Set Google as your default search engine in three steps
Your browser has a default search engine — the one that runs when you type a question in the address bar without visiting a website first. Most browsers ship with Bing or Yahoo as the default, but you can change it to Google in your browser settings. The process takes less than a minute and works the same way across Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Which browser you use determines where you find this setting. Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you change the default, but the menu location is different for each one. Once you change it, every search you type in the address bar will go to Google instead of whatever came before.
Key Takeaways
- Your browser's default search engine is the one that runs when you type a question in the address bar, and it is separate from your Google account settings.
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all have a settings menu where you can pick Google as the default in under a minute.
- Changing your default search engine does not affect your search history — that is stored separately and controlled by your Google account privacy settings.
- If Google does not appear in your default search options, you may need to visit Google.com first so your browser recognizes it as an option.
Change the default 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.
You will see a list of search engines your browser knows about. Click the dropdown next to Search engine used in the address bar and select Google. If Google is not in the list, visit Google.com in a new tab first — Chrome will add it automatically. Then return to Settings and select it from the dropdown.
Change the default 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 menu showing your current default. Click it and select Google. Firefox will remember this choice every time you search from the address bar. If you do not see Google in the list, visit Google.com first and Firefox will add it as an option.
Change the default in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Search tab.
You will see a dropdown next to Search engine. Click it and select Google. Close the settings window — Safari saves the change automatically. This setting applies to searches you type in the address bar and in the search box that appears when you open a new tab.
Change the default in Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services.
Scroll down to Search engine and click the dropdown next to Search engine used in the address bar. Select Google. If Google does not appear, visit Google.com in a new tab first — Edge will recognize it and add it to your options. Return to Settings and select it from the dropdown.
What happens after you change your default
Once you set Google as your default, every search you type in the address bar will route to Google instead of your previous search engine. Your browser will remember this choice even after you close and reopen it. If you use multiple browsers on the same computer, you will need to change the default in each one separately — the setting does not sync across browsers.
Changing your default search engine does not erase your search history or change how your search history is stored. That is controlled by your Google account settings, which are separate from your browser's default search engine choice. If you want to manage how Google stores your searches, you will need to visit your Google Account settings on myaccount.google.com.
If Google keeps reverting to another search engine
Sometimes malware or unwanted software changes your default search engine back without your permission. If you set Google as the default and it keeps switching to something else, run a malware scan using Windows Defender (on Windows) or Malwarebytes (on Mac or Windows). Close your browser completely before running the scan, then reopen it and check your search engine setting again.
You can also check whether any browser extensions are changing your settings. In Chrome, click the three dots, go to Extensions, and remove anything you do not recognize. In Firefox, click the three lines, select Add-ons and extensions, and disable or remove suspicious items. After removing extensions, return to your search engine settings and confirm Google is still set as the default.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my default search engine affect my search history?
No. Your default search engine is a browser setting that determines where searches go. Your search history is stored separately by your Google account. Changing the default does not erase past searches or change how Google stores new ones — that is controlled by your Google Account privacy settings.
Will changing my default search engine on my phone work the same way?
The process is similar but the menu location differs. On iPhone, open Settings, scroll to Safari, tap Search Engine, and select Google. On Android, open Chrome, tap the three dots, go to Settings, then Search engine, and select Google. The steps are slightly different but the result is the same.
What if Google does not show up in my search engine options?
Visit Google.com in a new tab and let the page load completely. Your browser will recognize Google as an option and add it to the list automatically. Close the tab, return to your browser settings, and Google should now appear in the dropdown menu for your default search engine.
Can I set different default search engines for different websites?
No. Your browser has one default search engine that applies to all searches in the address bar. However, you can always visit a different search engine's website directly and search there — the default only controls what happens when you type in the address bar without specifying a website.