To change your search settings, open the Microsoft Edge browser and locate the three dots in the top right corner of the window. Click on those dots to open the main menu and select Settings near the bottom of the list. Look for the tab labeled Privacy, search, and services on the left side of the screen. Scroll all the way down to the very bottom until you see a section called Address bar and search. Click on that arrow. You will see a dropdown menu next to the words Search engine used in the address bar. Simply click that menu and select Google to finish the job.
Tutorial – How to make Google default search engine in Edge
This section will guide you through the exact process required to switch your browser preferences. By following these instructions, you will ensure that every time you type a query into the top bar, it goes through Google instead of Bing.
Step 1: Open the main menu by clicking the three horizontal dots located in the upper right corner of the browser window.
You can find this icon right next to your profile picture. It controls almost every aspect of how the browser functions. When you click it, a long list of options will drop down for you to choose from.
Step 2: Select the Settings option from the dropdown list to enter the configuration menu.
You will usually find this option near the bottom of the list. It has a gear icon next to it. Clicking this will open a new tab entirely dedicated to adjusting your browser preferences.
Step 3: Click on the Privacy, search, and services tab located in the sidebar on the left.
This section holds many important security controls. It is the second option down in the list. If you do not see the sidebar, you might need to click the three lines menu button in the top left corner to reveal it.
Step 4: Scroll to the very bottom of the page and click on Address bar and search.
This option is often easy to miss because it is the very last item on a long page. You have to scroll past all the tracking prevention and security certificate options. It is located under the Services header.
Step 5: Choose Google from the dropdown menu next to the label Search engine used in the address bar.
You will see a box that currently says Bing (Recommended). Click that box to see your other choices. Select Google from the list to make it your primary choice for searching.
Step 6: Change the search on new tabs setting to Address bar if you want the search box on the new tab page to use Google as well.
This is an extra step that helps keep things consistent. A new option will appear that asks where search results should come from. Change this setting from “Search box (Bing)” to “Address bar” to ensure Google is used everywhere.
Once you have finished these steps, your browsing experience will feel much more familiar if you are used to Google. When you type a question or a keyword into the address bar at the top of the screen, Edge will no longer send you to Bing. Instead, it will instantly route your request through Google. You will see the familiar Google search results page immediately. This saves you the time of typing out the website address every time you want to find something.
Tips for how to make Google default search engine in Edge
- If you do not see Google in the list of options, you may need to visit google.com once. Edge often automatically detects and adds search engines to the list after you have visited their homepage.
- You can remove search engines you never use by clicking on “Manage search engines” inside the Address bar settings. This keeps your menu clean. It prevents you from accidentally switching to a service you do not like.
- Microsoft Edge updates frequently. Sometimes an update might try to reset your settings back to Bing. It is a good idea to check this setting if your search results start looking different than usual.
- You can set up search shortcuts for other sites in the “Manage search engines” section. For example, you could set it up so that typing “w” searches Wikipedia directly. This is a great way to speed up your research.
- If you use multiple computers, sign in to your Microsoft account in Edge. This will sync your settings. Your preference for Google will automatically apply to your laptop and your desktop.
Why does Microsoft Edge want me to use Bing?
Microsoft owns both the Edge browser and the Bing search engine. They want you to use their products because it helps their business. They often label Bing as “Recommended” to encourage you to stay within their ecosystem.
Can I use a different search engine besides Google or Bing?
Yes, you absolutely can. The menu allows you to choose other popular options like DuckDuckGo or Yahoo. If your preferred engine is not listed, visit that website first, and Edge should add it to the list automatically.
Will this change the search bar on the New Tab page?
It depends on the second setting mentioned in the tutorial. By default, the search box in the middle of a new tab might still use Bing. You must select “Address bar” in the “Search on new tabs uses search box or address bar” setting to fix this.
Does changing the search engine affect my privacy?
How do I get back to the settings if I forget?
You can type a shortcut directly into the address bar. Type “edge://settings/search” and hit enter. This command will take you directly to the correct page without navigating through the menus.
Summary
- Open Edge menu.
- Select Settings.
- Click Privacy, search, and services.
- Click Address bar and search.
- Select Google from the dropdown.
- Set new tabs to use Address bar.
Conclusion
Taking control of your web browser is a small but important step in making your computer feel like home. We all have our habits and muscle memory when it comes to finding information online. For many of us, Google just feels right. It delivers the results we expect in a format we understand. While Microsoft Edge is a very fast and capable browser, its insistence on using Bing can be frustrating for longtime Google users. Fortunately, the process to switch is not too difficult once you know where to look.
It is interesting to see how browser companies try to guide our behavior. They bury these settings deep in the menus. They hope you will just accept the default options. But now you have the knowledge to customize your experience exactly how you like it. You do not have to settle for a search engine that does not give you the results you want.
Remember that technology works best when it serves you, not the other way around. By taking a few minutes to adjust these settings, you save yourself frustration every single day. You make your workflow smoother and faster. Whether you are doing homework or looking up a recipe, you want the best tool for the job. Now you know exactly how to make Google default search engine in Edge, and you can browse with confidence. Enjoy your streamlined web experience.
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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