Chrome uses Google as the default search engine, but you can change it if you have switched to something else
When you type a question or term into Chrome's address bar (called the omnibox), Chrome sends that search to whatever search engine you have set as default. Most people find Google is already set, but if you have switched to Bing, Yahoo, or another search engine and want to go back to Google, the change takes about one minute.
The setting lives in Chrome's search engine menu, not in the main settings page. You reach it by typing directly into the address bar, then telling Chrome which engine to use for those searches. This guide walks you through finding that menu and switching back to Google.
Key Takeaways
- Chrome's search engine setting is in the search engine menu, not the main settings page, and you reach it through the address bar.
- You can see which search engine is currently set by clicking the three-dot menu, selecting Settings, then clicking Search Engine on the left side.
- To change to Google, click the current search engine name in that menu and select Google from the dropdown list.
- After you change the setting, the next time you type in the address bar, Chrome will use Google instead of your previous search engine.
Open Chrome's search engine settings
Start by opening Chrome and clicking the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the window. This menu holds all of Chrome's settings and tools.
From the dropdown menu, click Settings. A new tab will open showing Chrome's main settings page. On the left side of that page, you will see a list of categories. Click Search engine from that list. This takes you to the search engine menu where you can see and change your default search engine.
See which search engine is currently set
Once you are in the Search engine section, you will see a row labeled Search engine used in the address bar. Next to that label is the name of whichever search engine Chrome is currently using — it might say Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, or another option.
Below that row is a dropdown list showing all the search engines Chrome knows about. This list includes Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and sometimes others depending on websites you have visited. If Google does not appear in the list, you may need to visit Google.com first so Chrome can add it as an option.
Switch to Google
Click on the name of your current search engine (the one shown in the Search engine used in the address bar row). A dropdown menu will appear showing all available search engines. Look for Google in that list and click it.
Chrome will when ready update the setting. You do not need to click Save or confirm anything — the change happens as soon as you click Google's name. You can close the Settings tab and go back to browsing.
Test that the change worked
To confirm Google is now your default search engine, click the address bar at the top of the Chrome window and type a test question or search term. Before you press Enter, look at the text below the address bar — it should show a preview that says "Search with Google" or similar language. This tells you Chrome is about to send your search to Google.
Press Enter to run the search. Google's results page should appear. If you see results from a different search engine instead, go back to the Settings menu and repeat the steps above to make sure Google was selected.
Add Google to the search engine list if it is missing
If Google does not appear in the dropdown list of search engines, Chrome has not yet learned about it. The fastest way to add it is to visit Google.com directly. Open a new tab, type google.com in the address bar, and press Enter. Once you have visited the site, go back to Settings and check the Search engine menu — Google should now appear in the dropdown list.
After Google appears in the list, click on it to set it as your default. You will not need to visit Google.com again unless you clear your browser data or use a fresh Chrome profile.
What to do if you cannot find the search engine setting
If the Search engine option does not appear on the left side of the Settings page, you may be using a version of Chrome that has moved this setting. Try clicking Search engine in the search box at the top of the Settings page instead — type "search engine" and Chrome will highlight the setting for you.
If you are using Chrome on a work or school computer, your administrator may have locked the search engine setting so you cannot change it. In that case, you will see a message saying the setting is managed by your organization. Contact your IT department or administrator if you need to change it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my search engine affect my bookmarks or browsing history?
No. Changing your search engine only changes where Chrome sends searches you type into the address bar. Your bookmarks, history, saved passwords, and all other data remain exactly the same. You can change your search engine back and forth as many times as you want without losing anything.
Why does Chrome sometimes use a different search engine even though I set it to Google?
If you have installed a browser extension, that extension may have changed your search engine without asking. Check your extensions by clicking the three-dot menu, selecting More tools, then Extensions. Look for any extension you do not recognize or trust, and click the trash icon to remove it. After you remove the extension, your search engine setting should stay on Google.
Can I use different search engines for different searches?
Chrome does not have a built-in way to assign different search engines to different types of searches. However, you can always type the search engine's web address directly — for example, typing bing.com into the address bar will take you to Bing, where you can search from there. Your default setting only affects searches you run from the address bar.
What if I want to use Google for address bar searches but a different search engine for website searches?
Chrome does not separate these two types of searches. Whatever search engine you set as default will handle both address bar searches and searches within websites. If you need different search engines for different purposes, you would need to manually visit each search engine's website instead of using the address bar shortcut.