How to Set Google As Default Search

Most browsers set their default search engine as Google.com. However, malware on your computer or add-ons can change this and replace it with a search engine of their own. You then find you need to change it back to Google. Here are steps on how to set Google as the default search in common browsers and mobile devices.

Edit Steps

Method One: Setting Google as Default Search on an iPhone

1. Go to the Settings applications on your iPhone home screen.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Scroll down until you see Safari.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Touch Safari.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Select the search engine option and choose “Google” to set it as the default option.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


5. Notice that a check mark will be by the chosen search engine.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


6. Return to the Safari main screen by tapping on the Safari button at the top left of your screen.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Method Two: Setting Google as Default Search on an Android Phone

1. Open the browser.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Go to “Settings.”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Find and tap “Search Engine” or “Set Home Page.”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Choose Google by tapping it.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Method Three: Setting Google as Default Search in Internet Explorer

1. Open Internet Explorer.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Click the gear icon in the top right corner of your browser.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Click “Manage Add-ons.”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Click “Search Providers.”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


5. Select “Google.”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


6. Click “Set as default.”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • If Google is not available, click “Find more search providers” at the bottom on the left.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • Choose Google from the pop-up window.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • Click the “Add to Internet Explorer” button.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • Click Close.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   

Method Four: Setting Google as Default Search in Mozilla Firefox

1. Open Firefox.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Click the small down arrow on the left of the search bar in the top right of the browser.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Select “Manage Search Engines” in the drop down menu.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Select Google and drag this to the top of the search engine list.
   
   
   
   • You can select Google and click the “Move Up” button on the right. Repeat this until Google is at the top.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • If Google is not on the list, click the “Restore Defaults” button and Google should appear.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   


5. Click “OK.”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Method Five: Setting Google as Default Search in Chrome

1. Open Google Chrome.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Click the Chrome menu button.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Select “Settings” (near the bottom of the drop down menu).
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Find the Search section on the left.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


5. Select Google.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   • If Google is not available, click “Manage Search engines.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • Add Google to the list.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   • Click “Done.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   

Method Six: Setting Google as Default Search in Opera

1. Open Opera.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Click Opera in the top left of the browser window.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Select “Settings” from the drop down list.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Find the Search section.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


5. Select Google as the default search engine.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


6. Exit the Settings window.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Method Seven: Setting Google as Default Search in Safari

1. Open Safari.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


2. Click Safari in the taskbar and open “Preferences.”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


3. Click the “General” tab.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   


4. Select Google as the default search engine in the drop down menu on the right of “Default Search Engine.”
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Edit Sources and Citations

• https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95426?hl=en


• https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/968367


• http://www.pcworld.com/article/249158/how_to_change_your_browsers_default_search_engine.html

Article Tools

• Read on wikiHow


• Email this Article


• Edit


• Discuss