Why you might want Google as your default
If you arrived here from the search history article, you know that your search engine tracks what you look for. Google is one option among several — others include Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Yahoo. Setting Google as your default means every time you type a search into your browser's address bar, Google handles that search instead of whatever engine came pre-installed.
You might choose Google because you prefer how it ranks results, because you already use a Google account, or because you want to consolidate your search history in one place you can review. The steps differ slightly depending on which browser you use, but the principle is the same across all of them.
Key Takeaways
- Your browser comes with a default search engine built in, and changing it takes two to four clicks depending on which browser you use.
- Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you change the default through their settings menu, not through Google itself.
- Once you set Google as default, searches typed into the address bar go to Google, but this does not affect searches you do directly on google.com.
- Changing your default search engine does not delete your old search history — that stays with whatever engine you used before.
Setting Google as default 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, click Search engine.
You will see a list of search engines under "Search engines used in the address bar." Google should already appear in this list. Click on Google to highlight it, then click the three dots next to it and select Make default. Chrome will confirm the change when ready — you do not need to restart the browser.
Setting Google as default in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called the hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Search.
Under "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current default. Click the dropdown and select Google. Firefox saves the change right away. If Google does not appear in the dropdown, scroll down to "One-Click Search Engines" and look for Google there — you can click it to add it to your defaults, then return to the dropdown to set it as primary.
Setting Google as default in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar (on Mac) or the gear icon (on iPhone or iPad). Select Preferences on Mac or Settings on iPhone and iPad.
Click the Search tab. You will see a dropdown menu labeled "Search engine." Click it and select Google. Close the preferences window — Safari saves the change automatically. On iPhone and iPad, the setting is under Settings > Safari > Search Engine.
Setting Google as default in Microsoft Edge
Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services.
Scroll down to "Search engine" and click the dropdown menu. Select Google. Edge will explore the change when ready. If you see a message asking whether you want to switch, click Switch to confirm.
What changes and what does not
Once you set Google as your default, any search you type into your browser's address bar (also called the omnibox or search bar) will go to Google. This includes searches you type when you open a new tab. However, if you go directly to google.com and search there, that behavior does not change — it was already going to Google.
Changing your default does not affect searches you did before the change. If you used Bing as your default for three months and then switch to Google, those three months of Bing searches stay in your Bing account. Your Google search history will only show searches you do after you make the switch. You can review and delete your Google search history separately through your Google account settings if you want to.
If Google does not appear in your search engine list
Most browsers include Google in their default list, but if it is missing, you can add it. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, visit google.com, right-click the search box, and select "Add as search engine" or similar wording. The browser will then offer to add Google to your list of available engines, and you can set it as default.
In Safari, Google is always available in the dropdown — you cannot add custom search engines the way you can in other browsers. If you do not see Google in the dropdown, try restarting Safari or checking that you are using the latest version of the browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default search engine affect my Google account?
No. Your Google account and your default search engine are separate. Changing your default does not log you out, delete your account, or change any settings within Google itself. Your search history will only record new searches you do after the change.
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 computer and Bing on your phone, or any other combination. The settings do not sync across devices unless you use a browser that syncs settings through an account — Chrome does this if you are signed in.
What if my browser keeps switching back to a different search engine?
Some software or browser extensions can override your default settings. Check your installed extensions or add-ons — in Chrome, click the puzzle piece icon in the top right; in Firefox, click the three lines and select "Add-ons." Disable any extension you do not recognize, then try setting Google as default again.
Does setting Google as default mean Google will track more of my searches?
Google will record searches you do through your default setting if you are signed into a Google account. If you want to search without recording, use your browser's private or incognito mode — this prevents search history from being saved regardless of which search engine is your default.
Can I set Google as default for just some searches?
Not through browser settings. However, you can always go directly to google.com and search there, even if a different engine is your default. You can also use keyboard shortcuts in some browsers — for example, typing "g" followed by your search term in Firefox's address bar will search Google specifically.