Skip to search.

Breaking News Visit Yahoo! News for the latest.

×Close this window

Changing your Internet browser's default search engine

ID: SLN2227
Refers to: Search

Description

This article gives steps for selecting a different search service to be automatically used by your Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari Web browser.


Resolution

To change the default search engine in Internet Explorer:

  1. Select Tools and then select Manage Add-ons. If you are using IE9, click the "sprocket" icon and then select Manage add-ons.
  2. Select Search Providers from the "Add-on Types."
  3. Choose your preferred search engine from the list and then click the Set as default button. If you want to delete an unwanted search engine, just select it and then Remove (or Remove as default).
  4. Click Close.

If your preferred search engine is not on your Internet Explorer browser's list of add-ons, then please visit the Add-ons page in Internet Explorer Gallery

To change the default search engine in Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Go to the search bar in the top-right corner of Firefox.
  2. Click the tiny arrow next to the search engine icon.
  3. Select a new search engine from the pull-down menu. The new search engine will automatically show up in the search bar.
  • To add new default search engines to Mozilla Firefox:

    1. Go to the search bar in the top-right corner of Firefox.
    2. Click the tiny arrow next to the search engine icon.
    3. Select Manage Search Engines at the bottom of the pull-down menu. A dialog box will appear in the center of your screen which will contain the list of all installed search engines.
    4. To install more search engines, click the Get more search engines link, and you will be taken to the Mozilla Firefox add-ons page where you will find more search engines.
    5. Select any search engines you would like to install, and they will be downloaded and added to your Mozilla Firefox browser.

To change the default search engine in Safari:

  1. Go to the search bar in the top-right corner of Safari.
  2. Click the tiny arrow next to the search engine icon (a magnifying glass), and a pull-down menu will appear.
  3. Change the search engine by clicking the one you want. The new search engine will automatically be added to the search bar.


Last updated: November 13, 2012
Rate this article:
Thank you! Please complete the form to submit your rating/feedback.

Please tell us why you didn't find this helpful.

  • The article needs updating or needs additional information.
  • The article is confusing or hard to follow.
  • The article describes the correct issue, but it doesn't solve the problem.
  • Other
  • I have feedback about the product or feature.

Forgot your password?

Can't access your account? Help is on the way!

Help on Yahoo! Answers

Get quick assistance from the community members and Yahoo!

 
 

How can we help?

Yahoo! Customer Care is here to help you with your question or issue.

Copyright © 2013 Yahoo! All rights reserved.   Privacy Policy | Terms of Service