Set Google as your default search engine in three steps
Your default search engine is the one that runs when you type a question directly into your browser's address bar. To make Google your default, you open your browser settings, find the search engine section, and pick Google from the list. The exact steps depend on which browser you use — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — but the process takes less than a minute on any of them.
Most browsers come with a default search engine already chosen. Chrome uses Google by default. Firefox uses Google in the United States but may use a different engine in other countries. Safari uses Google on iPhone and iPad but Bing on Mac. Edge uses Bing. If you want Google instead of what came with your browser, you can change it yourself without downloading anything or paying anyone.
Key Takeaways
- Your default search engine runs whenever you type a question in the address bar, separate from which search engine you visit by clicking a link.
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you change your default search engine through their settings menu in under a minute.
- Google is already the default on Chrome and Firefox in most countries, so you may not need to change anything.
- Changing your default search engine does not affect your search history — that depends on whether you are signed into a Google account and what privacy settings you have chosen.
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. Click the one you want — Google should be in the list. Chrome will when ready use Google as your default.
If Google does not appear in the list, you can add it. Click the Manage search engines and site search option. Find Google in the list of other search engines, hover over it, and click the three dots that appear. Select Make default. Close the settings tab and you are done.
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 switches when ready.
Firefox also shows a row of search engine icons below the address bar when you click it. You can right-click any of those icons and select Set as default search engine if you prefer that route. Either way takes seconds.
How to change your default search engine in Safari
On Mac, open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar. Select Settings. Click the Search tab. Under Search engine, click the dropdown and select Google. Close the window.
On iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app — not Safari itself. Scroll down and tap Safari. Tap Search Engine. Select Google from the list. The change takes effect when ready.
How to change your default search engine in Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to Search engine. Click the dropdown under Search engine used in the address bar and select Google.
Edge also lets you manage search engines the way Chrome does. In the same section, click Manage search engines. Find Google in the list, hover over it, and click the three dots. Select Make default.
Why your default search engine matters for search history
Your default search engine determines where your searches go when you use the address bar. If you are signed into a Google account, Google stores those searches in your account history. If you are not signed in, Google still keeps a record tied to your device or IP address, depending on your settings.
Changing your default search engine does not erase past searches or change what Google already knows about you. It only affects where new searches go from that point forward. If you want to stop Google from storing your searches, you need to manage your Google account settings separately — signing out of Google, turning off Web & App Activity, or using Incognito mode when you search.
What happens if you do not set a default
If you never change your default search engine, your browser uses whatever came with it. For most people, that is already Google, so nothing changes. For Safari on Mac or Edge users, the default is a different engine, but you can still reach Google by visiting google.com directly or clicking a Google link from another website.
The only real difference is convenience. With Google as your default, you can type a question in the address bar and get Google results when ready. Without it, you either type google.com first or use a different search engine. Neither choice is wrong — it depends on which search engine you prefer and how you like to search.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my default search engine delete my old search history?
No. Your old searches stay in your Google account or device history regardless of what your default search engine is now. Changing the default only affects new searches going forward. To remove old searches, you need to delete your history separately in your Google account settings.
Will Google still track me if I do not make it my default?
Yes. If you are signed into a Google account and you visit google.com or click a Google search result, Google records that search. Your default search engine does not control whether Google tracks you — your account settings and privacy choices do.
Can I have different default search engines on different devices?
Yes. Each device has its own browser settings. You can set Google as default on your laptop and a different engine on your phone. If you sign into the same browser account on multiple devices, some browsers like Chrome will sync your settings across them, but you can always change any device individually.
What if I want to use Google for some searches and a different engine for others?
You can keep your default as Google but add other search engines to your browser. Most browsers let you right-click the address bar and choose which engine to use for that single search. This gives you flexibility without changing your default.
Does my ISP or internet provider see which search engine I use?
Your ISP can see that you are visiting google.com or another search engine's website, but they cannot see what you search for if the connection is encrypted (HTTPS). Which search engine you set as default does not change what your ISP can see.