To change the search engine in Firefox, click the menu button (three lines) at the top right and select Settings. Select Search in the left pane, then choose a new engine from the drop-down menu under Default search engine. Searches from the address bar use it right away.
These steps follow Mozilla’s support articles on Firefox search settings, adding or removing search engines, and search engine changes after an update, plus Mozilla’s steps for Android and iPhone and iPad. Mozilla notes some search engines are only available in certain regions.
How to Change the Default Search Engine in Firefox
- Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner and select Settings. On a Mac, you can also click Firefox > Settings in the menu bar. On Windows and Linux that bar is hidden by default, so here is how to display the menu bar in Firefox.
- Select Search in the left pane.
- Under Default search engine, choose the engine you want from the drop-down menu.
Result: Firefox uses the new engine for searches from the address bar and the search bar as soon as you pick it. The same section has a Show search terms in the address bar on results pages option if you prefer to see your search words instead of the results page URL.
How to Add a Search Engine That Isn’t Listed
- From the address bar: visit a site with a built-in search field, such as YouTube, right-click inside the address bar, and select Add “YouTube”.
- From a site’s search box: right-click the search field of a supported website and select Add Search Engine.
- As an add-on: click the menu button, select Extensions and themes, search for the provider, and click Add to Firefox.
- As a custom engine: in Settings > Search, go to Additional search engines, click Add search engine, enter a name and a search results URL with the search term replaced by %s, add an optional keyword, and click Add Engine. Mozilla says this works in Firefox 140 and later.
Result: The new engine appears in the Default search engine list, where you can make it your default.
How to Remove or Hide Search Engines
Go to Settings > Search > Additional search engines. Turn off the toggle next to a built-in engine to hide it, or click the trash can icon to delete one you added. Turning the toggle back on restores a built-in engine. Mozilla notes that engines added by an extension can only be removed by disabling or removing that add-on. Our guide to deleting or disabling an add-on in Firefox shows where to find it.
Why Did My Firefox Search Engine Change?
There are two common reasons, according to Mozilla:
- An extension changed it. Some add-ons can set a new default search engine. Disable or remove the extension under Extensions and themes, or pick your engine again from the Default search engine menu.
- A Firefox update changed the list. Mozilla may update which search engines are available or set as default in specific regions. Follow the steps above to choose a different default. If an engine you want was removed, Mozilla suggests adding it back as a search plugin or add-on. If you would rather approve each update yourself, see how to turn off automatic updates in Firefox.
How to Change the Search Engine in Firefox on a Phone
iPhone or iPad: tap the menu button (bottom of the screen on iPhone, top right on iPad), tap Settings > Search, tap the current default engine, and choose a new one. Tap Settings, then Done, to close the menu.
Android: tap the search engine icon in the address bar, tap Search settings, tap Default search engine, and choose an engine. Mozilla says changing the default does not remove your other search engines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search with a different engine just once?
Yes. Mozilla says that when you start typing in the address bar, a Unified Search button with your default engine’s icon appears. Click it to search with another engine, or with your bookmarks, tabs, or history, without changing your default.
Can I turn off search suggestions?
Yes. In Settings > Search, clear Show search suggestions. The same section controls suggestions in private windows and trending searches. If a setting looks different, see how to check for updates in Firefox.
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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.