Google is already Chrome's default search engine in most cases

When you open a new tab in Chrome and click the search box, Google appears by default. If you see a different search engine — Bing, Yahoo, or something else — it usually means your browser settings were changed, either by you, by another user on your computer, or by an extension you installed.

The steps to set Google as your default depend on whether Chrome is behaving normally or whether something else has taken over. Most of the time, the fix takes under a minute.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome uses Google as the default search engine unless your settings were changed or an extension modified them.
  • You can check and change your default search engine in Chrome Settings under Search Engine, found in the left menu.
  • If an unwanted search engine keeps reappearing, an installed extension is usually the cause — check your Extensions page and remove anything you do not recognize.
  • Resetting Chrome to its default settings will remove all extensions and restore Google as the default search engine, but will also clear your saved passwords and autofill data.

Check what your current default search engine is

Open Chrome and look at the address bar at the top. Click inside it without typing anything. If you see a Google logo and the text "Search with Google," then Google is already your default. If you see a different logo or name, that is your current default.

You can also check by going to Chrome menu (the three vertical dots in the top right corner) → Settings → Search engine in the left menu. The search engine listed under "Search engine used in the address bar" is your current default.

Change your default search engine to Google through Settings

Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Search engine.

Under "Search engine used in the address bar," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click that dropdown and select Google from the list. If Google does not appear in the list, scroll down to see more options, or see the section below about extensions.

Chrome saves this change automatically. Close the Settings tab and your default is now set to Google.

Remove extensions that are changing your search engine

If Google is not showing up in your search engine list, or if a different search engine keeps reappearing even after you change it, an extension is likely overriding your choice. Extensions are small programs you add to Chrome to change how it works.

Click the three-dot menu → More tools → Extensions. Look through the list of installed extensions. If you see anything you do not recognize, or anything related to search (like "Search Enhancer" or "Web Search"), click the Remove button under it.

After removing the extension, go back to Settings → Search engine and set Google as your default again. The unwanted search engine should no longer reappear.

Reset Chrome if your settings keep changing on their own

If you set Google as your default and it keeps changing back without you doing anything, malware or a stubborn extension may be involved. The most reliable fix is to reset Chrome to its factory settings.

Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu → Settings → Advanced (at the bottom of the left menu) → Reset and clean up → Restore settings to their original defaults. Chrome will ask you to confirm. Click Reset settings.

This action will remove all extensions, clear your saved passwords and autofill information, and restore Google as your default search engine. If you have passwords saved in Chrome that you need, write them down or export them before resetting. After the reset, you can reinstall extensions one at a time and test whether the problem returns.

Why your search engine may have changed without your action

Search engines sometimes change because of extensions you installed for other reasons — a coupon tool, a video downloader, or a weather widget may bundle in a search engine change as part of its installation. Some extensions do this without clearly telling you.

Occasionally, malware disguised as a legitimate program can change your search engine. If resetting Chrome does not solve the problem, or if your computer is behaving strangely in other ways, run a malware scan using Windows Defender (built into Windows) or a tool like Malwarebytes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default search engine affect my search history?

No. Your search history is stored separately from your default search engine setting. Changing which search engine is default does not delete or hide any searches you have already made. If you want to clear your search history, that is a separate action in Chrome Settings under Privacy and security.

Can I use different search engines for different things?

Chrome does not have a built-in way to use one search engine for some searches and another for others. You can only set one default. If you want to search with a different engine, you can visit that search engine's website directly (like bing.com) and search there instead.

What if Google does not appear in my search engine list at all?

This is unusual and typically means an extension is blocking it. Remove all extensions you do not recognize, then check the search engine list again. If Google still does not appear, reset Chrome to its default settings as described above.

Is it safe to remove extensions I do not recognize?

Yes. If you did not deliberately install an extension, removing it is safe. Write down the names of any extensions you remove in case you need to reinstall one later. You can always add extensions back if you realize you need them.