You can disable Bing by changing your default search engine and removing Bing from your browser's search options

Bing is not built into Windows or most browsers in a way that forces you to use it — you can switch to a different search engine and remove Bing from your search bar entirely. The steps differ depending on whether you use Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari, and whether Bing appears in your search bar, your homepage, or both. Most people find they can make the change in under five minutes.

Bing collects search history the same way Google and other search engines do. If you want to stop sending your searches to Microsoft, the fastest route is to pick a different default search engine and delete Bing from your browser's list of available options. You can also clear your existing Bing search history through your Microsoft account settings.

Key Takeaways

  • In Microsoft Edge, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services, scroll to Search engine, and select a different default like Google or DuckDuckGo.
  • In Chrome and Firefox, click the search bar, right-click it, and select "Manage search engines" to change your default and remove Bing from the list.
  • If Bing appears as your homepage instead of your search bar, change it separately in your browser's Home settings.
  • Clearing your Bing search history requires signing into your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com and visiting your activity history page.
  • Some Windows updates or software installations can reset Bing as your default — check your search engine settings after major updates.

Changing your default search engine in Microsoft Edge

Edge defaults to Bing, but you can change it to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or several others. Open Edge and select the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Go to Settings, then select Privacy, search, and services from the left sidebar.

Scroll down to the Search engine section. You will see "Search engine used in the address bar" with Bing currently selected. Click the dropdown and choose your preferred search engine. If your choice is not listed, scroll down further to "Search engines used in the address bar" and click Add to install a new one.

Once you have set a new default, you can remove Bing entirely. In that same Search engines section, hover over Bing in the list and click the three dots that appear. Select Remove. Bing will no longer appear when you click the search bar.

Changing your default search engine in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right. Select Settings, then go to Search engine in the left sidebar. Under "Search engine used in the address bar," click the dropdown currently showing Google or Bing and select a different option.

To remove Bing from your list of available search engines, scroll down to "Other search engines" and find Bing in the list. Click the three dots next to it and select Remove. The next time you click the address bar to search, Bing will not appear as an option.

Changing your default search engine in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top right. Select Settings, then go to Search in the left sidebar. Under "Default Search Engine," click the dropdown and select Google, DuckDuckGo, Wikipedia, or another option.

To remove Bing from your one-click search options, scroll down to "One-Click Search Engines." If Bing appears there, click it and select Remove. You can also right-click the search bar itself, select Manage Search Engines, find Bing, and click the X next to it.

Changing your default search engine in Safari

Safari does not use Bing by default on most systems, but if it has been set as your search engine, you can change it. Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Preferences (or Settings on newer versions).

Go to the Search tab. Under "Search engine," click the dropdown and select Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia. Safari does not show a list of all available search engines the way other browsers do, so you are limited to these built-in options. Close the preferences window and your new search engine is active.

Removing Bing from your homepage

If Bing appears as your homepage rather than just your search engine, you need to change that separately. In Edge, go to Settings > Home and change "Show" to a blank page, a custom URL, or your previous tabs. In Chrome, go to Settings > Home and select either "Open the New Tab page" or "Open a specific page or set of pages," then enter a different URL.

In Firefox, go to Settings > Home and under "Homepage and new windows," select "Custom URLs" and enter the address you want instead. In Safari, go to Preferences > General and change the "Homepage" field to a different URL or leave it blank.

Clearing your existing Bing search history

Changing your default search engine stops Bing from collecting new searches going forward, but your past searches remain in your Microsoft account. To delete them, go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with your Microsoft account credentials.

Click Privacy in the left sidebar, then select Activity history. You will see a list of your recent activity across Microsoft services, including Bing searches. Click "Clear all activity" or select individual items and delete them. You can also set Bing to not save your search history by going to Bing.com, clicking Settings, and turning off "Save my search history."

What to do if Bing keeps coming back

Windows updates and some software installations can reset Bing as your default search engine without asking. After a major Windows update, check your browser settings to confirm your preferred search engine is still set. Some antivirus software and browser extensions can also change your search engine — if Bing reappears, check your installed extensions and remove any you do not recognize.

If a specific program keeps resetting your search engine, uninstall it or check its settings for an option to stop changing your browser defaults. You can also use a tool like Windows Defender to scan for potentially unwanted software that modifies your browser settings without permission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Bing without saving my search history?

Yes. Go to Bing.com, click Settings in the top right, and turn off "Save my search history." Your searches will not be stored in your Microsoft account, though your internet service provider and network administrator may still see them. This does not stop Bing from collecting data about your searches — it only stops storing them in your account.

Does removing Bing from my browser delete my past searches?

No. Changing your default search engine only stops new searches from going to Bing. Your past Bing searches remain in your Microsoft account until you delete them manually through account.microsoft.com. Clearing your browser history does not remove Bing searches from your Microsoft account.

Will switching search engines affect my browsing speed?

No. Google, DuckDuckGo, and other search engines work at the same speed as Bing. The choice of search engine does not affect how fast your browser loads pages or how quickly search results appear.

What search engines can I use instead of Bing?

Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Ecosia, and Startpage are all available in most browsers. Google is the most widely used. DuckDuckGo and Startpage focus on privacy and do not store your search history. Ecosia plants trees with its search revenue. All are free to use.