Prevent Bing from collecting future searches

Once you have changed your default search engine, you can reduce what Bing collects by using InPrivate mode in Edge if you ever open it again. Press Ctrl+Shift+P to open a new InPrivate window, and searches in that window are not stored in your history or your account. However, the simplest approach is to use a different browser where Bing is not the default.

If you use Edge for work or school and cannot switch browsers, InPrivate mode is your best option for keeping searches private. Otherwise, changing your default search engine and deleting your history is the most straightforward way to stop Bing from tracking your searches going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Bing break Windows or Edge?

Uninstalling the Bing app will not break Windows or Edge. The app is separate from the operating system and the browser. Edge will continue to work, though Bing may remain as an option in your search engine list until you change it manually. Windows Search will still function normally.

Can I remove Bing from Windows Search completely?

Yes. Go to Settings, then Privacy & security, then Search permissions, and toggle off Search on the web. This stops Windows Search from using Bing and prevents web searches from the taskbar entirely. You can still search your local files.

If I switch to Chrome, will my old Bing searches follow me?

No. Your old Bing searches stay in Edge and your Microsoft account. Chrome does not access them unless you import your browsing history from Edge during setup. You can skip that step to start fresh with Chrome.

Does changing my search engine delete my old searches?

No. Changing your default search engine only affects new searches. Old searches remain in your browser history and your Microsoft account until you delete them manually through your browser settings or your Microsoft account privacy page.

What search engine should I use instead of Bing?

Google is the most common choice and is the default in Chrome and Firefox. DuckDuckGo does not track your searches. Yahoo and others are available in Edge's search engine dropdown. The choice depends on what matters to you — search quality, privacy, or features.