How to Change the Default Search Engine in Safari for iOS

Make Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Yahoo Search your Safari search engine

What to Know

  • From your iOS device's home screen, tap Settings, and then scroll down and tap Safari.
  • Then, to Search Engine, you'll see the current default search engine, likely Google. To make a change, tap Search Engine.
  • Finally, choose a different search engine from four options: Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.

This article explains how to change the Safari iOS search engine from the default Google to another option, such as Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo. Information applies to Safari on iOS devices with iOS 14 through iOS 10.

How to Change Safari's Default Search Engine

To change the default search engine used by Safari on iOS devices:

  1. Open the Settings app on the Home screen of your iOS device.

  2. Scroll down and tap Safari.

  3. The current default search engine is listed next to the Search Engine entry. Tap Search Engine to make a change.

  4. Choose a different search engine from four options: Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.

    Safari, Search Engine, and the selection check in iOS Settings
  5. Tap Safari in the top left corner of the Search Engine screen to return to Safari's settings. The name of the search engine you chose appears next to the Search Engine entry. 

Search Settings in Safari

The Safari Settings screen includes other options you may want to use with your new default search engine. You can toggle each of these options on or off:

  • Search Engine Suggestions presents suggested search terms as you type, obtained from the default engine.
  • Safari Suggestions offers suggestions as you type, derived from a combination of sources including iTunes, the App Store, and the internet as a whole. This option also sends some of your search data to Apple, including which suggestions you selected.
  • Quick Website Search speeds up search results. When you search within a particular website, Safari stores that data for future use, allowing you to then search that site directly from the Smart Search Field in subsequent browser sessions.
  • Preload Top Hit loads pages quickly. Safari attempts to determine the best search result as you type, preloading that page ahead of time so that it renders in an instant if you select it. The determination process combines your browsing history and saved bookmarks.

The Search Settings screen contains several other options related to Safari on iOS devices, although not all of them are search-specific. In this screen, you can:

  • Enter or choose autofill information to fill in forms on websites.
  • Activate frequently visited sites in Safari.
  • Opt to block pop-ups.
  • Block cookies.
  • Prevent cross-site tracking.
  • Enable fraudulent website warnings.
  • Ask websites not to track you.
  • Allow websites to check if you have Apple Pay up on your device.
  • Clear your history and website data.

Google, Yahoo Search, and DuckDuckGo all have apps you can download to your iOS device for those times you don't want to use the default in Safari for searches.

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