Chrome uses Google by default, but you can switch to any search engine in three steps

When you search from Chrome's address bar (called the omnibox), Chrome sends that search to Google unless you change it. You can switch to Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, or any other search engine directly in Chrome's settings — it takes about two minutes and requires no extensions or workarounds.

The change applies only to searches you type in the address bar. If you visit a search engine's website directly and search there, that engine handles your search regardless of your default setting. Changing your default does not affect which search results appear when you click a link from another website.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chrome Settings, go to Search engine, and pick a new default from the dropdown list — Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and others are built in.
  • Your new default applies only to searches typed in the address bar, not to searches on search engine websites themselves.
  • If your preferred search engine is not in the dropdown, you can add it manually by entering its search URL in the "Manage search engines" section.
  • Changing your default search engine does not clear your search history or change what Chrome has already recorded.
  • Some search engines (like DuckDuckGo) do not store your searches; others (like Google and Bing) do, so your choice affects what gets recorded going forward.

How to change your search engine in Chrome settings

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 dropdown menu labeled "Search engine used in the address bar." Click it to see the options Chrome has built in: Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia. Select whichever one you want. Chrome saves the change when ready — you do not need to click a save button.

Test it by clicking the address bar and typing a search term. You should see results from your new default engine. If you change your mind, return to the same settings page and pick a different engine.

Adding a search engine that is not in the dropdown

If your preferred search engine is not in the built-in list, you can add it manually. In the same Search engine settings page, scroll down to Manage search engines and site search and click it.

You will see a list of search engines Chrome already knows about. Scroll to the bottom and click Add. You need three pieces of information: the search engine's name (for example, "Startpage"), a short keyword you can type in the address bar as a shortcut, and the search URL.

The search URL is the tricky part. Go to the search engine's website, search for any word, and look at the URL in your address bar. Find where your search term appears in that URL and replace it with %s. For example, if Startpage's search URL is https://www.startpage.com/sp/search?query=cats, you would enter https://www.startpage.com/sp/search?query=%s. Paste that into Chrome's URL field, click Add, and then set it as your default in the dropdown above.

Why your choice of search engine matters for privacy

Different search engines have different policies about what they record and how long they keep it. Google stores your searches indefinitely (unless you manually delete them) and links them to your Google account if you are signed in. Bing does the same. DuckDuckGo says it does not store your searches at all, though it does keep some data for a limited time to prevent abuse.

Switching your default search engine changes what gets recorded going forward, but it does not erase what Chrome or Google already knows about your past searches. If you want to clear your search history in Google, you need to visit myactivity.google.com and delete it there — changing your Chrome default does not do that automatically.

What happens to searches you do on search engine websites directly

If you visit Google.com, Bing.com, or DuckDuckGo.com directly and search there, that search goes to that engine regardless of what your Chrome default is set to. Your default only affects searches typed into the address bar.

This matters because some people set DuckDuckGo as their default to avoid Google, but then accidentally visit Google.com directly and search there anyway. If you want to avoid a particular search engine entirely, you may need to remove it from your bookmarks or use browser extensions that redirect you away from it.

Changing your default does not affect other browsers

If you use Firefox, Safari, Edge, or another browser, each one has its own default search engine setting. Changing Chrome's default does not change the defaults in any other browser. You will need to change each browser separately if you want them all to use the same search engine.

If you sign into Chrome on multiple devices (phone, tablet, laptop), your search engine choice syncs across them automatically. If you do not want that, you can turn off sync for settings in Chrome's sync options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my search engine delete my old search history?

No. Changing your default search engine does not erase searches you have already done. If you want to delete your Google search history, visit myactivity.google.com and delete it manually. Your new search engine will only record searches you do from that point forward.

Can I use a different search engine for different types of searches?

Not automatically in Chrome. You can set only one default. However, you can add multiple search engines to Chrome's settings and use the keyboard shortcut (the keyword you set) to switch between them quickly. For example, if you set "d" as the keyword for DuckDuckGo, you can type "d" in the address bar, press Tab, and then type your search to use DuckDuckGo just for that one search.

What if I want to use Google for some searches but DuckDuckGo for others?

Add both to Chrome's settings with different keywords. Set one as your default. When you want to use the other, type its keyword in the address bar, press Tab, and search. This lets you switch without changing your default each time.

Does changing my search engine affect Google's ability to track me?

Changing your search engine stops Google from recording your searches typed in the address bar, but it does not stop Google from tracking you in other ways — through Gmail, YouTube, Google Analytics on websites you visit, and other services. If you want to reduce Google's tracking more broadly, you would need to sign out of your Google account, use privacy-focused extensions, or change other Chrome settings.

Will my new search engine work in incognito mode?

Yes. Your default search engine applies in incognito mode too. Incognito mode prevents Chrome from saving your browsing history locally, but your search engine still records the search on its own servers (unless you use a search engine like DuckDuckGo that claims not to record searches).