Free Guide to Changing Your Edge Search Engine

Understanding Edge Search Engine and Why People Change Their Default

Microsoft Edge is a web browser that comes built into Windows computers and is available for Mac, iPhone, and Android devices. When you open Edge, it uses Bing as its default search engine. A search engine is the tool that finds websites when you type words into the search bar at the top of your browser.

Many people use the default search engine that comes with their browser without thinking about it. However, you have the option to change which search engine Edge uses. Some people prefer Google, which is the most widely used search engine globally. Others prefer DuckDuckGo, which focuses on privacy, or Yahoo, Ecosia, or other alternatives.

As of 2024, Google handles approximately 91% of all search engine queries worldwide, according to StatCounter data. Despite this, millions of people choose different search engines based on their personal preferences, privacy concerns, or specific features they want. For example, DuckDuckGo has grown to handle over 100 million searches per day, largely because users value its approach to not tracking search history.

Changing your search engine in Edge takes just a few minutes and doesn't require any special skills or software. The process is straightforward and can be reversed at any time if you change your mind. Understanding the reasons people make this change—whether for privacy, search result quality, or other features—can help you decide if changing your own search engine is right for you.

Practical Takeaway: Before changing your search engine, think about what matters to you most. Do you want faster searches? Better privacy? Different search results? Knowing your priorities will help you choose the best search engine for your needs.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Changing Your Search Engine in Edge

The process of changing your search engine in Edge is the same whether you're using Windows or Mac. The first step is to open Microsoft Edge on your computer. You can do this by clicking the Edge icon on your desktop or by finding it in your applications folder.

Once Edge is open, look at the top right corner of the browser window. You should see three horizontal dots (called the menu button). Click on these dots. A dropdown menu will appear with several options. Look for "Settings" near the bottom of this menu and click on it.

After clicking Settings, a new page will open. On the left side of this page, you'll see a list of options. Look for "Privacy, search, and services" and click on it. This section may take a moment to load. Once it loads, scroll down until you find the section labeled "Search engine." Under this section, you should see your current search engine listed (probably Bing) and a button that says "Change search engine."

Click the "Change search engine" button. A list of search engine options will appear. Common options include Google, Bing, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia. Click on the search engine you want to use. Once you select it, a new button may appear asking if you want to make this your default. Click "Set as default" or "Make default," depending on what your version of Edge shows.

After you complete these steps, your new search engine is now your default. The next time you use the search bar in Edge, it will use your chosen search engine instead of Bing. You can verify this worked by typing something in the search bar at the top of the browser. It should search using your new engine and show you results from that service.

Practical Takeaway: Write down or bookmark these steps for future reference. If you ever want to change back to Bing or try a different search engine, you can follow the exact same process.

Popular Search Engine Options and How They Differ

Google is the most popular search engine in the world and is known for delivering relevant results quickly. Google uses advanced technology to understand what you're searching for and returns results that match your query. Many people are familiar with Google's interface and features like Google Images and Google Maps. According to Pew Research Center data from 2023, about 88% of American adults use Google to search the internet.

DuckDuckGo operates differently from Google and other major search engines. Its main feature is privacy—it does not track your search history, does not create a profile about you based on your searches, and does not share your information with advertisers. If you search for "best running shoes" on DuckDuckGo, the company keeps no record of that search tied to you. DuckDuckGo gets its search results from other sources, including Bing, Yahoo, and its own web crawler.

Yahoo is an older search engine that many people used in the 1990s and 2000s. It still exists and operates today, though it has a smaller share of the search market. Yahoo search results now come partly from Bing's technology, but Yahoo adds its own features and layout. Some people prefer Yahoo because they've used it for many years and are comfortable with how it works.

Ecosia is a search engine with a social mission. Ecosia makes money through advertising, just like Google and Bing do. However, Ecosia gives away about 80% of its profits to organizations that plant trees around the world. Since 2009, Ecosia has planted over 200 million trees through its partnerships with environmental organizations. Each search you do on Ecosia contributes a tiny amount toward tree planting.

Bing is Microsoft's search engine and comes as the default in Edge. Bing offers similar search capabilities to Google and has its own features, including rewards programs where you can earn points for searching that convert to gift cards.

Practical Takeaway: Try different search engines for a week each to see which one you prefer. There's no permanent commitment—you can switch back and forth as many times as you want.

Privacy and Tracking Differences Between Search Engines

One major reason people change their search engine is privacy. Different search engines handle your personal information in different ways. Understanding these differences can help you make an informed decision about which search engine suits your comfort level.

Google collects a significant amount of data about your searches. When you search on Google, the company records what you searched for, when you searched, and what results you clicked on. This information is stored in your Google account if you're signed in. Google uses this data to build a profile about your interests, which helps them show you more relevant advertisements. Google's privacy policy explains that they may combine information from different Google services (like Gmail, YouTube, and Google Maps) to create a more complete picture of your interests.

Microsoft's Bing also collects search data, though users have some options to limit this. If you use a Microsoft account with Edge, Bing may track your searches. However, Microsoft offers an "InPrivate" browsing mode where searches are not tied to your account. Bing also allows you to view and delete your search history from your Microsoft account settings.

DuckDuckGo takes a fundamentally different approach. The company states clearly that it does not store your IP address, does not create user profiles, and does not track you across the internet. When you search on DuckDuckGo, no record is kept linking that search to you personally. However, it's important to note that this only applies to what DuckDuckGo itself does—your internet service provider, your employer, or the websites you visit may still track you separately.

Ecosia also emphasizes privacy. Like DuckDuckGo, Ecosia does not create detailed profiles of users based on their searches. However, Ecosia does show advertisements, and those advertisers may use standard web tracking methods like cookies. Ecosia publishes transparency reports about government data requests, showing that it takes privacy seriously.

It's worth noting that search engine privacy is just one piece of internet privacy. Your internet service provider can see what websites you visit. The websites themselves track your activity. Your operating system collects data. If you're concerned about overall privacy, changing your search engine is just one of several steps you might consider.

Practical Takeaway: If privacy is your main concern, research the privacy policy of any search engine you're considering. Most search engines publish these policies online, and they explain exactly what data is collected and how it's used.

Troubleshooting Common Issues When Changing Search Engines

Sometimes people change their search engine but then notice that their searches still seem to be using the