Alex Ruben
How To Set Google as Your Default Search Engine in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11
If you prefer using Google for your searches instead of Bing, changing the default search engine in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11 is pretty easy but kinda weird how some steps seem overly complicated. Anyway, here’s how to do it, step by step—because sometimes Windows makes this unnecessarily tricky.
Step 1: Open Microsoft Edge
Start by launching Microsoft Edge. You probably already have it pinned in your taskbar, or maybe on the desktop. Just double-click the icon, and you’re in. Pointer: If it’s not opening, you might want to check if it’s the latest version (click Settings & more > Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge)—sometimes an update fixes things.
Step 2: Access the Settings Menu
Click on the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner (Settings & more). The menu drops down. Looks simple, but don’t be surprised if it takes a second on some setups to respond.
Step 3: Select Settings
Choose Settings. A sidebar opens up, giving you a ton of options. This is where the fun begins, or at least where the confusing options hide.
Step 4: Navigate to Privacy, Search, and Services
In the sidebar, click Privacy, Search, and Services. Scroll a bit—because of course Microsoft Edge’s menu placement is a little inconsistent—and find this section. It’s where you can mess with how searches behave.
Step 5: Click on Search and Connected Experiences
Scroll down until you hit the Search and services section. Then click on Address bar and search. Yeah, pretty verbose, but that’s where the magic happens. Sometimes, this section is hidden deeper, so be patient.
Step 6: Modify Address Bar and Search Settings
Here’s where things get weird. Click on Manage search engines. On some setups, you might need to type a specific URL in the address bar: edge://settings/searchEngines. That’s a faster shortcut, by the way. Better than clicking around in endless menus sometimes.
Step 7: Change the Default Search Engine
Find the list of search engines. If Google isn’t there, you’ll need to add it manually. Look for the button Add or something similar. The URL format you wanna add looks like this: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. On some machines, you might need to go into the settings file or tweak registry keys, but typically, you can add it via the UI.
Step 8: Select Google as Your Default Search Engine
Once Google is listed, click on the three-dot menu next to it and select Make default. Sometimes, on fresh installs, Google isn’t there despite having added it—then you kinda have to repeat the process or restart the browser. On one setup it worked the first time, on another… not so much.
Step 9: Confirm Your Changes
Close the settings tab and test it out in the address bar—type a query, see if Google is used. If it searches Bing or another engine, you may need to revisit the Manage search engines list. Weird, but that’s how Edge seems to behave now.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Some notes—because Windows loves to complicate things:
- Make sure your Edge is updated, otherwise it might not show the options properly.
- If Google’s not showing up, try adding it manually with the URL: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s.
- Sometimes, after changing the default, restarting Edge (or even the PC) helps. Weird, but it’s true.
- In a few cases, you’ll need to clear cache or disable the Bing default via registry edits if everything else fails. That’s a bit more involved, but not always necessary.
Conclusion
Changing your default search engine to Google in Microsoft Edge on Windows 11 isn’t exactly intuitive. You have to crawl through settings, sometimes add search engines manually, and jump in and out of menus. But it’s doable—just a little fiddly. Might get easier with updates, who knows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add a custom search engine?
Yep, just go into Manage Search Engines and add the URL with https://www.google.com/search?q=%s. On some setups, you might also need to set it as default again afterward.
What if I don’t see Google in the list?
Then, you gotta add it manually. Usually, there’s a button or link to add a new search engine, and entering that URL does the trick. Sometimes, restarting the browser helps if it still doesn’t show up.
Reverting back to Bing or another engine?
No problem. Just head back into Manage Search Engines and select the previous one as default. On some days, Edge resets it again, so keep an eye on that.
Summary
- Navigate through Settings > Privacy & Search > Address bar and search
- Check or add Google manually if it’s missing
- Set Google as default in the Manage Search Engines menu
- Restart if necessary; Edge can be stubborn
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. Good luck grabbing your favorite search engine, even if it’s a bit of a pain.