To change Safari’s search engine to Google on iPad, open Settings, tap Apps › Safari › Search Engine, and choose Google. In iPadOS 27 you can also set the default search engine in Settings › Search › Search Engine. The change takes effect the next time you search from the Safari address bar.
These steps follow Apple’s Search for websites using Safari on iPad and Change your default search engine on iPad guides for current versions of iPadOS. Below you will find both paths, how to turn off search suggestions, how to search within a page, and what to do if Safari keeps using a different engine.
How to change Safari search to Google in Safari settings
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps, then tap Safari.
- Tap Search Engine.
- Choose Google. Other options include Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia.
Result: searches you type in Safari’s address bar now go to Google. The change applies right away.
How to set the default search engine in iPadOS 27
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Search, then tap Search Engine.
- Tap Google, then tap the checkmark to confirm.
Result: Google becomes the default search engine on the iPad. Apple lists this path in its iPadOS 27 guide, next to the separate settings for default apps like your browser and email.
How to turn off Safari search suggestions
- Go to Settings › Apps › Safari.
- Under Search, turn off Search Engine Suggestions to stop suggested search terms.
- Turn off Safari Suggestions if you don’t want suggested websites and links shared with you.
Result: the address bar shows fewer suggestions while you type. You can also tap Start Page Favorites and pick a Favorites folder to show those sites as suggestions instead.
How to search within a web page
- Open the page in Safari.
- Tap the Page Menu button in the search field, then tap the search button.
- Type the word or phrase, then tap the arrows to jump between matches.
Result: Safari highlights each match on the page.
If you use Chrome or Firefox on iPad
The Safari setting only affects Safari. In Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, choose Settings › Search Engine, and pick Google. Firefox has its own search settings in its menu.
How to make Google the search engine in Safari on a Mac
- Open Safari and click Safari › Settings in the menu bar.
- Click the Search tab.
- Open the Search engine menu and choose Google.
Result: searches from Safari’s address bar on your Mac go to Google. These steps are separate from the iPad setting. To also open Google when Safari starts, see how to make Google your homepage in Safari on a Mac.
Troubleshooting
- Safari still uses another engine: check both Settings › Apps › Safari › Search Engine and Settings › Search › Search Engine, and make sure Google is selected.
- Google isn’t in the list: the available engines can vary by region. Update iPadOS and check again.
- Searches open in a different browser: you may have another browser set as the default. Apple keeps default apps, such as your browser, in a separate setting from the search engine.
Frequently asked questions
Does this change the search engine on my iPhone too?
No. Each device has its own setting. On iPhone, follow the same steps in the iPhone Settings app. See how to change the iPhone search engine to Google in Safari.
Can I set any website as my search engine?
No. Safari only offers the engines in the list. You can still bookmark another search site and open it from Favorites.
Related: How to change the Safari tab bar on iPad, How to clear cookies on iPad, and How to delete a saved password in Safari.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.