Change Default Search Engine in Microsoft Edge
You can change the default search engine in Microsoft Edge easily on all leading mobile and desktop platforms. Like Google Chrome, Microsoft’s new web browser also supports any search provider that uses OpenSearch. Given that all leading search providers support the technology, you should easily be able to change from Bing to Google, DuckDuckGo, Startpage etc. on all platforms.
Change Microsoft Edge Default Search on Windows and Mac
While I’m using Windows for this tutorial, the process of changing the default search engine in Edge is the same in Windows and Mac. Also note that this article is for the new Microsoft Edge Chromium. If you’re still using the legacy Edge, you should immediately update to the new version (download) for enhanced security and additional features.
To change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge Chromium, first copy+paste edge://settings/search into the address bar and hit Enter.
Now click on the drop-down menu next to ‘Search engine in the address bar’ to select your preferred search engine.
That’s it! You’ve now successfully changed Microsoft Edge default search on Windows or Mac.
Add New Default Search Option to Microsoft Edge
You can also add a new search engine to Edge Chromium. Here’s how you do it:
Click on ‘Manage Search Engines’ in the above step and then click on the ‘Add’ button on the next page. Follow the instructions thereafter.
There’s also an easier way to add a search engine in Edge. For that, first open the browser and go to the search engine of your choice (google.in, startpage.com, etc).
Now go back to the search settings page as described earlier (edge://settings/search). The search engine or website you visited will now appear in the list of options you can select.
That’s it! You’ve now successfully added new search engine to Microsoft Edge on Windows or Mac.
Edit or Delete Search Engine in Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge Chromium also lets you edit or delete all of the available search engines, including Bing. Just remember that you can’t edit the URL for the built-in options, nor can you delete the current default search engine. That said, let’s get cracking.
To edit or delete any of the search engines in Microsoft Edge, first copy+paste edge://settings/searchEngines into the address bar and hit Enter. Now click on the ‘Menu’ button (three dots) next to your target search provider as seen below to either edit or remove it for good.
Change Microsoft Edge Default Search in Android
The Edge browser is available on both desktops and mobiles, including on Android (free) and iOS (free). However, unlike on computers, you can only set the search engine in the mobile apps to either Google, Yahoo or DuckDuckGo, alongside the default Bing. Unfortunately, there’s no option to add more Search Engines on either Android or iOS. Be that as it may, here’s how you change default search engine in Edge on Android:
Launch the Microsoft Edge Android app. Now tap on the ‘Menu’ button (three dots) at the bottom and select ‘Settings’ from the popup pane.
In the Settings page, scroll down and hit ‘Search’ under the ‘Advanced’ section. Now select the ‘Default search engine’ option (it is set to ‘Bing’ by default).
You can choose any alternative search engine like Google, Yahoo or DuckDuckGo. I chose the last one, and it is now my default search provider on Edge in Android.
Change Microsoft Edge Default Search in iOS
Open Edge and tap on the ‘Menu’ button (three dots) at the bottom of the screen. Now select ‘Settings’ from the popup pane.
Now go to ‘Advanced Settings’ and select ‘Search Engine’.
Here, tap on Others to see options for default search, including Google and DuckDuckGo. Select the search engine that you want. That’s it! You’ve now successfully changed search engine in Microsoft Edge on iOS.
Note: If you don’t see DuckDuckGo as an option, make a manual search on DuckDuckgo and then it will appear in the list.
Switch From Bing to Google in Microsoft Edge on Computers and Smartphones
Now that you know how to change your default search provider in Edge, you’re probably itching to make the switch from Bing to Google. While Google will be the obvious choice for most users, I suggest you pick a more privacy-focused service like DuckDuckGo or Startpage. Either way, whichever option you choose, once you add a custom search engine in Edge, let us know which one you picked and why. Finally, don’t forget to check out our articles on best Edge Flags, customizing Edge, and enabling news and weather widgets on Edge, among others. They will help you get the most out of this browser.
