Google is already the default search engine in Chrome, but you can change it if you want something else
When you open a new tab in Chrome and type in the search box, Google handles your search automatically. You do not need to do anything to make this happen — it comes set up that way. If you have switched to a different search engine (Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or another option) and want to go back to Google, the process takes about 30 seconds and requires only a few clicks in Chrome's settings.
The reason to know how to change your default search engine is that some software, browser extensions, or websites can change it without asking you first. If you notice your searches are going somewhere other than Google, or if you want to switch to a privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo, you control that choice through Chrome's settings menu.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome's default search engine is Google, and you can confirm or change it by opening Settings, clicking Search Engine, and selecting your choice from the list.
- If your default search engine changed without your action, a browser extension or installed software may have done it — check your extensions and remove any you do not recognize.
- You can set different search engines for different situations: one for the address bar and a different one for searches within web pages.
- Changing your default search engine does not affect your search history storage — that depends on whether you are signed into your Google account and have history turned on.
How to set Google as your default search engine 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 of the Settings page, click Search engine.
You will see a list of search engines Chrome knows about, with the current default marked. Click on Google in that list. If Google is already highlighted, your default is already set correctly. If you selected a different engine by mistake, click Google now to switch back.
Close the Settings tab. The change takes effect when ready — the next time you open a new tab and type in the search box, your search will go to Google.
Why your default search engine might have changed
If you did not change your default search engine but it switched to something else, a browser extension or installed program probably did it. Some extensions are designed to redirect your searches to a different engine, sometimes to show you ads or collect data about what you search for.
Check your extensions by clicking the three dots in Chrome's top right corner, hovering over More tools, and clicking Extensions. Look through the list for anything you do not remember installing. If you see an extension you did not put there, or one from a company you do not recognize, click the trash icon next to it to remove it. Then go back to Settings and confirm Google is your default again.
If you installed software on your computer (not through Chrome) in the last few days, that software may have changed your search engine. Uninstalling the program sometimes reverses the change. If you are not sure what caused the switch, setting Google as your default again will fix the when ready problem, and removing unfamiliar extensions will prevent it from happening again.
The difference between your address bar search engine and your page search engine
Chrome actually lets you set two different search engines. The one you choose in Settings controls what happens when you type in the address bar at the top of the page. But you can also set a separate search engine for when you highlight text on a web page and search for it.
Most people use the same search engine for both, so you do not need to worry about this distinction. But if you want to use Google for your main searches and DuckDuckGo for searches within pages (or any other combination), you can do that. The page search engine setting is in the same Settings > Search engine menu, listed as Search engines used when searching from the address bar and Other search engines.
How changing your search engine affects your search history
Changing your default search engine does not change how your search history is stored or who can see it. That depends entirely on whether you are signed into your Google account in Chrome and whether you have history turned on.
If you are signed in and history is on, Google stores your searches whether you use Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo as your default engine — because the storage happens through your account, not through the search engine itself. If you switch to DuckDuckGo to avoid Google storing your searches, you also need to turn off Chrome history or sign out of your Google account. Changing the search engine alone will not stop Google from recording your activity if you are logged in.
The reverse is also true: if you switch away from Google but stay signed into your account with history on, your searches still go to Google's servers for storage, even though the search results come from a different engine. Understanding this distinction helps you make a real choice about privacy instead of a symbolic one.
What to do if Google does not appear in your search engine list
Google should always be available in Chrome's search engine list. If it is not there, scroll down in the Settings > Search engine menu to the section labeled Other search engines. If Google still does not appear, you can add it manually by clicking Add in that section.
A form will appear asking for the search engine name, the shortcut (a short code you can type to search with that engine), and the search URL. For Google, type "Google" as the name, "g" as the shortcut, and use the URL https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. The %s tells Chrome where to put your search term. Click Add to finish, then set it as your default.
This situation is rare — Google is built into Chrome — but it can happen if a program removed it or if your Chrome installation is corrupted. Adding it back manually solves the problem.
Using search engine shortcuts to search with different engines without changing your default
You do not have to change your default search engine to use a different one occasionally. Chrome lets you type a shortcut in the address bar to search with any engine you have added, even if it is not your default.
In Settings > Search engine, look at the Other search engines section. Each engine has a shortcut listed next to it — usually one or two letters. To search with that engine, type the shortcut in the address bar, press Tab, type your search term, and press Enter. For example, if DuckDuckGo's shortcut is "d", you would type "d" in the address bar, press Tab, type "privacy tips", and press Enter to search DuckDuckGo without changing your default.
This approach is useful if you want to keep Google as your default but occasionally search with a privacy-focused engine or a specialized search tool. You can add any search engine to your shortcuts list by visiting its search page, right-clicking the search box, and selecting Add as search engine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my search engine stop Google from tracking me?
Only if you also sign out of your Google account or turn off Chrome history. Changing your search engine alone does not stop Google from storing your activity if you are logged in. Your search history is tied to your account, not to which search engine you use.
Can a website force me to use a different search engine?
No. A website can suggest a search engine or offer a search box that uses one, but it cannot change your Chrome settings. If your default search engine changed after visiting a website, a browser extension or installed software did it, not the website itself.
What if I want to use Google for some searches and DuckDuckGo for others?
Set Google as your default, then add DuckDuckGo to your other search engines. Use the keyboard shortcut (usually "d") in the address bar when you want to search DuckDuckGo. This way you get privacy for sensitive searches without changing your default for everyday use.
Does Chrome remember which search engine I used for each search?
Chrome does not track which search engine you used for each individual search. It only stores the search terms themselves if you are signed in with history on. The search engine you use is not part of your stored history.
If I use a different search engine, will my old Google searches disappear?
No. Your Google search history stays in your Google account regardless of which search engine you use going forward. You can view it at myactivity.google.com even if you switch to a different default engine.