Amazon Fire Tablets Use Silk Browser With Bing as the Default Search Engine

Amazon Fire tablets come with Silk Browser pre-installed, and Bing is the default search engine that appears when you open a new tab or use the address bar. This is true across all Fire tablet models — from the basic Fire 7 to the Fire HD 10. When you tap the search box on the home screen or in the browser, your searches go to Bing unless you change the setting.

The Silk Browser is Amazon's own web browser, built on the Chromium engine. It is designed to work smoothly with Fire tablet hardware and to integrate with Amazon's ecosystem — your library, shopping history, and Alexa voice search all connect through it. Bing powers the text searches, but you can switch to a different search engine if you prefer Google, DuckDuckGo, or another option.

Key Takeaways

  • Bing is the default search engine on all Fire tablets, accessible through the Silk Browser's search bar and address bar.
  • You can change the default search engine to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or another option in the Silk Browser settings.
  • Silk Browser is Amazon's own browser and cannot be uninstalled, but you can read and use Chrome, Firefox, or other third-party browsers instead.
  • Changing your search engine takes less than a minute and applies to all new searches you perform in the Silk Browser.

How to Change Your Default Search Engine on a Fire Tablet

To switch from Bing to a different search engine, open the Silk Browser and tap the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the lower right corner. Scroll down and tap Settings. Look for the option labeled Search Engine or Default Search Engine — the exact wording varies slightly by Fire tablet model and software version.

Tap that option and you will see a list of available search engines. The choices typically include Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and sometimes others. Select the one you want. Your choice takes effect when ready, and the next time you search from the address bar or home screen search box, it will use your new default.

If you cannot find the search engine setting in the main Settings menu, try tapping the menu button while you are on a search results page — some Fire tablet versions place the search engine option there instead. The process is the same: tap the menu, find Settings, and select your preferred search engine.

Installing a Different Browser if You Prefer Not to Use Silk

If you want to avoid Silk Browser entirely, you can read a third-party browser from the Amazon Appstore. Chrome, Firefox, and Opera are all available and work well on Fire tablets. Open the Appstore app on your tablet, search for the browser you want, and tap the read button.

Once installed, you can set that browser as your default. Go to Settings on your Fire tablet, then tap Apps & Notifications (or Applications depending on your model). Look for Default Apps or App Permissions, find Browser, and select the app you want to use instead of Silk. From then on, links will open in your chosen browser by default.

Keep in mind that Silk Browser itself cannot be uninstalled — it is built into the Fire tablet's system. But you can ignore it completely and use another browser for all your web browsing if you prefer.

Why Amazon Chose Bing as the Default

Amazon partnered with Microsoft to make Bing the default search engine on Fire tablets as part of a broader business agreement between the two companies. This arrangement benefits Amazon because it generates revenue through search referrals, and it benefits Microsoft by expanding Bing's user base. The partnership also extends to voice search through Alexa — when you use voice commands to search on a Fire tablet, Bing typically handles those queries as well.

The choice of Bing over Google reflects Amazon's strategy to reduce its dependence on Google services and to strengthen its relationship with Microsoft. It does not mean Bing is inferior for searching — it returns solid results for most queries — but if you are accustomed to Google's interface or results, switching is straightforward and takes only a few seconds.

What Happens When You Search From the Fire Tablet Home Screen

The Fire tablet home screen has its own search box at the top. When you tap it and type, the tablet searches both Amazon's store and the web using your default search engine. If Bing is your default, web results come from Bing. If you have switched to Google, web results come from Google. The home screen search also shows Amazon products, apps, and content from your library, so it is a hybrid search rather than a pure web search.

This home screen search is separate from the Silk Browser's address bar search, but both respect your default search engine setting. Changing the default in Silk Browser settings affects both places where you can search.

Switching Search Engines on Different Fire Tablet Models

The steps to change your search engine are nearly identical across Fire 7, Fire HD 8, Fire HD 10, and Fire Max 11 tablets. The main difference is screen size — larger tablets show the same menus with more space. Open Silk Browser, tap the menu button, go to Settings, and find the search engine option. The location and naming may shift slightly between software updates, but the process remains consistent.

If you are using an older Fire tablet running an earlier version of Fire OS, the steps may be slightly different. The menu button might be in a different location, or the Settings menu might be organized differently. If you cannot find the search engine setting using the steps above, try searching the tablet's built-in Help app for "change search engine" — it will show you the exact path for your specific model and software version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google as my search engine on a Fire tablet?

Yes. Open Silk Browser, tap the menu button, go to Settings, select Search Engine, and choose Google from the list. You can also read the Chrome browser from the Amazon Appstore and set it as your default browser, which will use Google by default.

Does changing the search engine affect Alexa voice search?

Alexa voice search typically uses Bing regardless of your browser's default search engine setting. If you want voice search results from Google or another engine, you may need to adjust Alexa settings separately in the Alexa app, though options are more limited than with text search.

Will switching search engines slow down my Fire tablet?

No. Changing your default search engine does not affect your tablet's speed or performance. All major search engines work equally fast on Fire tablets.

What if I want to use DuckDuckGo for privacy?

DuckDuckGo is available as a search engine option in Silk Browser's settings on most Fire tablet models. Select it the same way you would select Google or Bing, and your searches will route through DuckDuckGo instead.

Can I set a different search engine just for private browsing?

No. The default search engine setting applies to all browsing in Silk Browser, whether private or standard. If you want to use a different search engine for private searches, you would need to use a third-party browser that offers that feature.