Your default search engine is the one Chrome uses every time you type a query into the address bar. If you would rather use DuckDuckGo, Bing, Brave Search, Ecosia, or another option instead of Google, you can switch in under a minute. This guide shows you how on desktop and mobile, compares the main UK options, and explains what to do when the setting keeps changing back.
Short answer: open Chrome settings, go to Search engine, and pick your preferred option from the list. On desktop the path is Settings, then Search engine, then “Search engine used in the address bar”. On mobile it is Settings, then Search engine, then your choice. If your preferred engine is not listed, add it as a custom search engine first.
Change It in Under a Minute
On desktop (Windows, Mac, or Chromebook)
Open Chrome and click the three dots in the top right corner. Click Settings, then click Search engine in the left hand menu. Click the drop down next to “Search engine used in the address bar” and choose your preferred engine. Close the settings tab. Your next address bar search will use the new engine. No restart is needed.
If the engine you want is missing from the list, click “Manage search engines and site search”, then click Add. Type a name for the engine, a shortcut word, and the search URL with %s in place of your query. For example, the DuckDuckGo search URL is https://duckduckgo.com/?q=%s. Save it, click the three dots next to it, and choose “Make default”.
On Android
Open the Chrome app and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Tap Settings, then tap Search engine. Choose your preferred engine from the list. The change applies straight away to searches from the address bar and from the new tab page.
On iPhone and iPad
Open the Chrome app and tap the three dots at the bottom right. Tap Settings, then tap Search engine. Pick your preferred option. Note that Apple limits the engines Chrome on iOS can offer, so the list is shorter than on desktop. Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia are the usual choices.
UK Search Engine Options Compared
Google remains the default on most Chrome installs, and it returns the broadest set of results for UK queries, including local business listings and news. Bing, from Microsoft, powers its own results and also supplies results to other engines. It includes a rewards programme in the UK, which some users value.
DuckDuckGo does not build a personal profile of your searches, and it shows the same results to everyone for a given query. That makes it a strong pick if privacy matters more to you than personalised results. Brave Search is another privacy focused option, built by the team behind the Brave browser, and it does not rely on Google or Bing for its main results.
Ecosia uses its advertising revenue to fund tree planting projects, and it publishes monthly financial reports showing where the money goes. Yahoo Search is still available in the UK, and it is powered by Bing results with its own presentation. Mojeek is a UK based independent search engine that runs its own crawler and index, which makes it a genuinely independent alternative.
There is no single best choice. If you want the most complete UK results, Google or Bing will serve you well. If you want stronger privacy, DuckDuckGo or Brave Search are better fits. If you want your searches to support a cause, Ecosia is the obvious pick. Try one for a week before you judge it, because each engine ranks pages a little differently.
When the Setting Keeps Reverting: Hijacker Check
Sometimes the search engine setting changes back on its own. This usually has one of three causes. The most common is a browser extension that resets your search engine, sometimes after you installed a free tool, a coupon finder, or a new tab page add on. The second is a programme installed on your computer that changes browser settings. The third is a managed device, such as a work or school laptop, where an administrator controls the setting.
Start by checking your extensions. Open Chrome settings, click Extensions, and look for anything you do not recognise or no longer use. Remove suspicious extensions, then set your search engine again. If you are unsure whether an extension is safe, read its permissions before you keep it. Extensions that can read and change all your data on every site you visit deserve extra scrutiny, and malicious Chrome extensions are a common cause of unwanted setting changes.
Next, reset Chrome settings if the problem continues. Go to Settings, then Reset settings, and choose “Restore settings to their original defaults”. This keeps your bookmarks and passwords but removes extensions and custom settings. If the setting still reverts after a reset, run a malware scan with your security software, because an unwanted programme on your computer may be doing the resetting.
On a managed device, look for a message in Chrome settings saying your browser is managed by your organisation. In that case the administrator controls the default search engine, and you will need to ask them to change it. You cannot override a managed setting from the normal settings page.
One related tip: if Chrome itself starts misbehaving after a settings change, for example pages refusing to load, the steps in our guide to fixing Chrome when a page will not load but the internet works will help you tell whether the fault is in Chrome or in your connection. And if you ever see a certificate warning instead, our guide to fixing the connection is not private error in Chrome explains what that warning means and how to clear it safely.
FAQs
Does changing my default search engine change my homepage?
No. The search engine setting only controls address bar searches. Your homepage and new tab page are separate settings, and you can change them independently under Settings, then Appearance.
Will my search history carry over to the new engine?
No. Each search engine keeps its own history, and your Google search history stays in your Google account. Chrome still keeps a local browsing history unless you clear it, but that history is separate from any search engine account.
Can I use a different search engine in private browsing?
Chrome uses the same default search engine in Incognito mode. You can still visit another search engine site directly and search there, but the address bar will keep using your default.
Why is my preferred engine missing from the list?
Chrome only lists engines it has seen you use, plus the major defaults. Visit the engine site and run a search there first, or add it manually under “Manage search engines and site search” with its search URL and %s as the query placeholder.
Does switching search engine affect my Google account?
No. Your Google account, Gmail, YouTube, and Drive keep working as normal. The change only affects which engine answers address bar searches in Chrome.
Conclusion
Changing the default search engine in Chrome takes less than a minute on desktop or mobile, and you can switch back just as easily. Pick the engine that fits how you search, whether that means broader UK results, stronger privacy, or support for a cause. If the setting keeps reverting, check your extensions first, then reset Chrome settings, and scan for unwanted programmes if the problem persists. A quick settings change should never need a complicated fix, and now you know both the change and the cure.
