Change your default search engine in Chrome settings

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings, then click Search engine in the left menu. Under "Search engine used in the address bar," you'll see a dropdown showing your current default — click it to see all available options and select a different one.

Chrome comes with Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo built in. If you want to use a search engine not on that list, you can add it manually. Scroll down to "Other search engines" and click Add. Type the search engine name, the shortcut you want to use (like "d" for DuckDuckGo), and the search URL — most search engines display this information in their settings or help pages.

Your choice takes effect immediately. Any time you type in the address bar and press Enter, Chrome will search using whichever engine you selected. If you change your mind later, you can return to the same menu and pick a different default.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Chrome settings, go to Search engine, and click the dropdown under "Search engine used in the address bar" to switch between Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo.
  • You can add a search engine that is not on Chrome's built-in list by going to "Other search engines" and entering the engine's name, a keyboard shortcut, and its search URL.
  • Your default search engine change applies immediately to searches typed in the address bar.
  • Changing your default search engine does not affect searches you perform on websites themselves — only searches you start from Chrome's address bar.

Why you might want to change your search engine

Google is Chrome's default because Google owns Chrome, but that does not mean it is the best choice for you. Some people prefer DuckDuckGo because it does not track your searches. Others use Bing to earn Microsoft Rewards points, or Yahoo because it integrates with their email account. Some workplaces require employees to use a specific search engine for security reasons.

Changing your default does not prevent you from using other search engines — you can always type a URL directly into the address bar (like duckduckgo.com) and search there instead. But setting a default means you do not have to type the full address every time.

Add a search engine that is not built into Chrome

If your preferred search engine is not in Chrome's dropdown list, you can add it yourself. Go to Settings > Search engine, scroll to "Other search engines," and click Add. You will need three pieces of information: the name of the search engine, a keyboard shortcut (usually one letter), and the search URL.

The search URL is the tricky part. Visit the search engine's website, perform a test search, and look at the address bar. The URL will contain your search term — replace it with %s. For example, if you search for "weather" on a search engine and the URL becomes example.com/search?q=weather, you would enter example.com/search?q=%s as the search URL. Most search engines publish this information in their settings or documentation.

Once you save it, the new search engine appears in your dropdown list and you can set it as your default.

Use keyboard shortcuts to search with different engines

You do not have to change your default search engine to use multiple engines quickly. Chrome lets you assign a keyboard shortcut to each search engine you have added. When you type that shortcut in the address bar followed by your search term, Chrome searches using that specific engine instead of your default.

For example, if you set the shortcut "d" for DuckDuckGo, you can type d in the address bar, press Tab, type your search, and press Enter — Chrome will search DuckDuckGo without changing your default. This is useful if you want to keep Google as your default but occasionally search with a different engine.

To see or change a search engine's keyboard shortcut, go to Settings > Search engine, find the engine in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Edit.

Troubleshoot if your default search engine keeps changing

Sometimes malware or unwanted browser extensions change your default search engine without permission. If you set a default and it keeps reverting to something else, check your extensions first. Click the puzzle piece icon in the top right of Chrome, look for any extensions you do not recognize or trust, and click the trash icon to remove them.

If removing extensions does not solve the problem, run a malware scan using your computer's built-in security tool (Windows Defender on Windows, or Malwarebytes on any system). Malware can override your Chrome settings even after you change them. After scanning, restart Chrome and reset your default search engine again.

If the problem persists, you can reset Chrome to its default settings entirely. Go to Settings > Advanced > Reset and clean up, then click Restore settings to their original defaults. This will erase your default search engine choice along with other settings, so you will need to set it again afterward.

Understand the difference between address bar search and website search

Your default search engine only controls what happens when you type in Chrome's address bar at the top of the page. It does not change how search works on individual websites. If you visit Google.com and search there, you are using Google's search regardless of your Chrome default. The same applies to Bing.com, Yahoo.com, or any other search website.

Some websites have their own search boxes (like searching within Amazon or Wikipedia). These are separate from your browser's default search engine and will not be affected by your Chrome settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use different search engines on different devices?

Yes. Your Chrome settings sync across devices if you are signed into the same Google account, so your default search engine will be the same on your phone, tablet, and computer. If you want different defaults on different devices, you can sign out of your Google account on one device, or change the setting on that device after signing in.

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

No. Your bookmarks, history, saved passwords, and all other Chrome data remain unchanged. Changing your search engine only affects where searches from the address bar go.

What if I want to search with a different engine just one time?

Visit the search engine's website directly and search there. You can also type the search engine's URL in the address bar (like duckduckgo.com) and search from that page without changing your default.

Does Chrome remember which search engine I used before?

No. Chrome always uses your default search engine for address bar searches. If you want to use different engines regularly, set up keyboard shortcuts for each one so you can switch between them quickly.

Can I remove a search engine from the dropdown list?

Yes. Go to Settings > Search engine, find the engine you want to remove in the "Other search engines" section, click the three dots next to it, and select Remove. You cannot remove the built-in engines (Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo), but you can remove any custom search engines you added.