Set Different Search Engines on Safari
You can set different search engines on Safari, and the process takes less than a minute. On an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, you pick your default search engine from a short list (Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia) in Settings or Safari’s preferences. You can also add a custom search engine on a Mac running recent macOS versions, and you can use per-site search shortcuts that let you search a specific site without changing your default.
Where the Setting Lives
The location of the search engine setting depends on the device:
- iPhone/iPad: Open the Settings app, scroll down to Safari, then tap “Search Engine� under the Search section. A checkmark appears next to the currently selected engine.
- Mac: Open Safari, go to Safari → Settings (or Preferences on older macOS), then click the Search tab. The first dropdown, labeled “Search engine,� controls the default.
Both places show the same five built-in options: Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia. There is no “add your own� button on iOS, but macOS 15.4 and later allow you to add a custom search engine by clicking “Manage Engines…� in the Search tab of Safari’s settings.
How Safari’s Search Bar Actually Works
The address bar in Safari doubles as a search field. When you type something that isn’t a web address, Safari sends the text to your default search engine. The engine you choose affects not only the results page but also the suggestions that appear as you type. Safari fetches those suggestions from the same engine, so switching from Google to DuckDuckGo will change the autocomplete dropdown as well.
On iPhone and iPad, the search engine setting is global—it applies to all tabs and all profiles. On Mac, if you use Safari’s Profiles feature (macOS Sonoma and later), each profile can have its own default search engine. That means you could have a “Work� profile set to Google and a “Personal� profile set to DuckDuckGo, and switching profiles changes the search behavior.
How to Change the Default Search Engine
Here are the exact steps for each platform.
On iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Safari.
- Under Search, tap Search Engine.
- Choose one of the five options. A checkmark appears next to your selection.
On Mac (macOS Ventura or later):
- Open Safari.
- From the menu bar, select Safari → Settings.
- Click the Search tab.
- Use the Search engine dropdown to select your preferred engine.
On Mac (macOS Monterey and earlier): The menu item is Safari → Preferences, and the setting is under the Search tab.
Adding a Custom Search Engine on Mac
Starting with macOS 15.4, Safari lets you add a custom search engine beyond the five built-in options. This is useful if you prefer a niche engine like Startpage, Brave Search, or Mojeek. Here’s how:
- In Safari’s Settings, go to the Search tab.
- Click Manage Engines… next to the search engine dropdown.
- Click the + button.
- Enter a name and the search URL. The URL must contain the placeholder
{searchTerms}where the query goes. For example, for Brave Search you would enterhttps://search.brave.com/search?q={searchTerms}. - Click Add, then select it from the dropdown.
On iPhone and iPad, there is no official way to add a custom engine. Some third-party apps like “Stag� or “Orion� let you set a custom search engine, but they replace Safari entirely rather than modifying it.
Using Per-Site Search Shortcuts
Even if you keep Google as your default, you can search a specific website directly from the address bar. This works on both iPhone and Mac, though the setup differs slightly.
On Mac: Safari automatically recognizes many sites. If you type “wikipedia� followed by your query, Safari may offer a “Search Wikipedia� suggestion. To force it, you can use the site’s own search URL as a bookmark with a keyword. For example, create a bookmark for https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=%s and assign the keyword “wiki�. Then typing “wiki Albert Einstein� in the address bar searches Wikipedia directly.
On iPhone/iPad: Safari doesn’t support custom keywords, but it does offer “Quick Website Search� for sites that support OpenSearch. Go to Settings → Safari → Quick Website Search and ensure it’s enabled. Then, when you visit a site like YouTube, Safari remembers its search URL. Later, typing “youtube cats� in the address bar will offer a “Search YouTube for ‘cats’� option.
Common Problems and Fixes
Sometimes changing the setting doesn’t seem to work. Here are the usual culprits:
- You changed the setting but Safari still uses the old engine. This can happen if you have multiple profiles on Mac. Each profile has its own setting, so check the profile that’s currently active. On iPhone, make sure you’re editing the correct Safari settings (there’s only one, but if you have Screen Time restrictions, they can override it).
- Search suggestions don’t change. If you see old suggestions, close and reopen Safari. The suggestions are cached, and a fresh session usually picks up the new engine.
- The custom engine doesn’t appear on iOS. As noted, iOS doesn’t support custom engines. If you absolutely need one, consider using a third-party browser that allows it, or use a shortcut that redirects your search.
- DuckDuckGo or Ecosia seems slower. Some engines return results from their own index, while others (like Ecosia) rely on Bing’s index. Speed differences are usually due to network or regional factors, not the engine itself.
Privacy and Data Considerations
Your search engine choice affects what data is collected. Google and Bing track searches for advertising and personalization. DuckDuckGo and Ecosia are known for not tracking users and for not building a personal profile based on search history. Ecosia uses profits from search ads to plant trees, which is a separate consideration.
Keep in mind that Safari’s built-in “Private Browsing� mode doesn’t change your search engine. It only prevents Safari from storing your history and cookies. The search engine still receives your query, and if it’s Google, it can still log your IP address unless you use a private relay or VPN.
Also note that Safari’s “Search Engine� setting only affects the address bar. If you use the search box on a website like Amazon or YouTube, that site’s own search is used, not your default engine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a different search engine for each tab? No, the default search engine is a global setting on iPhone and iPad. On Mac with Profiles, you can set a different engine per profile, but not per tab.
Why is Google not listed on my Safari? Google is one of the five built-in options. If it’s missing, you might have a configuration profile installed by your employer or school that restricts search engines. Check Settings → General → VPN & Device Management on iOS, or System Settings → Profiles on Mac.
How do I make Safari use a search engine that isn’t in the list? On Mac (macOS 15.4+), use “Manage Engines…� to add a custom URL. On iPhone/iPad, you can’t add a custom engine directly; you’d need to use a third-party browser.
Does changing the search engine affect my bookmarks or history? No. The setting only changes which engine processes new searches. Your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords remain untouched.
Will my search engine choice affect the results I see? Yes. Each engine has its own index and ranking algorithms. You may notice different results for the same query, and some engines may give more weight to local results or to certain types of content.
Can I use a search engine that doesn’t track me in Safari? Yes. DuckDuckGo and Ecosia are the two privacy-focused options built into Safari. They don’t store your search history or create a personal profile.
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