Every browser has its own default search engine to make online search like shooting fish in a barrel for users. For instance, Chrome and Safari iOS utilize Google, while Edge uses Bing.

But what if y'all don't similar the browser's default search engine? Lucky for you, every standard browser — Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera — allows yous to alter which search engine it uses. Oft, they likewise include options to add custom search engines from across the web.

The verbal procedure depends on your browser and device. Whether you're a mobile or computer user, we'll give you detailed instructions on how to alter the default search engine.

Bank check out our video guide to changing the default search engine:

What Is the Default Search Engine?

Did you lot know that your browser's address bar isn't just for visiting websites? Yous tin also use it to search the web automatically.

Every web browser has its own default search provider. When y'all endeavor to search the accost bar, it will automatically redirect you to the site preferred by your browser.

The default search engine is listed in the address bar.
The default search engine is listed in the accost bar.

It's a lot faster than manually visiting a site like Google and and then typing your query since you tin skip an entire stride. But if the default search engine is a site you're non addicted of, you may desire to change it.

Y'all can always visit your search engine of choice by typing its web address into the address bar, only there's no reason to get through all that trouble when you can prepare it equally the default search engine, then admission information technology right in the accost bar.

Wondering what the default search engine fifty-fifty is? Here's the complete listing for all major browsers covered past this guide:

  • Chrome: Google
  • Firefox: Google (previously Yahoo)
  • Border: Bing
  • Cyberspace Explorer: Bing
  • Safari: Google
  • Opera: Google

While Google is the pop default choice for near browsers, you can choice the one yous prefer. Many browsers come preloaded with a list of other search engines to choose from, or you tin can add your own.

Desire to change the default search engine on your browser? ✅ It has never been easier ⬇️ Click to Tweet

Why Alter Your Browser'due south Default Search Engine?

There is ane large reason you might want to switch information technology upward: Google tends to be the become-to default for most browsers. But information technology'southward no big cloak-and-dagger that Google is tracking you, and some users are uncomfortable with the invasion of privacy. If that's y'all, you may not even want to search with it accidentally.

Alternatives similar DuckDuckGo, a search provider dedicated to protecting your anonymity, maybe a better alternative if you have privacy concerns. This search engine is at present a default option on many privacy-focused browsers (east.g. Brave browser).

On the other hand, Border users may prefer Google over Bing. They may too dislike breaking from standards, considering that almost every major browser uses Google, the most popular search engine.

You may besides not desire to apply a dedicated search engine only a smaller website'southward search function. For instance, if you use your device primarily for enquiry, y'all could make Wikipedia your get-to quick search tool.

Or information technology all may but come downwards to personal preference.

How to Alter the Default Search Engine (All Browsers)

Whatever browser you may be using, regardless of whether you lot're on a reckoner or a mobile device, irresolute the default search engine shouldn't be hard. If yous're unsure where to start or where to find the proper settings, these tips volition walk y'all through every footstep.

Google Chrome

With Google Chrome open, first expect for the row of triple dots in the pinnacle right corner of your screen. Click information technology, and then most the bottom, find the Settings push button.

Google Chrome Settings
Opening Settings in Google Chrome.

Open the Settings page, then look to the left for a quick link to the Search engine tab, or scroll until you find it.

You should come across a drop-down bill of fare to the correct of the Search engine used in the address bar option. Click it and pick the search engine you similar.

Selecting the search engine used in the address bar.
Selecting the search engine used in the address bar.

Alternatively, y'all tin can click Manage search engines, then click the vertical three dots adjacent to the one y'all desire and select Make default.

Mobile users: Open the Google Chrome app and tap the iii dots next to the address bar, then Settings.

Detect the Search engine under the Basics section. Then select the search engine you lot want to use.

Firefox

Look for Firefox's carte button, resembling three horizontal lines, in the top right corner. So click the Options link located side by side to a gear symbol to open the Settings menu.

Opening the Options menu in Firefox.
Opening the Options menu in Firefox.

In that location should be a Search button with a magnifying glass icon on the left side of the screen. Click it to bring up Search options.

Expect for the Default Search Engine section with a drib-downwardly. Firefox comes with six defaults: Google, Amazon, Bing, DuckDuckGo, eBay, and Wikipedia. Select the one you like.

Changing the default search engine used in Firefox.
Changing the default search engine used in Firefox.

Mobile users: Tap the menu button next to the accost bar, which looks like a vertical row of three dots. Tap Settings, then on the Settings folio, Search. You'll meet a list of default search engines to cull from here.

Edge

You can detect Edge's settings by clicking the horizontal line of dots at the top right of the screen, then Settings. Click Privacy, search, and services, scroll to the Services section, then click the Address bar and search at the very bottom of the list.

Accessing the default search and address bar menu in Edge.
Accessing the default search and address bar menu in Edge.

