Firefox comes with a number of available search options built-in, with Google being the default. However, if you want someone other than the Mountain View giant to power your searches, you can easily add a custom search engine to Firefox with just a few clicks. Today we are going to tell you how to change the default search engine in Firefox on Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We will also explain how to add search engines in Firefox or remove the search engines offered by Firefox.
To note: Use Google Chrome instead of Firefox? Here is how you can change the default search engine to Google Chrome.
Change the Default Search Engine in Firefox on Computers and Smartphones
You can easily change the default search engine in Firefox on all major mobile and desktop platforms. By using our tutorial, you can not only set the default search engine on Firefox, but also remove the default search engine if you want. So without further ado, let’s see how we can change the default search engine in Firefox on computers and smartphones.
Change search engine in Firefox on Windows, Mac and Linux
The process for changing the default search engine in Firefox remains the same on Windows, Mac, and Linux. I’m using Windows for this demo, but the menus, options, and settings will also be nearly identical for Mac and Linux.
1. Change the default search engine
- Open Firefox on your Windows PC or Mac. In the search bar at the top right, click on the magnifying glass and select “Change search parameters”.
- Now click on the drop-down menu under “Default search engine” and choose from the available options.
2. Delete a search engine
- From the ‘Settings’ > ‘Search’ menu option described above, you can remove a search engine. To do this, select the target search engine under “Search Shortcuts” and click the “Delete” button.
To note: You can also access the search engine options by clicking on the ‘hamburger’ menu (three horizontal lines) at the top right and then choosing Options > Search.
3. Add a new search engine
- To add a custom search engine in Firefox, first visit a website that offers a Open search search engine (we will use Startpage.com as an example). The search bar will immediately display a ‘+’ sign in a green bubble. Now either click on this bubble [1] or on the three points [2] in the address bar.
- Either way, you’ll have the option to add the current website as a search engine. Just click on this option and you will have added a new search engine to Firefox.
- Many search engines also offer extensions (add-ons). You can add them from the official Mozilla site by going to Options > Search as described in [2] above and clicking on “Find more search engines”.
4. Restore the built-in search engine
- To restore a built-in search engine in Firefox, go to Options > Search as described in [2] above. Under “Search Shortcuts”, click the “Restore Default Search Engines” button. (Note: the button will be grayed out if you didn’t remove any search engines from Firefox in the first place).
Change the default search engine in Firefox on Android
The process of changing the default search engine in Firefox on your smartphone is relatively simple. Here’s how to do it on Android:
1. Change the default search engine
- Launch the Firefox app. Now tap on the “More” button (three dots) and choose “Settings”.
To note: The “More” button will be in the lower right corner by default, but you can configure it to be in the upper right, like I did.
- Under ‘General’, tap ‘Search’. Then, on the next page, select the search engine of your choice (Google is the default search engine for Firefox on all platforms).
2. Add search engines
- To add a new search engine, first tap “+ Add search engine” in Settings > Search as described above. Then fill in the search string for the search engine of your choice (search for it online). Finally, tap the “Tick” sign at the top right to save your entry.
- I added Startpage as a new search engine and now Firefox gives it to me as my default search option.
3. Remove search engines
- To remove a search engine in Firefox, go to Settings > Search as described earlier. Now tap the “More” button (three dots) next to your target search engine and tap “Delete”.
Change Default Search Engine in Firefox on iPhone and iPad
- Tap the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) in the bottom right corner of the screen (the menu will be in the top right if you’re using an iPad).
- Now go to ‘Settings’ > ‘Search’.
- Your current default search engine will be clearly listed. You can choose another from the list by tapping on the default search engine and then selecting another from the list.
- You can even add a custom search engine by selecting the “Add search engine” option and following the instructions.
Search like a pro on computers, smartphones and tablets
Now that you know how to change your default search engine in Firefox, go ahead and switch from Google. I would ideally suggest choosing a privacy-focused service like DuckDuckGo or Startpage, but the possibilities are endless. And if it’s privacy you’re looking for, find out how you can use keyboard shortcuts to delete your browsing history on any browser.
If you are looking for something specific, also check out our articles on the best people search engines and reverse image search engines. Either way, once you’ve added a custom search engine in Firefox, let us know which search engine you chose and why.
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