To change the default search engine in Windows 10, open Microsoft Edge and go to Settings and more (…) > Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Address bar and search. Pick a search engine from Search engine used in the address bar. The change applies to searches you type in Edge’s address bar.
Applies to: Windows 10 with Microsoft Edge. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 26, 2026.
Change the search engine in Microsoft Edge
- Open Microsoft Edge and select Settings and more (…) > Settings.
- Select Privacy, search, and services, then scroll down and select Address bar and search.
- Open the Search engine used in the address bar menu and pick the one you want.
Type a search in the address bar to check that it uses the new engine.
If the search engine you want isn’t listed
Go to the search engine’s website and do one search there. Then go back to Address bar and search. It now appears in the list. You can also add or remove engines under Manage search engines on the same page.
Other browsers
Each browser has its own setting. In most, open the browser’s Settings and look for Search engine. To make a different browser open links by default, see how to set your default browser in Windows 10.
Make the new tab page use your search engine too
Even after you change the default, the search box on Edge’s new tab page still uses Bing. To fix that, go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services > Address bar and search, and set Search on new tabs uses search box or address bar to Address bar. Typing on a new tab then sends your search to the engine you chose.
Use another search engine just once
Every engine in Manage search engines has a Keyword, such as google.com or duckduckgo.com. Type the keyword in the address bar, press Tab, then type your search. Edge uses that engine for this search only. You can edit keywords to something shorter, like g or ddg.
If you can’t change the search engine
- Edge says an extension is controlling this setting. Go to Extensions and turn off or remove the extension it names. If you don’t recognize it, remove it.
- The option is grayed out with a building icon. On a work or school PC, your organization has set the search engine. On a home PC, unwanted software may have done this; type
edge://policyto check, then run a scan in Windows Security. - It keeps switching back to another engine. Reset Edge’s settings and uninstall any programs you don’t recognize, especially free tools installed around when it started.
Frequently asked questions
Does this change the search box on the taskbar?
No. In Windows 10, web results in the taskbar search box come from Bing, and this Edge setting doesn’t change them.
Why did my search engine change back?
An extension or a program you installed may have changed it. Check Settings and more > Extensions in Edge and remove any you don’t recognize, then set the search engine again. If it keeps happening, check for malware.
How do I change the default apps for other things?
See how to set default programs in Windows 10.
Which search engine should I use?
It’s personal preference. Google and Bing give the broadest results. DuckDuckGo and Startpage focus on privacy and don’t build a profile of your searches. You can switch any time without losing anything.
Does this change search on my phone?
No. Each browser on each device has its own setting, though Edge can sync some settings if you’re signed in.
For older sites that need Internet Explorer, see how to use Internet Explorer mode in Windows 10.
If you’d rather not use Edge at all, see can you uninstall Microsoft Edge from Windows 10.
To remove Bing from Edge and the taskbar search box, see how to get rid of Bing on Windows 10.
On Windows 11, see how to make Google the default search engine in Windows 11.
Microsoft’s guide is Change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.