7 Easy Ways to Make Google Your Default Search Provider

This wikiHow teaches you how to set Google as your browser's search engine. This is possible on both mobile and desktop versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, as well as Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer on desktop. If you changed your search engine but you're still being forced to use a different one, you can disable your browsers' extensions or run a virus scan on your computer to check for programs that are altering your settings.

Method 1

Method 1 of 7:

Chrome on Desktop

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It's a red, yellow, green, and blue sphere.
This icon is in the top-right corner of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.^{[1]
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It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu.^{[2]
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Scroll down and click Manage search engines. This option is in the "Search engine" section of options.^{[3]
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- You can also change the address bar's search engine back to Google in this section by clicking the "Search engine used in the address bar" drop-down box and then clicking Google.
A menu will appear.
You'll see this in the menu. Doing so sets Google as your Chrome default search engine.

Method 2

Method 2 of 7:

Chrome on Mobile

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Tap the Chrome app icon, which resembles a red, yellow, green, and blue sphere.
It's in the top-right corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.^{[4]
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This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu.^{[5]
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It's near the top of the page.^{[6]
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Doing so selects Google as your Chrome search engine.^{[7]
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Tap DONE. This will save your settings and return you to the last tab that you were on.
- Skip this step on Android.

Method 3

Method 3 of 7:

Safari on Desktop

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It's the blue, compass-shaped app icon.
This menu item is in the top-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.^{[8]
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It's near the top of the Safari drop-down menu. This will open the Preferences window.
You'll find this at the top of the Preferences window.^{[9]
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This is at the top of the Search tab. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
It's in the drop-down menu. This sets Google as Safari's search engine.

Method 4

Method 4 of 7:

Safari on iPhone

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1
Open your iPhone's
Settings. Tap the grey app with gears on it. You'll usually find this on the Home Screen.^{[10]
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Scroll down and tap Safari. It's about a third of the way down the page.^{[11]
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Tap Search Engine. You'll find this below the "SEARCH" heading.^{[12]
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Tap Google. It's at the top of the page. This will set your Safari search engine as Google.^{[13]
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Method 5

Method 5 of 7:

Firefox on Desktop

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It resembles an orange fox wrapped around a blue globe.
You'll find this in the upper-right side of the page. A drop-down menu will appear.^{[14]
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This option is in the drop-down menu.
It's either on the left side of the window (Windows) or at the top of the window (Mac).^{[15]
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This is near the top of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.^{[16]
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Doing so selects Google as your Firefox search engine.

Method 6

Method 6 of 7:

Firefox on Mobile

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Tap the Firefox app icon, which resembles an orange fox wrapped around a blue globe.
It's in the bottom-center of the screen or the top-right corner of the screen, respectively.^{[17]
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Tap Settings. It's in the pop-up menu at the bottom of the screen (iPhone) or near the bottom of the drop-down menu (Android). Doing so will open the Firefox settings menu.^{[18]
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- On iPhone, you may have to swipe left or right across the menu to bring up the Settings option.
It's near the top of the page.^{[19]
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You'll see it near the top of the page. Doing so opens a list of available of search engines.
This will select Google and set it as your Firefox search engine.

Method 7

Method 7 of 7:

Microsoft Edge

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It's the dark-blue "e" icon.
It's in the top-right side of the Edge window. A drop-down menu will appear.
This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. A menu will pop out on the right side of the page.^{[20]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
It's near the bottom of the pop-out menu.
You'll find this in the "Search in address bar with" section.^{[21]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
Doing so will select it.^{[22]
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Microsoft Support
Technical support and product information from Microsoft.

Go to source}
It's near the bottom of the menu. Doing so will change your Microsoft Edge address bar's search engine to Google.

Community Q&A

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Question

How can I set up Google to always search in the current year or month or a set time?

Community Answer

You can do that by clicking "Tools" on the right under the search bar, and then clicking where it says "Any time." It will give you several options for searching within different time frames.

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Question

What is it called when you start typing a subject in Google and a drop-down appears with possible selections?

IJDerrick

Community Answer

These drop-downs are called "suggested searches" or "search predictions." They use common searches and store them since they are so popular.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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