Where to find the search engine setting in Safari

Open the Settings app on your iPhone, then scroll down and tap Safari. Tap Search Engine. You will see a list of options: Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia. Tap the one you want to use. The checkmark moves to your choice, and Safari will use that search engine the next time you search from the address bar.

This setting applies to all searches you run from Safari's address bar — the box at the top of the screen where you type web addresses or search terms. It does not change the search engine on websites themselves, only the one Safari uses when you search directly from the browser.

The change takes effect when ready. You do not need to close and reopen Safari or restart your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • The search engine setting is in Settings > Safari > Search Engine, not inside the Safari app itself.
  • Your choice applies only to searches from Safari's address bar, not to search boxes on websites you visit.
  • Safari offers five built-in options: Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia.
  • The change takes effect when ready without restarting Safari or your phone.
  • If you use iCloud Keychain, your search engine choice syncs across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

What each search engine option does

Google is the default and returns results from Google's index. Yahoo uses Bing's search results but displays them with Yahoo's interface. Bing is Microsoft's search engine. DuckDuckGo does not track your searches or build a profile of your browsing. Ecosia is a search engine that plants trees with its ad revenue — each search contributes to tree-planting projects.

The practical difference for most users is privacy and tracking. Google and Bing collect search history tied to your account. DuckDuckGo and Ecosia do not. Yahoo's privacy depends on your Yahoo account settings. If you care about search privacy, DuckDuckGo or Ecosia are the options that avoid tracking by default.

How to check which search engine is currently set

Go to Settings > Safari > Search Engine. The search engine with a checkmark next to it is your current default. If you do not see a checkmark next to any option, Google is set as your default.

You can also test your current search engine by opening Safari, tapping the address bar, typing a search term, and tapping Search. The results page will show you which search engine ran the search — the name or logo usually appears at the top of the results.

Changing the search engine on a Mac or iPad

The process is identical on iPad and Mac. On iPad, open Settings > Safari > Search Engine and choose your option. On Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), click Safari in the sidebar, and select your search engine from the dropdown next to "Search engine".

If you use iCloud Keychain and are signed into the same Apple ID on multiple devices, your search engine choice will sync across them. This means changing it on your iPhone will change it on your iPad and Mac as well, unless you turn off iCloud Keychain sync for Safari settings.

Why Safari uses the address bar for searches

Safari's address bar serves double duty: you can type a web address (like example.com) or a search term. When you type something that does not look like a web address, Safari treats it as a search and sends it to your default search engine. This is why changing the search engine setting affects what happens when you search from the address bar.

If you want to search using a different engine without changing your default, you can visit that search engine's website directly and search from there. For example, you could go to duckduckgo.com and search on that page, even if Google is your default.

Reverting to Google if you change your mind

Go back to Settings > Safari > Search Engine and tap Google. The checkmark will move to Google, and your searches will use Google again. There is no undo button — you straightforward select the engine you want to use instead.

If you accidentally changed your search engine and cannot remember which one you had before, Google is the original default on all iPhones, so switching back to Google will restore the standard setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my search engine affect Google Maps or other Apple services?

No. Your Safari search engine setting only affects searches you run from Safari's address bar. Maps, Siri, Spotlight search, and other Apple apps use their own search systems and are not affected by this setting.

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

No. Safari uses the same default search engine for both regular and private browsing. The setting applies to all searches you run in Safari, regardless of browsing mode.

What happens if I search from a website's search box instead of Safari's address bar?

Websites have their own search boxes that use their own search systems. Your Safari default search engine setting does not affect those. For example, searching on Amazon.com will search Amazon's products, not the web.

Will my search engine choice sync if I use a different Apple ID on another device?

No. iCloud Keychain syncs settings only across devices signed into the same Apple ID. If you sign into a different Apple ID on another device, that device will have its own separate search engine setting.

Can I add a custom search engine that is not in the list?

Safari on iPhone does not support adding custom search engines. You are limited to the five built-in options: Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia. Safari on Mac does allow custom search engines, but iPhone does not.