Change your search engine in three steps

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Search engine in the left menu. You will see a dropdown showing your current default — click it to see other options like Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Yahoo, then select the one you want.

Chrome remembers your choice across all devices where you sign in with the same Google account, so you only need to change it once. If you use Chrome on a work computer, your administrator may have locked the search engine choice, in which case you will see a message saying the setting is managed.

The search engine you pick here is what runs when you type directly into the address bar at the top of the page. It does not change which search engine appears on your home page or new tab page — those are separate settings covered below.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine controls what happens when you type a question into Chrome's address bar, and you can change it in Settings under Search engine.
  • DuckDuckGo, Bing, and Yahoo are built-in options that do not track your searches the way Google does, though each has different privacy practices.
  • Changing your default search engine does not automatically change the search engine on your home page or new tab page — those require separate adjustments.
  • If you see a message that the setting is managed, your computer administrator has locked the choice and you cannot change it.

Why you might want a different search engine

Google is Chrome's default because Google owns Chrome, but other search engines handle your searches differently. DuckDuckGo does not store your search history or link it to your IP address, so each search starts fresh. Bing is Microsoft's engine and keeps search history tied to your Microsoft account. Yahoo uses Bing's results but adds its own ranking.

If you came from the article on search history, you know that your default search engine stores what you search for. Switching to DuckDuckGo means that engine will not build a profile of your searches over time. However, your internet service provider and the websites you visit can still see that you searched — changing the search engine does not hide your activity from them.

Some people switch search engines because they prefer the results, not for privacy. Bing often ranks news and images differently than Google. DuckDuckGo pulls results from multiple sources and does not personalize them based on your past behavior, so you may see different pages than you are used to.

Set a different search engine on your home page

Your home page — the page that opens when you click the home icon or start a new window — is a separate setting from your default search engine. To change it, go to Settings, click Appearance in the left menu, and turn on the toggle next to Show home button if it is off. Then click the radio button next to Open a specific page or set of pages and enter the URL of the search engine you want.

For DuckDuckGo, enter duckduckgo.com. For Bing, enter bing.com. For Yahoo, enter yahoo.com. When you click the home button or open a new window, Chrome will load that page instead of a blank page or Google's homepage.

This is useful if you want to see a search box when you start browsing, but it does not change what happens when you type into the address bar. If you want both to use the same search engine, you need to change the default search engine setting as well.

Change the search engine on your new tab page

When you open a new tab, Chrome shows a page with a search box, shortcuts, and news. By default, that search box uses Google. To change it, you can install an extension from the Chrome Web Store that replaces the new tab page with one from a different search engine.

Search the Chrome Web Store for "DuckDuckGo new tab" or "Bing new tab" to find extensions that replace the default page. Read the reviews and check the permissions before you install — some extensions ask for broad access to your browsing. Once installed, opening a new tab will show that search engine's page instead.

This is optional and separate from changing your default search engine. Many people leave the new tab page as is and only change the address bar search engine.

What happens if your search engine choice is locked

If you see a message in Settings that says "This setting is managed by your administrator," someone with control over your computer has locked the search engine choice. This is common on work computers, school devices, and computers managed by a parent or guardian.

You cannot change the setting yourself. You will need to contact the person or organization that manages the device — your IT department, school, or parent — and ask them to unlock it. They can do this from their admin panel without touching your computer.

In the meantime, you can still use a different search engine by going directly to its website (duckduckgo.com, bing.com, or yahoo.com) and searching from there, even though it is not your default.

Sync your search engine choice across devices

If you sign into Chrome with your Google account, your default search engine choice syncs to every device where you sign in. Change it on your laptop, and it changes on your phone and tablet too. This happens automatically — you do not need to do anything.

If you do not want your search engine choice to sync, go to Settings, click You and Google, then Sync and Google services, and turn off the toggle next to Sync everything. Then turn off only the toggle for Search engines. Now each device can have its own default.

If you use Chrome without signing in, your settings stay only on that device and do not sync anywhere.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my search engine stop Google from tracking me?

Changing your search engine stops that engine from storing your searches, but it does not stop Google from tracking you on websites. Google tracks you through ads, analytics code on websites, and your Google account. To reduce Google tracking, you would also need to limit cookies, use a VPN, and avoid signing into Google services — changing the search engine alone is only one part.

Will DuckDuckGo give me worse search results?

DuckDuckGo's results are different, not worse. Because it does not personalize based on your history, you may see more general or diverse results. Some people find this better because they get less of the same type of result over and over. Try it for a week and see if the results work for you.

Can I use different search engines on different devices?

Yes. If you turn off sync for search engines in Settings, each device can have its own default. You can use DuckDuckGo on your phone and Google on your laptop. If you want them all the same, leave sync on and change the default on one device — it will update everywhere.

What if I want to search with a different engine just once?

Go directly to that search engine's website — duckduckgo.com, bing.com, or yahoo.com — and search from there. You do not have to change your default. This is the fastest way if you only want to try a different engine once or twice.

Does my internet provider know which search engine I use?

Your internet provider can see that you visited duckduckgo.com or bing.com, but they cannot see what you searched for if the connection is encrypted (HTTPS). They can see the domain you visited, not the search terms you typed.