You lot should run across a section labeled Search engine used in the accost bar with a dropdown menu. You tin choice from Bing, Yahoo, Google, DuckDuckGo, and YouTube past default.

You can also click Manage search engines, so click the three dots next to the search engine y'all want to use and click Brand default.

Manage search engines menu in Edge.
Manage search engines menu in Edge.

Mobile users: To find your settings, tap the row of dots on the screen'south bottom bar and click Settings. Under Advanced, expect for the Search option. Select the Default search engine, and so select from the list of search providers.

Internet Explorer

Internet Explorer is an unsupported browser, and we recommend y'all update to a modern browser for security reasons. Nevertheless, many people still use it today, peculiarly in legacy corporate environments where users have no choice but to use outdated applications.

The procedure of irresolute your default search engine on IE is a picayune more confusing, but y'all can even so exercise it.

To become to the settings, click the gear symbol at the top of the screen, so Manage add-ons.

Managing add-ons in Internet Explorer.
Managing add together-ons in Net Explorer.

In the window that pops up, await beneath Addition Types, and so click Search Providers. Past default, Bing is the only provider listed.

If you've added other search engines, select the one you adopt and then click Set as default.

Changing the default search engine in Internet Explorer.
Changing the default search engine in Net Explorer.

Safari

Equally the default browser for Apple devices, you tin utilize Safari on both iPhone and Mac. While Safari versions exist for other operating systems, they're outdated, and you should avoid them.

If you lot use Safari on a MacBook or iMac, look for the menu window along the acme of your browser. Choose the outset selection, which is Safari, and click Preferences. Next, tap the Search tab at the peak of the screen. You lot have your option of Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ecosia, or DuckDuckGo.

Subscribe Now

iOS users: Instead of looking in the browser itself, open your phone's settings and look for the Safari department. Beneath Search, tap Search Engine. You accept the same v search engines to cull from equally in the desktops.

Opera

Open Opera'southward settings by clicking the gear on the left-side panel. Scroll downwardly to the Search engine section and expect for the dropdown next to the Search engine used in the address bar. You lot tin can pick betwixt Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, Amazon, Bing, and Wikipedia.

Changing the default search engine in Opera.
Changing the default search engine in Opera.

Mobile users: Open Opera and tap the logo in the bottom correct of the screen, so tap Settings. Scroll until you lot see the Default search engine listed under Search.

Y'all take a few extra options compared to the desktop version: Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Amazon, eBay, IMDB, and Wikipedia. Select the one you desire from the list.

How to Add together or Remove a Custom Search Engine

Allow's say you add together your favorite search engine, but you discover it isn't on the listing. What and so?

If that's the example, you'll have to put it in manually. While this is easier on some browsers than others, all but Safari and Opera Mini have some manner to add together search engines other than the default ones they provide.

Y'all might also detect that your list contains websites y'all're non interested in, every bit they're sometimes added to the list automatically. If this annoys you, you tin can remove them.

Luckily, these settings aren't far from where yous change the default search engine.

Google Chrome

By default, Google Chrome only includes Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia in the list of default search engines. If yous have a dissimilar one in listen, you'll have to add information technology manually.

Open the settings page for Chrome by clicking the three dots in the top right corner followed by Settings, and whorl until you reach the Search engine section. Then click Manage search engines.

To add together a search engine, click Add next to Other search engines and fill out the field.

  • In the Search engine field, add a characterization. It can be whatever you desire.
  • In Keyword, enter a give-and-take or URL you desire to trigger the quick search function in Chrome. For case, to offset Google's quick search function, type "google.com" in the address bar and press Space on your keyboard.
  • Finally, enter the search URL. To find the correct URL, search the site you desire to add. Your URL may wait something like http://www.example.com/search?q=kinsta. For this example, supercede kinsta with %south to leave your initial query bare.
Adding search engine options in Google Chrome.
Adding search engine options in Google Chrome.

Alternatively, yous can visit your preferred search engine site and search there to add information technology to your browser'southward list automatically.

You can also delete search engines, including default engines. Just click the row of dots next to them, and then click Remove from list.

Mobile users: At that place's currently no manner to add a custom search engine manually, but you tin can automatically add it past visiting the website you want to add together and performing a search. You can then find it on your settings page nether Nuts > Search engine.

Firefox

Firefox comes with a multifariousness of ways to add together new search engines.

To add them through the Settings page, open up the carte du jour next to the accost bar, and so get to Options, followed by Search. Scroll to the bottom of the Search page and click Find more search engines. You can so download a Firefox extension that will add search tools to your browser.

Firefox settings for adding or removing search engine extensions.
Firefox settings for calculation or removing search engine extensions.

If yous don't want to download an extension, there are other options.

