This article explains how to set Google as the default search engine of an internet browser. You can do this for the desktop and mobile versions of Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, and for the desktop version of Microsoft Edge and Internet Explorer. If you've changed your browser's search engine but are still forced to use a different one than the one you chose, check for an extension that you can disable or scan with antivirus software to make sure your device hasn't been infected from a malware or virus.
Steps
Method 1 of 8: Chrome for Computer
Step 1. Start Google Chrome by clicking on the icon
It is a red, yellow, green circular icon with a blue sphere in the center.
Step 2. Click on the ⋮ button
It is located in the upper right corner of the browser window. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Click on the Settings item
It is listed at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 4. Scroll down the Chrome "Settings" menu to be able to click on the Manage Search Engines option
It's displayed in the "Search Engine" section of Chrome's "Settings" menu.
In this section of the menu it is also possible to change the search engine used to perform searches directly with the address bar of Chrome. In this case you will have to click on the drop-down menu "Search engine used in the address bar" and choose the option Google.
Step 5. Click on the ⋮ button visible on the right of the "Google" search engine
A small menu will appear.
Step 6. Click on the Set as default item
It is one of the items listed in the menu that appeared. This will set Google as the default search engine for Chrome.
Method 2 of 8: Chrome for Mobile
Step 1. Launch Google Chrome by tapping the icon
It is a red, yellow, green circular icon with a blue sphere in the center.
Step 2. Press the ⋮ button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen. The Chrome main menu will appear.
Step 3. Select the Settings option
It's visible at the bottom of the Chrome drop-down menu.
Step 4. Tap Search Engine
It is displayed at the top of the appeared "settings" menu.
Step 5. Choose the Google option
This will set Google as the default search engine for Chrome.
Step 6. Press the Done button
The new changes to Chrome configuration settings will be saved and applied. At this point you will be automatically redirected to the last tab you were consulting.
If you are using an Android device, you can skip this last step
Method 3 of 8: Firefox for Computer
Step 1. Launch Firefox
It features an orange fox icon wrapped around a blue globe.
Step 2. Click on the ☰ button
It is located at the top right of the page. The main Firefox drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Click on the Options item (on Windows) or Preferences (on Mac).
It is one of the options listed in the drop-down menu that appeared.
Step 4. Click on the Search tab
It is listed along the left side of the page (on Windows) or at the top of the page (on Mac).
Step 5. Click on the "Default Search Engine" drop-down menu
It is located at the top of the page. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 6. Click on the Google entry
This will set Google's search engine as the default search engine for Firefox.
Method 4 of 8: Firefox for Mobile Devices
Step 1. Launch Firefox
Tap the icon of an orange fox wrapped around a blue globe.
Step 2. Press the ☰ button (on iPhone) or ⋮ (on Android).
In the first case it is located in the lower central part of the screen, while in the second it is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Select the Settings item
It's listed in the menu that appeared at the bottom of the screen (on iPhone) or in the Firefox drop-down menu (on Android). You will be redirected to the browser's "Settings" menu.
If you are using an iPhone, you may need to scroll the menu that appears to the left or right in order to select the item Settings.
Step 4. Tap the Search option
It is displayed at the top of the page.
Step 5. Select the search engine currently in use
It is visible at the top of the page. This will display the list of all available search engines.
Step 6. Choose the Google option
Google's search engine will be set as the default search engine for Firefox.
Method 5 of 8: Microsoft Edge
Step 1. Launch Microsoft Edge
It features a blue icon with a stylized letter "e".
Step 2. Click on the ⋯ button
It's located in the upper right corner of the Edge window. The main program drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Click on the Settings item
It is listed at the bottom of the drop-down menu that appeared. A new menu will appear to the right of the main one.
Step 4. Scroll down the appeared menu to be able to click on the Advanced button
It is located at the bottom of the newly appeared menu.
Step 5. Scroll down the newly appeared menu and click on the Change Search Provider button
It is visible in the "Search Address Bar" section.
Step 6. Click on the Google option
This will select the Google search engine.
Step 7. Click the Set as Default button
It is located at the bottom of the menu. This will set the Google search engine as the default search engine for the Microsoft Edge address bar.
Method 6 of 8: Internet Explorer
Step 1. Launch Internet Explorer
It features a light blue icon with the letter "e" surrounded by a yellow ring.
Step 2. Click on the "Settings" icon
It has a gear and is located in the upper right corner of the Internet Explorer window. The browser main menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click on Internet Options
It is displayed at the bottom of the Internet Explorer "Settings" drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click on the Programs tab
It is visible in the upper right part of the "Internet Options" window.
Step 5. Click the Manage Add-ons button
It is located in the "Manage Add-ons" section of the "Programs" tab of the "Internet Options" window. A new dialog will appear on the screen.
Step 6. Click on the Search Providers tab
It is listed in the left pane of the "Manage Add-ons" window.
Step 7. Select the Google option
Click on the Google icon visible in the center of the window to be able to select it.
Step 8. Click the Set as Default button
It is located in the lower right part of the window. This will set Google as the default search engine for Internet Explorer.
Step 9. Click the Close button
It is located in the lower right corner of the window.
Step 10. Click the OK button
It is located at the bottom of the "Internet Options" dialog. Internet Explorer should now use Google as its default search engine.
Method 7 of 8: Computer Safari
Step 1. Launch Safari
It features a blue compass icon.
Step 2. Click on the Safari menu
It is located in the upper left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Click on Preferences…
It is one of the options listed at the top of the menu Safari. The "Preferences" dialog will be displayed.
Step 4. Click the Search tab
It is one of the tabs listed at the top of the "Preferences" window.
Step 5. Click on the "Search Engine" drop-down menu
It is located at the top of the "Search" tab. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 6. Click on the Google entry
It is one of the options listed in the drop-down menu that appeared. This will set Google as the search engine for Safari.
Method 8 of 8: Mobile Safari
Step 1. Launch the iPhone Settings app
It features a gear icon. You can usually find it directly on your device's Home screen.
Step 2. Scroll the "Settings" menu down to be able to select the Safari option
It is listed at the bottom of the first half of the menu.
Step 3. Select the Search Engine option
It is displayed in the "Search" section.
Step 4. Choose the Google entry
It is listed at the top of the page. This way Safari will use Google as the default search engine.
