You can change your search engine in the browser settings, usually in under a minute

Your browser comes with a default search engine — Google, Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo depending on which browser you use. When you type in the address bar without a full web address, the browser sends that search to whichever engine is set as default. You can change this to any search engine you prefer, and the change takes effect when ready.

The steps differ slightly between browsers, but the setting lives in the same place: your browser's search settings or preferences. You do not need to uninstall anything or read a new browser. You also do not need to use an extension — though some people do use search extensions for specific reasons, like privacy or specialized searches.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is set in your browser's settings, not your computer's settings, and changing it takes two to three clicks.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you choose from a list of built-in search engines or add a custom one.
  • Some search engines like DuckDuckGo and Startpage focus on privacy; others like Google and Bing track your searches to build a profile.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect your browsing history, saved passwords, or any other browser data.
  • If a search engine does not appear in your browser's built-in list, you can often add it manually by finding its search URL.

How to change your search engine in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Search engine in the left sidebar. You will see a list of search engines Chrome already knows about: Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia are usually there.

Click the one you want to use as your default. That is it — your next search from the address bar will use that engine. If you want to use a search engine that is not on the list, scroll down to Other search engines and click Add. You will need the search engine's name and its search URL, which you can usually find by searching the engine's help page for "add to browser" or "search URL".

How to change your search engine in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top right. Select Settings, then click Search in the left sidebar. Under Default Search Engine, you will see a dropdown menu with Firefox's built-in options: Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, and others depending on your region.

Click the dropdown and select the engine you want. If you want to add a search engine that is not listed, scroll down to One-Click Search Engines. You can add a custom search engine here, though you will need its search URL. Some search engines let you right-click in their search box and select "Add as a search engine" — if yours does, Firefox will fill in the URL for you.

How to change your search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar, then select Settings (or Preferences on older Macs). Click the Search tab. Under Search engine, you will see a dropdown with Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.

Click the dropdown and choose the one you want. Safari does not have a built-in way to add a custom search engine the way Chrome and Firefox do, so you are limited to these four options. If you need a different search engine, you can use a search extension instead.

How to change your search engine in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar. Scroll down to Search engine and click the dropdown under Address bar search engine. You will see Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and others.

Select the one you want. If you want to add a custom search engine, scroll down further to Address bar search engine and look for Manage search engines. Click Add and enter the search engine's name and search URL. Edge will then offer it as an option in your dropdown menu.

Privacy differences between common search engines

Different search engines handle your data differently. Google and Bing track your searches and tie them to your account (if you are signed in), building a profile of your interests over time. This profile is used for targeted ads. Yahoo uses Bing's search results but adds its own tracking on top.

DuckDuckGo and Startpage do not track your searches at all — they do not store your search history or tie searches to your identity. DuckDuckGo uses its own index plus results from other sources; Startpage returns Google results but strips out Google's tracking. Ecosia is a for-profit search engine that does not track you and donates its profits to tree-planting projects. The trade-off is that these privacy-focused engines may return fewer results or slightly less relevant results than Google.

Changing your search engine does not change what data your internet service provider or your network administrator can see — they can still see that you are searching, just not which search engine you use. If privacy is your main concern, using a privacy-focused search engine is one piece of a larger picture that includes using a VPN, clearing your cookies, and adjusting your browser's tracking settings.

What happens to your old search history when you switch

Changing your default search engine does not delete your search history in your old search engine. If you used Google for years and switch to DuckDuckGo, your Google search history stays in your Google account. You can delete it yourself by going to your Google account settings and clearing your search history, but the browser change alone does not do this.

Your new search engine will start keeping its own record of your searches from that point forward — unless you choose a search engine that does not track, or unless you use private browsing mode. If you want a clean break, log out of your old search engine's account before switching, or use your browser's private browsing mode (Incognito in Chrome, Private Window in Firefox) so no searches are recorded at all.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different search engine for different searches?

Yes. You can set one search engine as your default for the address bar, but you can also visit other search engines directly and search from their websites. Some people set DuckDuckGo as their default but still visit Google.com when they want Google's results. You can also use search extensions that let you choose which engine to use for each search.

Will changing my search engine affect my bookmarks or passwords?

No. Your bookmarks, saved passwords, autofill data, and browsing history are all stored separately from your search engine setting. Changing your search engine touches only that one setting and does not affect anything else in your browser.

What if I want to switch back to my original search engine?

Go back to your browser's search settings and select your original search engine from the dropdown. The change is when ready. You can switch back and forth as many times as you want with no penalty or loss of data.

Why would a search engine not show up in my browser's list?

Browsers only include search engines that meet certain technical standards and have enough users to be worth supporting. Smaller or newer search engines may not be on the list. You can usually add them manually if you have their search URL, or you can visit their website directly and search from there instead of using the address bar.

Does changing my search engine make me more private online?

It is one piece of the puzzle. A privacy-focused search engine like DuckDuckGo does not track your searches, but your internet service provider can still see that you are searching, and websites you visit can still track you. For stronger privacy, combine a privacy search engine with private browsing mode, regular cookie clearing, and adjusting your browser's tracking prevention settings.