Google is the default search engine on most devices, but you may need to change it back if another search engine took over
When you open a new tab or search from your address bar, your browser sends that search to whichever engine is set as default. On Windows computers, iPhones, and Android phones, Google usually arrives as the default — but malware, browser extensions, or settings changes can swap it out for Bing, Yahoo, or a search engine you do not recognize. Changing it back takes two to five minutes and requires only your browser settings, not your Google account.
The steps differ slightly by device and browser. Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge all store this setting in a different place. If you use multiple browsers on the same device, each one has its own default, so you may need to change it in more than one.
Key Takeaways
- Your default search engine is set in your browser settings, not in your operating system, so changing it does not affect other browsers on the same device.
- Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge each store this setting in a different menu, and the steps take less than five minutes.
- If a search engine you do not recognize became your default, a browser extension or malware may have changed it without your permission.
- Changing your default search engine does not delete your search history — that requires a separate step in your browser's privacy settings.
How to 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. On the left side, click Search engine.
You will see a list of search engines Chrome has detected. Google should be in that list. Click the radio button next to Google to select it as your default. If Google does not appear, click the dropdown that says Search engines used in address bar, then click Manage search engines and site search. Scroll down to find Google in the full list, hover over it, and click the three dots on the right. Select Make default.
Close the Settings tab. Your default is now changed. The next time you search from the address bar or open a new tab, Chrome will use Google.
How to change your default search engine in Safari
On an iPhone or iPad, open Settings (the gray gear icon on your home screen). Scroll down and tap Safari. Tap Search Engine. You will see a list: Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. Tap Google.
On a Mac, open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Search tab. In the dropdown next to Search engine, select Google. Close the window.
How to 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, click Search.
Under Default Search Engine, you will see a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click it and select Google. Firefox will switch when ready. You do not need to restart the browser or close any tabs.
How to change your default search engine in 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 engine section.
Click the dropdown next to Search engine used in the address bar. Select Google from the list. If Google is not visible, click Manage search engines, find Google in the list, hover over it, and click the three dots. Select Make default.
What to do if an unknown search engine became your default
If you did not change your default search engine yourself but it switched to something unfamiliar, a browser extension or piece of malware likely changed it. Check your installed extensions first, because this is the most common cause.
In Chrome, click the three dots and go to More tools > Extensions. Look for any extension you do not recognize or remember installing. Click the trash icon to remove it. In Firefox, click the three lines and select Add-ons and extensions. Remove anything suspicious the same way. In Safari on Mac, click Safari > Settings > Extensions and uncheck or delete unfamiliar items.
After removing suspicious extensions, change your default search engine back to Google using the steps above. If your default keeps switching back on its own, or if you find extensions you did not install, run a malware scan using Windows Defender (on Windows) or Malwarebytes (on any system). These tools are free and will catch most common threats.
Why your search engine choice matters for your search history
Your default search engine determines where your searches go, but it does not determine whether your browser stores them. Google, Bing, Yahoo, and most other search engines keep records of what you search for — they use this data to show you targeted ads and improve their results. Your browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or Edge) also keeps a local copy of your searches on your device.
Changing your default search engine to Google does not erase searches you made with a different engine, and it does not stop your browser from storing new searches. If you want to prevent your browser from keeping a record, you can clear your search history in your browser settings, or use private browsing mode (called Incognito in Chrome, Private in Safari and Firefox) for searches you do not want stored locally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default search engine delete my old search history?
No. Changing your default search engine only affects where new searches go. Your old search history stays in your browser and on Google's servers (if you were using Google before). To delete your search history, go to your browser settings and look for "Clear browsing data" or "History", then select the time range and confirm.
Can I set a different default search engine for private browsing?
Most browsers do not allow separate defaults for private mode. Your default applies to both regular and private browsing. If you want to use a different search engine for privacy reasons, you can type the search URL directly into the address bar instead of using the default.
What if Google does not appear in my search engine list?
This is rare but can happen if malware removed it. Go to the "Manage search engines" or "Add search engines" option in your browser settings and type "Google" into the search box. Click the official Google result to add it back, then set it as default.
Does changing my default search engine affect my Google account or Gmail?
No. Your default search engine is a browser setting only. It does not change your Google account, sign you out of Gmail, or affect any Google services you use. You will still be signed in to your account and your data will remain the same.