Why your browser might not use Google by default

When you open a new browser tab or search from the address bar, your browser sends that search to whichever search engine it was set up to use. That is not always Google. Some browsers ship with Bing, Yahoo, or a search engine your internet provider chose. Some toolbars or extensions change it without asking. The good news is that changing it back to Google takes less than a minute, and the steps are nearly the same across every browser.

Your search engine choice is separate from your browser choice. You can use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge and pick Google, Bing, or any other search engine you want. This guide covers the most common browsers. If you use a less common one, the principle is the same: look in Settings for "Search" or "Search Engine" and pick Google from the list.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default search engine is set in your browser's settings, not in Google itself, and you can change it back anytime.
  • Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge all let you pick your search engine from a short list of options in their settings menu.
  • If Google is not in the list, you can add it by entering Google's search URL, which the browser will remember for future searches.
  • Changing your search engine does not affect your Google account, your bookmarks, or anything else in your browser.
  • If a search engine keeps changing back on its own, a browser extension or toolbar is probably changing it, and you should remove that extension.

How to change your 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 Chrome knows about. Click on Google to select it. If Google is already listed, you are done — it is now your default. If you do not see Google in the list, click the dropdown that says "Search engines used in address bar" and look for an option to add a new search engine. Type "Google" as the name, then paste this into the URL field: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. Chrome will use that URL whenever you search.

How to change your 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 "Default Search Engine," you will see a dropdown menu. Click it and select Google. If Google appears in the list, selecting it is all you need to do. Firefox will now search with Google whenever you use the address bar or a search box on the home page.

How to change your search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the top menu bar (on Mac) or the gear icon (on iPhone or iPad). Select Settings or Preferences. Click the Search tab.

You will see a dropdown labeled "Search engine." Click it and select Google. That is the only step. Safari will now use Google for all searches from the address bar.

How to change your search engine in Microsoft Edge

Open Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left, click Privacy, search, and services.

Scroll down to the "Search engine" section. Click the dropdown under "Search engine used in the address bar" and select Google. If Google is not in the list, click Manage search engines, then click the plus sign to add a new one. Enter "Google" as the name and paste https://www.google.com/search?q=%s into the URL field. After you add it, go back and select it as your default.

What to do if your search engine keeps changing back

If you set Google as your default and it changes back to something else on its own, a browser extension or toolbar is probably doing it. Extensions are small programs that add features to your browser, and some are designed to change your search engine without your permission.

To find and remove the culprit, open your browser's extension or add-on menu. In Chrome, click the three dots, then More tools, then Extensions. In Firefox, click the hamburger menu and select Add-ons and themes. In Safari, click Safari in the menu bar, then Settings, then Extensions. In Edge, click the three dots and select Extensions. Look for anything you do not recognize or anything related to search. Click the remove or delete button. Then set Google as your default search engine again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my search engine affect my Google account or Gmail?

No. Your search engine setting is only about where searches go when you use the address bar. It does not change your Google account, your Gmail inbox, your saved passwords, or anything else. You can still log into Google services normally.

What if Google is not showing up in my search engine list?

Google should appear in the list by default in any major browser. If it does not, you can add it manually by copying Google's search URL into your browser's "add search engine" option. The URL is https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. After you add it, select it as your default.

Can I use different search engines for different things?

Most browsers let you set one default search engine for the address bar, but you can always go to Google.com directly and search there, or use a different search engine's website anytime you want. Some browsers also let you right-click in a search box and choose which engine to use for that specific search.

Does my internet provider need to know I changed my search engine?

No. Your search engine choice is a setting on your computer or phone, not something your internet provider controls or sees. Changing it is entirely up to you and does not require permission or notification.