Set Google as your default search engine in three steps

Your default search engine is the one that runs a search when you type words into your browser's address bar without a full web address. Most browsers ship with a different default — Microsoft Edge uses Bing, Safari uses Google but can be changed, Firefox uses a rotating set depending on your region. Changing it back to Google takes less than two minutes and works the same way across Windows, Mac, and Linux.

The steps differ slightly by browser, but the principle is the same: you go into settings, find the search engine section, and pick Google from a list. You do not need to read anything or restart your browser. The change takes effect when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is what runs when you type a question into your browser's address bar, and it is separate from which search engine you visit by typing google.com.
  • Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari all let you change your default search engine in settings, and the process takes under two minutes.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect your search history — that is stored by Google if you are signed into a Google account, regardless of which search engine you use.
  • If you want to use Google without storing your searches, you can use Google in an incognito or private window, which does not save search history to your account.

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 knows about, with your current default marked.

Click on Google in the list. If Google does not appear, click the Manage search engines and site search button, find Google in the full list, and click the three dots next to it, then 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 from the list.

Firefox will ask you to confirm. Click Change and the switch is complete. If Google does not appear in the dropdown, scroll down to One-Click Search Engines, find Google in that section, and click the star icon next to it to make it your default.

How to change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to Search engine and click the dropdown that shows your current default. Select Google from the list.

Edge will confirm the change when ready. If you do not see Google in the dropdown, click Manage search engines, find Google in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Make default.

How to change your default search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Search tab. You will see a dropdown menu labeled Search engine. Click it and select Google.

The change takes effect when ready. Close the settings window and you are done. Safari will now use Google when you search from the address bar.

Why your default search engine matters for privacy

Your default search engine is the one that logs your searches if you are signed into an account with that company. If you use Google as your default and you are signed into a Google account, Google stores those searches in your account history. If you switch to a different default search engine, that engine will log your searches instead — assuming you are signed in there too.

Changing your default search engine does not erase past searches. Those remain in whichever account made them. If you want to stop logging searches to Google specifically, you have two options: use a different default search engine, or use Google in an incognito window (Chrome) or private window (Firefox, Safari, Edge), which does not save searches to your account.

What happens if you do not set a default

Every browser requires a default search engine — you cannot leave the setting blank. If you do not choose one, your browser will use whatever it shipped with. Some browsers let you set different defaults for different situations, but most people use one default for all searches.

If you share a computer with other people, changing the default search engine affects everyone who uses that browser on that computer. If you want a different default than the other users, you can create a separate browser profile or user account on the computer, and each profile can have its own default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my default search engine delete my old search history?

No. Your search history stays in whichever account made it. If you searched with Google while signed in, those searches remain in your Google account even after you change your default to a different engine. To remove old searches, you need to delete them from Google's history settings separately.

Will changing my default search engine affect my bookmarks or passwords?

No. Your bookmarks, passwords, and other browser data are separate from your search engine setting. Changing the default search engine only changes what happens when you type a question into the address bar.

Can I use Google for some searches and a different engine for others?

Most browsers do not let you set different defaults for different situations. You can visit any search engine directly by typing its web address, but your address bar will use your default. Some browsers have extensions that let you choose a search engine per search, but the built-in setting is one default for all.

What if Google does not show up in my search engine list?

Google is built into every major browser, but if it does not appear, you can add it manually. In most browsers, this option is under "Manage search engines" or "Add search engine". Type Google, paste google.com/search?q= in the URL field, and save. Then set it as default.

Does my ISP or wifi network see which search engine I use as default?

Your ISP and network can see that you are visiting Google's servers or another search engine's servers, but they cannot see your search terms unless your connection is unencrypted. All major search engines use HTTPS, which encrypts your searches in transit. Your default search engine setting itself is stored only on your computer.