Where to change your search engine on Mac

Your Mac's default search engine lives in your web browser settings, not in macOS itself. The steps depend on which browser you use — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge — because each one stores this setting in a different place. You'll find the option in your browser's preferences or settings menu, usually under a "Search" or "Privacy" tab.

The change takes effect when ready. Any new search you perform in the address bar will use your newly selected engine. Searches you've already bookmarked or saved won't change.

Key Takeaways

  • Your search engine setting is stored in your web browser, not in macOS, so you change it inside Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or whichever browser you use.
  • Safari users open Preferences, click Search, and pick from Google, Yahoo, Bing, or DuckDuckGo in a dropdown menu.
  • Chrome and Edge users go to Settings, then Search Engine, and can add custom search engines beyond the built-in options.
  • Firefox users access Preferences, then Search, and can read additional search engines from the Firefox Add-ons store if the defaults don't suit them.
  • Changing your search engine does not affect bookmarks, browsing history, or any other browser data.

Changing your search engine in Safari

Open Safari and click Safari in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Select Preferences (or Settings on newer macOS versions). Click the Search tab.

You'll see a dropdown menu labeled Search engine. The options are Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo. Click the one you want. That's the only step — Safari saves your choice automatically and closes the window when you're done.

If you want a search engine that isn't in that list, Safari doesn't offer a way to add custom engines. You would need to use a different browser or search through that engine's website directly.

Changing your search engine in Chrome

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Search engine.

You'll see a dropdown showing your current default. Click it to see built-in options: Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo. Select the one you want.

Chrome also lets you add custom search engines. Scroll down to the section labeled Other search engines and click Add. You'll enter the search engine's name, a keyboard shortcut (optional), and the search URL. This is useful if you use a specialized search tool or a company intranet search. Chrome saves changes automatically.

Changing your search engine in Firefox

Open Firefox and click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right corner. Select Preferences. On the left sidebar, click Search.

Under Default Search Engine, you'll see a dropdown with Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and sometimes others depending on your region. Click the dropdown and choose your preference.

Firefox also allows you to read additional search engines. Scroll down to One-Click Search Engines and click Find more search engines. This opens the Firefox Add-ons page where you can browse and install search engine add-ons. Once installed, they appear in your dropdown menu. Firefox saves all changes automatically.

Changing your search engine in Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and click the three dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down to the Search engine section.

Click the dropdown under Search engine used in the address bar. You'll see Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo. Select your choice.

Like Chrome, Edge lets you add custom search engines. Scroll down further to Address bar search engine and click Manage search engines. Click Add, then enter the engine's name, keyword, and search URL. Edge saves your changes automatically.

What happens when you change your search engine

When you type a question or phrase into your browser's address bar and press Enter, it now searches using your new default engine instead of the old one. The results page will show that engine's branding and layout.

Your bookmarks, browsing history, saved passwords, and autofill data remain unchanged. You can switch back to a different search engine at any time by repeating these steps. Some browsers let you use different search engines for different searches — for example, you might set Google as your default but right-click the address bar to search with DuckDuckGo for a single query.

When you might want to change your search engine

People change their default search engine for privacy reasons (DuckDuckGo doesn't track your searches), because they prefer a search engine's results, or because their workplace or school requires a specific one. Some users switch to Bing to earn Microsoft Rewards points, or to Yahoo if they use Yahoo Mail and want integrated results.

If you're not sure which engine to try, you can test one for a week or two and switch back if you don't like it. There's no penalty for changing multiple times, and the process takes less than a minute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different search engine for different types of searches?

Yes. In Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can right-click the address bar and choose a different search engine for that single search without changing your default. Safari doesn't offer this feature — it uses your default search engine for all address bar searches.

What if my search engine isn't in the dropdown menu?

Chrome and Edge let you add custom search engines by going to Settings and clicking "Manage search engines." You'll need the search engine's name and its search URL. Safari and Firefox have more limited options — Firefox lets you read additional engines from its Add-ons store, but Safari only offers the four built-in choices.

Does changing my search engine affect my browsing history?

No. Your browsing history, bookmarks, passwords, and all other data stay exactly as they are. Only new searches will use your new search engine.

Will websites I visit know which search engine I use?

Websites can see that you came from a search engine, but they don't always know which one. Some search engines (like DuckDuckGo) send less information to websites than others (like Google).