How to Change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge

Step 1Use the Search Engine You Want First

To change edge search engine options in Microsoft Edge, you must first visit the website of your preferred search provider and run a quick search. Microsoft Edge requires you to visit the search 🔍 engine at least once so the browser can register the provider and add it to your internal list of available choices before you can select it as your permanent default.

Open Microsoft Edge.

1. Open Microsoft Edge.
2. Click on the address bar at the top of the browser. This is where you usually type website addresses or search words.
3. Type something you want to search for using the search 🔍 engine you want to set as default. For example, if you want to use Google, type “weather today” into the address bar and press Enter. Edge will then use Google to perform your search.

Step 2Go to Edge’s Settings

To change edge search engine preferences, you need to open the browser settings menu in Microsoft Edge. Click the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window to open the menu, and then select Settings from the list of options to access the configuration screen where you can manage your browser behavior.

Complete these steps:

1. With Edge open (it doesn't have to be on the search results page from Step 1), look for the three dots in the top-right corner of the browser window. These three dots open the 'Settings and more' menu.
2. Click on those three dots. A menu will pop down.
3. From the menu, choose Settings.

Step 3Find the "Address bar and search" Settings

To find the correct menu to change edge search engine options, click Privacy, search, and services in the left-side menu of the Settings tab. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of this page and click on Address bar and search to open the menu that controls how your web searches and address bar queries behave.

Navigate to the correct section using these instructions:

1. In the left-side menu of the Settings tab, click on Privacy, search, and services. This section lets you control how Edge handles your information and browsing.
2. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the "Privacy, search, and services" page. Keep scrolling until you see a section called Search and connected experiences.
3. In the "Services" section, find and click on Address bar and search. This is the setting we need to change.

Step 4Pick Your New Default Search Engine

To finish the process to change edge search engine defaults, locate the option labeled Search engine used in the address bar on the settings page. Click the dropdown menu next to it and select your preferred provider from the list of search engines that Edge has registered based on your previous browsing history.

Apply the final change with this step:

1. On the "Address bar and search" page, you will see an option called Address bar and search.
2. To its right, you'll find a dropdown menu. Click on this menu.
3. You should see a list of search engines that Edge knows. Since you searched using your preferred engine in Step 1, it should be in this list. Choose the search engine you want to be your new default from the dropdown.

The chosen search engine now functions as the default for the address bar in Microsoft Edge. Entering a search query and pressing Enter routes the request through this newly selected provider.

Summary

To successfully change edge search engine defaults, you must first visit your desired search provider's website so Microsoft Edge recognizes it. Next, open the browser Settings, navigate to the privacy and search section, and select your preferred provider from the address bar search options dropdown menu to finalize your new setup.