Where to find the search engine setting

Your default search engine is the one that runs when you type words into the address bar instead of a full web address. Changing it takes two to five minutes and works the same way in Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge — you go into settings, find the search section, and pick a different engine from a dropdown list.

The setting lives in your browser's preferences or settings menu, not in your operating system. This means you can have a different default search engine in Chrome than you do in Firefox on the same computer, and changing it in one browser does not affect the others.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is set in your browser's settings menu under a section labeled Search, Search Engine, or similar, and you change it by selecting a different option from a dropdown list.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you change this setting, but the exact menu path and available options differ slightly between browsers.
  • If your default search engine keeps changing back on its own, a browser extension or unwanted software may be overriding your choice, and you should check your installed extensions first.
  • Some search engines like Google, Bing, and DuckDuckGo are built into most browsers by default, while others require you to add them manually through their website.

Changing the default search engine in Chrome

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

You will see a list of search engines already installed in Chrome, usually Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo. Click the radio button next to the one you want to use. That engine is now your default — the next time you type in the address bar, Chrome will use it to search.

If the search engine you want is not in the list, scroll down to the section labeled Other search engines and click Add. You will need the search engine's website address and the format it uses for searches. Most search engines provide this information on their settings page.

Changing the default search engine in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Search.

Under the section labeled Default Search Engine, you will see a dropdown menu showing your current choice. Click it and select a different search engine. Firefox comes with Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, and Wikipedia as built-in options. Your new choice takes effect when ready.

To add a search engine that is not in the list, scroll down to One-Click Search Engines. Visit the website of the search engine you want to add, find its search box, right-click inside it, and select Add a Keyword for this Search. Firefox will then let you use that engine from the address bar.

Changing the default search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of the screen. Select Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the Search tab.

You will see a dropdown menu labeled Search engine. Click it and choose from Google, Yahoo, Bing, or DuckDuckGo. Safari does not allow you to add custom search engines the way Firefox and Chrome do, so your options are limited to these four.

Changing the default search engine in Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to the section labeled Search engine.

Click the dropdown menu under Search engine used in the address bar and select your preferred option. Edge includes Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo. If you want to add a different search engine, click Manage search engines, then Add, and enter the search engine's website and search format.

When your default search engine keeps changing back

If you set a new default search engine but it reverts to the old one the next time you open your browser, a browser extension or unwanted software is likely overriding your choice. Start by checking your installed extensions.

In Chrome, click the three dots, go to More tools, then Extensions. Look for any extension you do not recognize or did not intentionally install. Click the trash icon to remove it. In Firefox, click the three lines, select Add-ons and extensions, and remove anything suspicious. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, select Settings, click Extensions, and uninstall anything unfamiliar.

If removing extensions does not solve the problem, your computer may have unwanted software installed. Run a full scan with your antivirus program or use a dedicated malware removal tool. Some unwanted programs install themselves deep enough that they override browser settings even after you change them.

Why you might want to change your search engine

Google is the default in most browsers, but other search engines exist for different reasons. Bing integrates with Microsoft services and rewards searches with points you can redeem. DuckDuckGo does not track your search history or sell data to advertisers. Yahoo and Ecosia have their own features — Ecosia plants trees with search revenue.

Some people change their default search engine because they prefer how a different engine ranks results, because they want more privacy, or because they use a service that works better with a particular search engine. There is no single best choice — it depends on what matters to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a different default search engine on different websites?

No. Your default search engine applies to all searches you do in the address bar. However, you can visit any search engine's website directly and search there without changing your default. You can also use search engine shortcuts in Firefox and Chrome — right-click a search box on any website and add it as a one-click option.

What if I want to use a search engine that is not in my browser's list?

Most browsers let you add custom search engines if you know the search format the engine uses. Visit the search engine's website, find its settings page, and look for information about how to add it to a browser. Firefox and Chrome both have straightforward ways to add custom engines; Safari does not support this feature.

Does 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 you use does not delete old searches or change where they are stored. If you want to clear your search history, you do that in your browser's privacy settings, not in the search engine settings.

Why does my browser keep suggesting a search engine I did not choose?

Your browser may show suggestions for search engines you have used before, even if they are not your default. This is normal behavior. If a search engine appears in your dropdown list that you never added, it may have been installed by an extension or by your browser during an update. You can remove it by going to your search engine settings and clicking the remove or delete option next to it.