First, visit your search engine'south website. If you've enabled the carve up search bar in Search settings (located next to the address bar), y'all'll see a light-green plus symbol announced over the magnifying drinking glass icon. Click it, and you should see an option to add together your search engine.

If you're not using the search bar, click instead on the horizontal row of three dots in the accost bar. So click Add Search Engine.

Adding a search engine to Firefox.
Adding a search engine to Firefox.

Removing a search engine is easy. On the Settings folio, scroll to Search Shortcuts and highlight the search engine you want to delete. Click the Remove push button, and Firefox will delete it from your search shortcuts and the Default Search Engine dropdown.

If y'all used an extension to add together the search engine, then yous'll need to uninstall that extension.

Mobile users: Oddly enough, Firefox for Android includes adding search engines manually, whereas its desktop version doesn't.

Tap the carte button to visit the Settings page, and then get to the Search settings. Tap Add search engine, so Other. Proper name the search engine, so place the URL in the Search string to use field.

Like Chrome, y'all demand to get the proper URL by visiting the website and searching. Copy the URL, then replace the query you entered with %s.

Border

Much like Firefox, Edge relies on the OpenSearch standard to automatically add in search engines every bit you browse. To add together a search engine, visit its website and search. You should then exist able to replace your default search engine in the settings as discussed previously.

This dominion applies whether you're on the desktop or mobile version of Edge.

You can also add a search engine by visiting Settings >Manage search engines and clicking Add. It'southward identical to Google Chrome'southward prompt for adding search engines — enter a label for the website, a keyword to activate quick search functionality, and finally link the URL with %s replacing your search query.

Adding a new search engine option to the address bar in Edge.
Adding a new search engine option to the accost bar in Border.

Removing a search engine requires visiting Settings, clicking Manage search engines, and clicking the three dots. Then click Remove to delete them.

Cyberspace Explorer

Open up the Settings folio by navigating to Tools (gear symbol) > Manage add-ons > Addition Types > Search Providers. Since Internet Explorer only comes with Bing, you'll need to include additional engines manually.

At the bottom of the pop-upwardly window, click Find more search providers. From there, you can install various addons that will permit you to search with different engines.

Selecting from search engine add-ons in Internet Explorer.
Selecting from search engine add together-ons in Internet Explorer.

Remove a search engine you lot installed, select it in the Search Providers list, and then click Remove.

Safari

Unfortunately, there is no built-in mode to add additional search engines in Safari for iOS or Mac. You can all the same manually navigate to a website to use its search feature, but at that place'south no way to add their quick search to your Safari address bar.

You may exist able to look through Safari'south congenital-in Extension Library for a plugin, such as Anysearch, which allows yous to add new search engines to your list.

Opera

In Opera'south settings, under Search engine, wait for the button labeled Manage search engines. Adjacent, click Add together, and you lot'll see a window where you tin manually add together in your favorite search provider.

Every bit usual, enter the search engine'south label, a keyword to activate quick search (for example, typing "g" into Opera's address bar will initiate a quick Google search), and the search URL with %due south swapped out in place of your query.

Adding a search engine option to Opera.
Adding a search engine option to Opera.

One matter is different here compared to other browsers that allow y'all to add search engines manually: Opera supports websites such as StartPage, which use Mail HTTP asking methods rather than GET. Unless y'all know you're using such a site, exit this box blank.

Yous cannot delete whatsoever of the default search engines, as they're part of the browser. Just if you lot've added a website you lot no longer want, click the line of dots side by side to it and select Remove from list.

Mobile users: At that place is currently no fashion to add a custom search engine to Opera Mini or remove any from the default list.

Whether you're a mobile or desktop user, this guide has everything you need to know to change your default search engine 👩‍💻 Click to Tweet

Summary

Most people have a potent opinion on which search engine is best. It can exist frustrating when your browser defaults to the one you don't like.

Luckily, changing your search engine and adding in a amend one is an like shooting fish in a barrel task on any device. No thing how unconventional your preferred search engine is, information technology should work perfectly as long as you lot follow these instructions.

Unfortunately, some browsers, especially mobile browsers, may not back up manually adding search engines — and some don't support adding extra search engines at all (due east.g. Safari).

If you find yourself struggling to utilize a search provider yous like, often your best option is to switch browsers. Y'all can always check out the browser market share for 2022 to see if a better alternative exists.

Save time, costs and maximize site performance with:

  • Instant help from WordPress hosting experts, 24/7.
  • Cloudflare Enterprise integration.
  • Global audition reach with 29 information centers worldwide.
  • Optimization with our born Application Performance Monitoring.

All of that and much more, in i plan with no long-term contracts, assisted migrations, and a 30-day-money-dorsum-guarantee. Bank check out our plans or talk to sales to observe the plan that's correct for y'all.