Change your search engine in three steps
Your browser's search engine is the tool that runs when you type words into the address bar at the top of the page. By default, most browsers ship with a different search engine — Edge uses Bing, Firefox uses Google or Yahoo depending on your region, Safari uses Google. Switching to Google takes less than a minute and works the same way across every browser.
The process is always: open your browser settings, find the search engine section, and select Google from the list. Google is already available as an option in every major browser, so you will not need to read or install anything. Once you change it, every search you type into that address bar will use Google instead.
Key Takeaways
- Your browser's default search engine runs when you type into the address bar, and you can change it without affecting your browser itself.
- Google is pre-installed as an option in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, so you only need to select it in settings.
- The setting is stored in your browser alone — changing it in Chrome does not change it in Firefox or Edge.
- If you use multiple devices, you will need to change the search engine on each one separately unless your browser syncs settings across devices.
Change the search engine in Google 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 be in this list. Click on Google to select it. Chrome will when ready switch your address bar searches to Google — there is no save button or confirmation step needed.
If you want to remove other search engines from the list so they do not appear when you click the address bar, hover over the engine name and click the three dots that appear, then select Remove from list.
Change the search engine 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 the Search engine section.
Under "Search engine used in the address bar," you will see a dropdown menu showing your current search engine. Click the dropdown and select Google. Edge will switch when ready. If you want to set Google as your default for all new tabs and windows as well, make sure the toggle next to "Show search suggestions" is on, and Google will be used there too.
Change the search engine in Firefox
Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Search.
At the top of the page under "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown menu. Click it and select Google. Firefox will switch your address bar searches to Google right away. The other search engines in the list below are shortcuts that appear when you click the address bar — you can remove them by clicking the X next to each one if you prefer a cleaner list.
Change the search engine in Safari
Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the very top of your screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Click the Search tab.
Under "Search engine," you will see a dropdown menu. Click it and select Google. Close the settings window — Safari saves the change automatically. Your address bar will now search with Google.
What to do if Google does not appear in the list
Google comes pre-installed in every major browser, so it should always be available. If you do not see it in your search engine list, the most common reason is that you are looking in the wrong section of settings. Double-check that you are in the search engine or search settings area, not the homepage or general settings.
If you have searched thoroughly and Google truly is not there, your browser may have been modified by another program or extension. Try restarting your browser completely — close it entirely and open it again — then check settings once more. If Google still does not appear, you can reinstall your browser, which will restore the default search engines. Your bookmarks and passwords will not be affected.
Sync your search engine choice across devices
If you use the same browser on multiple devices — a laptop and a phone, for example — you can sync your settings so the search engine change carries over automatically. In Chrome and Edge, sign into your account in settings and turn on sync. In Firefox, sign into your Firefox account and enable sync in settings. In Safari on iPhone and iPad, your search engine setting syncs through iCloud if you have iCloud Keychain turned on.
Syncing is optional. If you do not turn it on, you will need to change the search engine separately on each device. This is useful if you want different search engines on different devices — for instance, Google on your computer and a different engine on your phone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my search engine affect my bookmarks or passwords?
No. Your search engine is a single setting that controls what happens when you type in the address bar. Bookmarks, passwords, browsing history, and extensions are all separate and will not change. You can switch search engines back and forth as many times as you want without losing anything.
What is the difference between my search engine and my homepage?
Your search engine is what runs when you type words into the address bar. Your homepage is the page that loads when you open a new tab or window. They are separate settings. You can have Google as your search engine and a different page as your homepage, or vice versa.
If I change the search engine in Chrome, will it change in Firefox too?
No. Each browser stores its own search engine setting. Changing it in Chrome does not affect Firefox, Edge, Safari, or any other browser on your computer. You will need to change the setting in each browser separately if you want them all to use Google.
Can I use Google for address bar searches but a different search engine for something else?
Most browsers let you set one default search engine for the address bar. Some browsers and extensions allow you to add multiple search engines and choose which one to use by typing a shortcut before your search, but this is more advanced. For standard use, you pick one search engine and it handles all address bar searches.
What if a website tries to change my search engine without asking?
Legitimate websites cannot change your search engine setting. If you notice your search engine has changed on its own, a browser extension or another program installed on your computer likely changed it. Check your extensions list in your browser settings and remove anything you do not recognize. Then change your search engine back to Google using the steps above.