Change Your Default Search Engine Through Settings

Windows 10 uses Bing as the default search engine in the taskbar search box and Microsoft Edge browser. You can change this to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, or another search engine by adjusting your browser settings. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Microsoft Edge or another browser like Chrome or Firefox.

The fastest route is through Microsoft Edge settings, since Edge is built into Windows 10. Open Edge, select the three-dot menu in the top right corner, then go to Settings. From there, click Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar. Scroll down to the Search engine section and you will see Bing listed as the current default. Click the dropdown menu to see other options or add a custom search engine.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft Edge stores search engine settings under Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Search engine, where you can pick from built-in options or add your own.
  • If you use Google Chrome or Firefox as your main browser, changing the default in Windows 10 taskbar search requires changing your browser's search settings, not Windows itself.
  • The Windows 10 taskbar search box (the one next to the Start button) uses Bing by default and cannot be changed to a different engine through Windows settings alone.
  • Adding a custom search engine in Edge requires the search engine's URL format, which you can usually find by visiting the search site and looking in browser developer tools or the site's documentation.

Change Search Engine in Microsoft Edge

Open Microsoft Edge and click the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown. In the left sidebar, click Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down until you see the Search engine section with Bing currently selected.

Click the dropdown menu under "Search engine" to see available options. Windows 10 includes Google, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo as built-in choices. Select whichever you prefer, and Edge will use that engine for all searches from the address bar and search box. The change takes effect when ready — you do not need to restart the browser.

Add a Custom Search Engine to Edge

If your preferred search engine is not in the built-in list, you can add it manually. In the same Privacy, search, and services section, scroll down to Search engine and look for the option to Add a new search engine. Click it to open a form asking for the search engine name, keyword, and URL.

The URL field requires the search engine's query format. For most sites, you can find this by visiting the search engine, performing a test search, and copying the URL from your address bar. Replace the search term itself with {searchTerms} in the URL. For example, if searching for "test" produces https://example.com/search?q=test, you would enter https://example.com/search?q={searchTerms}. Once you fill in all three fields, click Add. You can then set it as your default from the dropdown menu.

Change Search Engine in Chrome or Firefox

If you use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox instead of Edge, you change the search engine within that browser, not in Windows 10 itself. In Chrome, click the three-dot menu in the top right, select Settings, then click Search engine in the left sidebar. A dropdown shows your current default and other options. Click the one you want to use.

In Firefox, click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top right, select Settings, then go to Search in the left sidebar. Under Default Search Engine, click the dropdown to choose a different engine. Both browsers explore the change to searches in the address bar and search box when ready.

Understand the Difference Between Browser and Windows Search

Windows 10 has two search features that can be confusing. The taskbar search box (next to the Start button) searches your computer and the web using Bing. The browser search box (in Edge, Chrome, or Firefox) searches only the web using whatever engine you set as default in that browser.

Changing your browser's default search engine does not change the taskbar search box — that still uses Bing. If you want web results from the taskbar to use a different engine, you would need to use your browser's address bar instead, or use a third-party tool to modify Windows search behavior. For most users, the simplest approach is to change the search engine in whichever browser you use most often and use that browser's search box for web searches.

Verify Your New Default Search Engine Is Working

After you change the default, test it by clicking the search box in your browser and typing a search term. You should see results from your new search engine, not Bing. If you still see Bing results, close and reopen your browser completely — sometimes the change requires a full restart to take effect.

If you added a custom search engine and it is not working, double-check the URL format. The most common mistake is forgetting to replace the actual search term with {searchTerms}. Go back to the search engine settings, edit the entry, and correct the URL. You can also delete a custom search engine from the same settings page if you no longer want it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the search engine in the Windows 10 taskbar search box?

Not directly through Windows settings. The taskbar search uses Bing and cannot be changed to another engine without third-party tools. Your best option is to use your browser's search box instead, which you can set to any engine you prefer.

Will changing my search engine in Edge affect other browsers?

No. Each browser stores its own search engine setting. If you use Chrome, Firefox, and Edge, you can set a different default search engine in each one independently. Changes in Edge do not affect Chrome or Firefox.

What if my search engine is not in the built-in list?

You can add it manually by going to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Search engine and selecting the option to add a new search engine. You will need the search engine's URL format, which you can usually find by searching the site and copying the URL from your address bar, then replacing the search term with {searchTerms}.

Do I need to restart Windows after changing the search engine?

No, but you should close and reopen your browser. The change takes effect in the browser when ready, but a full browser restart ensures the new engine is used for all searches.

Can I set different search engines for different browsers?

Yes. Each browser — Edge, Chrome, Firefox — has its own search engine setting. You can set Google in Chrome, DuckDuckGo in Firefox, and Bing in Edge if you want, and each browser will use its own default when you search.