How to change the default search engine in Brave.

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Introduction

Brave is a privacy-focused web browser that blocks ads and trackers by default. One of the customizable features in Brave is the default search engine, which determines where your queries are sent when you type into the address bar. Whether you prefer Google, DuckDuckGo, Bing or a custom search provider, Brave makes it easy to switch. This article walks you through each step, from opening the settings to adding custom search engines and troubleshooting common issues.

Accessing Brave Settings

Step 1: Open the Brave Menu

Begin by launching Brave on your computer. In the upper-right corner of the window, locate the three horizontal lines or three dots icon and click it. This opens the main menu.

Step 2: Navigate to Settings

From the menu, select Settings. A new tab will open where you can customize all of Brave’s options. If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, press Alt F (Windows/Linux) or ⌘ , (macOS) and then click Settings.

Changing the Default Search Engine

Step 3: Locate the Search Engine Section

In the Settings tab, look at the left-hand sidebar and click Search engine. You will see a section titled Search engine used in the address bar.

Step 4: Select a Predefined Engine

  • Click the dropdown menu under Search engine used in the address bar.
  • Choose from the list of available options (e.g., Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo).
  • The change is immediate there is no need to save or restart.

Table: Common Search Engine URLs

Search Engine Query URL Template Notes
Google https://www.google.com/searchq=%s Default for most users
DuckDuckGo https://duckduckgo.com/q=%s Privacy-focused
Bing https://www.bing.com/searchq=%s Microsoft’s search engine
Yahoo https://search.yahoo.com/searchp=%s Alternative option

Adding a Custom Search Engine

Step 5: Click “Manage search engines and site search”

Under the Search engine section, you’ll find a button labeled Manage search engines and site search. Click it to open a panel where you can view, add or remove engines.

Step 6: Add a New Engine

  • Scroll down to the Sites searched with this site search or Other search engines section.
  • Click the Add button.
  • In the dialog, enter:
    • Search engine: A descriptive name (e.g., “Startpage”).
    • Keyword: A short alias to trigger the engine (e.g., “sp”).
    • URL: The search URL with %s where the query will be inserted (e.g., https://www.startpage.com/sp/searchq=%s).
  • Click Add to save your custom engine.

Step 7: Set Your Custom Engine as Default

  • Return to the Search engine used in the address bar dropdown.
  • Select the name of the custom engine you just added.

Managing Existing Search Engines

Brave allows you to view all configured engines and reorder or delete them.

  • Go to Manage search engines and site search.
  • Hover over any engine entry to reveal three dots on the right.
  • Click the dots to Edit or Remove the engine.
  • Drag and drop entries to reorder the list the first entry becomes the default if you haven’t selected another.

Troubleshooting

Changes Not Taking Effect

If your new default search engine does not work:

  • Restart the browser to ensure settings refresh.
  • Clear the cache via Settings gt Privacy amp security gt Clear browsing data.
  • Verify the URL template uses %s exactly once.

Missing Search Engine Option

If a popular engine is not listed:

  • Manually add it using the custom engine steps above.
  • Ensure Brave is up to date by going to Settings gt About Brave.
  • Consider reinstalling if the option still does not appear.

Conclusion

Changing the default search engine in Brave takes only a few clicks and can greatly enhance your browsing experience by aligning with your privacy and convenience preferences. Whether you stick with a well-known search provider or add a specialized one, Brave’s flexible settings make customization straightforward. For more tips on privacy and performance, visit Brave’s official support page here.

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