The simplest way to stop using Bing

You can remove Bing from your computer by changing your default search engine in your web browser, uninstalling the Bing desktop app if you have one, and removing Bing from your browser's search options. Most people who want to "delete Bing" actually want to stop it from appearing as their default search engine — the search box that opens when you type in the address bar. That change takes about two minutes and works the same way in every browser.

If you installed Bing as a standalone desktop process (the Bing Bar or Bing Desktop), you can uninstall it like any other program. If Bing came pre-installed with Windows or your browser, you cannot fully remove it from your system, but you can hide it completely by switching to a different search engine everywhere you use it.

Key Takeaways

  • Changing your default search engine in your browser stops Bing from appearing in your search box, which solves the problem for most people.
  • The steps differ slightly between Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari, but the process takes the same amount of time in each one.
  • If you installed Bing as a separate app (Bing Bar or Bing Desktop), you can uninstall it through your computer's Control Panel or Settings, just like removing any other program.
  • Bing may reappear after Windows or browser updates, so you may need to change your default search engine again occasionally.
  • Removing Bing does not stop Microsoft from collecting data through Windows itself — that requires separate privacy settings in Windows.

Change your default search engine in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu that appears. On the left side, click Search engine.

Under "Search engine used in the address bar," you will see a dropdown menu that currently shows Bing (or whichever engine is set). Click that dropdown and select a different search engine — Google, DuckDuckGo, and Yahoo are the most common options. Chrome will when ready switch to your choice. The next time you type in the address bar, your new search engine will handle the search instead of Bing.

If your preferred search engine does not appear in the dropdown, scroll down to the "Other search engines" section. Click the three dots next to any engine listed there and select Make default.

Change your default search engine in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Search.

Under "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown showing Bing. Click it and choose Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or another option. Firefox switches when ready. If you want to remove Bing from the list of available search engines entirely, scroll down to "One-Click Search Engines," find Bing in the list, and click the X next to it.

Change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to the "Search" section.

Under "Search engine," click the dropdown that shows Bing and select Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or another option. Edge will use your choice from that point forward. Because Edge is made by Microsoft (the company behind Bing), Edge may reset to Bing after major updates. If that happens, repeat these steps.

Change your default search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Search tab.

Under "Search engine," click the dropdown showing Bing and choose Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or another option. Close the settings window. Safari will use your new search engine the next time you search from the address bar.

Uninstall Bing Bar or Bing Desktop if you have it

If you installed Bing Bar or Bing Desktop as a separate process, you can remove it through your computer's uninstall menu. On Windows, click the Start button and type Control Panel. Open Control Panel and select Programs and Features (or Add/Remove Programs on older versions).

Scroll through the list to find "Bing Bar," "Bing Desktop," or any program with "Bing" in the name that you did not intentionally install. Click it and select Uninstall. Follow the prompts to remove it. On Mac, open Applications in Finder, find the Bing process, and drag it to the Trash.

After uninstalling, restart your computer. This clears out any remaining Bing components and prevents the program from restarting itself.

Remove Bing from your browser's search options entirely

After you change your default search engine, Bing may still appear as an option if you click the search box and look at other available engines. You can remove it from that list in most browsers.

In Chrome, go to Settings > Search engine, scroll to "Other search engines," find Bing, click the three dots, and select Remove. In Firefox, go to Settings > Search, scroll to "One-Click Search Engines," find Bing, and click the X. In Edge, the process is the same as Firefox — go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services, scroll to the search section, and remove Bing from the list. Safari does not let you remove Bing from the dropdown, but you can ignore it and use your default engine instead.

What to do if Bing keeps coming back

After a major browser update or Windows update, your default search engine may reset to Bing without your permission. This is common in Edge because Microsoft owns both Edge and Bing. If it happens, repeat the steps above to change your default search engine again.

If Bing keeps reappearing even after you change it multiple times, check whether you have any browser extensions or toolbars installed that are forcing Bing as your search engine. Go to your browser's extensions or add-ons page (usually under Settings > Extensions or Add-ons), look for anything you do not recognize or did not install yourself, and remove it. Unwanted toolbars sometimes reinstall Bing automatically.

You can also check your browser's homepage settings to make sure Bing is not set as your home page. In most browsers, this is a separate setting from your default search engine, and changing one does not change the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does removing Bing stop Microsoft from tracking me?

Removing Bing from your browser stops Bing from seeing your searches, but Microsoft can still collect data through Windows itself, through Edge, and through other Microsoft services. To limit Microsoft's data collection, you need to change privacy settings in Windows Settings > Privacy and security. This is separate from removing Bing as your search engine.

Will removing Bing affect my computer's performance?

Changing your default search engine will not affect performance at all. If you uninstall Bing Bar or Bing Desktop, you may see a small improvement in startup time and memory use, since those applications run in the background. The difference is usually not noticeable unless your computer is already running slowly.

Can I remove Bing completely from Windows?

No. Bing is built into Windows and the Edge browser, so you cannot uninstall it entirely. You can hide it by changing your default search engine in every browser you use and by disabling Bing in Windows search settings. Go to Windows Settings > Search > Search on the web, and toggle it off to stop Bing results from appearing in your Windows search box.

What search engine should I use instead of Bing?

Google is the most widely used and returns results quickly. DuckDuckGo emphasizes privacy and does not track your searches. Yahoo is similar to Google but less common. Try one for a week and switch if you do not like the results — you can change your default search engine as many times as you want.

Why does Bing keep appearing as an option even after I remove it?

Some browsers keep removed search engines in a hidden list so you can add them back if you change your mind. This is normal and does not mean Bing is still tracking you — it just means the option is available if you want it. You can ignore it and use your chosen search engine instead.