Change your default search engine in three steps

Microsoft Edge comes set to use Bing as its default search engine, but you can change it to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or several others in about two minutes. The change applies every time you search from the address bar or the search box on a new tab — Edge will use whichever engine you pick instead of Bing.

Open Edge and look at the top right corner. Click the three horizontal dots (called the menu button), then select Settings. On the left side, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down until you see the Search engine section, and click the dropdown next to "Address bar search engine". Pick the engine you want from the list, and you are done — Edge saves the change when ready.

If your preferred search engine does not appear in that dropdown list, you can add it manually. Scroll down a bit further in the same Settings page until you see Manage search engines. Click that, then click the Add button. You will need the search engine's web address and the specific format it uses for searches, which you can usually find on the engine's settings page or by searching online for "[engine name] search URL format".

Key Takeaways

  • Edge's default search engine is Bing, but you can change it to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or others through Settings in about two minutes.
  • The change applies to searches from both the address bar and the search box on new tabs.
  • If your preferred engine is not in the dropdown list, you can add it manually through the Manage search engines option.
  • Edge saves your choice when ready, so you do not need to restart the browser or confirm anything.

Where to find the search engine setting

The search engine setting lives in Edge's Settings menu, but it is not on the main page. Click the three dots in the top right corner of any Edge window. A menu will drop down — click Settings near the bottom of that menu. You will see a sidebar on the left with several categories.

Click Privacy, search, and services in that sidebar. The page will load with a lot of options, but you only need to scroll down to find the Search engine section. This section has a dropdown menu labeled "Address bar search engine" — that is where you make your choice.

Picking a search engine from the built-in list

Edge includes several search engines in its dropdown menu by default: Bing, Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and Ecosia. Click the dropdown next to "Address bar search engine" and you will see all of them listed. Click whichever one you want to use, and Edge switches to it right away.

If you are not sure which to pick, Google is the most widely used and will give you results similar to what you are used to. DuckDuckGo does not track your searches, which some people prefer for privacy. Yahoo and Ecosia are less common but work the same way — they all search the web and return results in a list you can click through.

Adding a search engine that is not in the list

If you want to use a search engine that Edge does not include by default, you can add it yourself. In the same Privacy, search, and services settings page, scroll down past the "Address bar search engine" dropdown until you see Manage search engines. Click that link.

A new section will open showing all the search engines Edge knows about. At the top, you will see an Add button. Click it, and a form will appear asking for three things: the search engine's name (what you want to call it), its web address, and the search URL format.

The search URL format is the trickiest part. Most search engines have a pattern like https://www.searchenginename.com/search?q=%s, where %s is replaced with whatever you type. You can usually find this by visiting the search engine's website, going to its settings or help page, and looking for "search URL" or "query format". If you cannot find it, search online for "[engine name] search URL format" — someone has usually documented it.

What happens after you change your default

Once you pick a new search engine, Edge uses it for all searches from the address bar and from the search box on new tabs. If you type a question or a word into the address bar, Edge sends it to your chosen engine instead of Bing. The change is permanent until you switch it again.

Changing your default search engine does not affect searches you do on websites themselves — if you go to a website and use its search box, that website still uses its own search. It only affects searches you start from Edge itself.

Switching back to Bing or trying a different engine

You can change your default search engine as many times as you want. If you pick Google and then decide you want DuckDuckGo instead, just go back to Settings, click Privacy, search, and services, and click the dropdown next to "Address bar search engine" again. Pick a different engine and Edge switches when ready.

There is no limit to how many times you can do this, and no penalty for changing your mind. Some people keep multiple search engines added and switch between them depending on what they are searching for — you can add as many as you want through the Manage search engines section.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default search engine affect my bookmarks or browsing history?

No. Changing your search engine only changes where your searches go. Your bookmarks, history, saved passwords, and all other data stay exactly the same. You can switch search engines as many times as you want without losing anything.

Can I use a different search engine on my phone version of Edge?

Yes. Open Edge on your phone, tap the three dots at the bottom right, go to Settings, then tap Search engine. You will see the same list of options. Pick whichever one you want, and it works the same way as on your computer.

What if I add a search engine manually and it does not work?

The search URL format is usually the problem. Go back to Manage search engines, find the engine you added, and check that the URL format is correct. You can edit it by clicking the three dots next to the engine name and selecting Edit. If you are still stuck, try searching online for the exact engine name plus "search URL format" to find the right pattern.

Does Edge remember which search engine I used before if I switch back to Bing?

No. Edge only remembers your current default. If you switch to Google and then back to Bing, Edge treats Bing as your default from that point forward. It does not keep a history of which engines you have used.