Changing the search tool in Microsoft Edge is actually quite simple once you know where to look. You just need to navigate through the browser settings menu. Open Edge and click the three dots in the top corner to find Settings. From there, select the tab labeled Privacy, search, and services. You must scroll all the way to the bottom to locate the Address bar and search option. Once you click that, a dropdown menu lets you pick Google or any other preference. That is really all there is to it.
Tutorial – How to change the default search engine in Edge
This guide will show you exactly where to click so you can stop using Bing if you do not want to. It involves digging into a few menus, but it only takes a minute.
Step 1: Open the Microsoft Edge browser on your computer.
You need to have the program running to make any changes to how it works. Look for the blue and green wave icon on your desktop or taskbar.
Step 2: Click the three dots located in the top right corner of the window.
This button opens up the main menu for the browser. It is sometimes called the meatball menu because it looks like three little meatballs stacked up.
Step 3: Select Settings from the list of options that appears.
This usually sits near the bottom of the long list. Clicking it will open a new tab entirely dedicated to configuring your browser preferences.
Step 4: Click on Privacy, search, and services in the left sidebar.
You might have to look carefully because there are many options here. It usually has a lock icon next to it.
Step 5: Scroll down to the bottom and click on Address bar and search.
This is the tricky part because Microsoft hides it at the very bottom of the page. You have to go past all the tracking prevention stuff to find it.
Step 6: Choose your preferred option from the dropdown menu labeled Search engine used in the address bar.
Click the box that probably says Bing right now. You can pick Google, Yahoo, or others from the list that pops up.
Once you finish these steps, typing a query into the top bar will use your new choice immediately. You do not need to restart the browser for it to work. It saves automatically so you can get back to surfing the web.
Tips for how to change the default search engine in Edge
- If you do not see your favorite engine, you can add it manually by clicking Manage search engines.
- You can set up different keywords to trigger specific engines for faster searching.
- Make sure you are on the latest version of Edge so the menus look the way I described.
- This setting only changes the address bar search, not the search box on the New Tab page.
- You can always switch back to Bing later if you decide you miss the rewards points.
Why does Edge keep switching back to Bing?
Sometimes an update or a suspicious extension might change your settings back without asking. You should check your extensions list to see if anything looks weird. If you see an extension you did not install, remove it immediately.
Can I use a custom search engine that is not in the list?
Yes, you can add any website you want. You just need the specific web address for that site’s search results page. The browser usually learns these as you visit different sites.
Does this change the search bar on the new tab page?
No, the search box in the middle of the new tab page is locked to Bing. This guide only changes what happens when you type in the URL bar at the top. To avoid the Bing box, just always type in the address bar.
Is it safe to change these settings?
It is completely safe and fully supported by Microsoft. You are just telling the browser which tool you prefer to use for finding information. It does not open you up to viruses.
Will I lose my browsing history if I switch?
No, your history is saved by the browser itself locally. Changing the search provider does not delete where you have been or your bookmarks. All your saved data remains right where you left it.
Summary of steps
- Open Microsoft Edge.
- Click the three dots menu.
- Select Settings.
- Go to Privacy, search, and services.
- Click Address bar and search.
- Select your new engine.
Final thoughts on browser customization
Taking control of your web browser is a small step that makes a big difference. When you set things up exactly how you like them, the internet feels much friendlier. You should not feel forced to use a tool just because it came installed on your computer.
Computers are supposed to work for us, not the other way around. If you are used to the way Google presents results, switching to it makes you more efficient. You spend less time trying to figure out the layout of the page.
It is also about comfort. We all have muscle memory for how we type and search. Disrupting that can be frustrating on a daily basis.
Fixing this setting saves you those tiny moments of frustration. Over a year, those moments add up to a lot of wasted time. Now you can just type your question and hit enter without thinking twice.
Do not be afraid to look at other settings in that menu, too. You might find other things you want to tweak. You can change themes, fonts, and privacy settings.
Make the browser your own personal space. Hopefully, you now understand how to change the default search engine in Edge without any confusion. Enjoy browsing the web your way.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.
Read his full bio here.
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