How to configure search preferences in Brave.

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Introduction

Brave is a privacy-focused web browser that offers robust customization options for your search experience. By configuring search preferences, you can choose your preferred search engine, manage shortcuts, and enhance privacy by opting for more secure providers. This article guides you through every step of tailoring your search settings on both desktop and mobile versions of Brave.

Accessing Search Settings

On Desktop

  • Open Brave: Launch the Brave browser on your Windows, macOS, or Linux computer.
  • Open Settings: Click the three-line menu icon in the upper right corner and select Settings.
  • Navigate to Search Engine: In the left sidebar, click Search engine.

On Mobile (Android and iOS)

  • Launch App: Open the Brave app on your smartphone or tablet.
  • Open Settings: Tap the three-dot menu button at the bottom (iOS) or top-right (Android), then select Settings.
  • Select Search Engine: Tap General and then Search engine.

Managing Search Engines

Choosing a Default Search Engine

Brave includes several popular search engines by default. To set or change your default:

  • In the Search engine section, locate the Default search engine dropdown.
  • Select your preferred option from the list (for example, Google, DuckDuckGo, or Bing).
  • Brave immediately applies the change, so your address bar and new tab searches use the selected engine.

Adding a Custom Search Engine

If your favorite search engine isn’t listed, you can add it manually:

  • Click Manage search engines and site search (desktop) or tap Add (mobile).
  • Enter the following details:
    • Search engine name: A descriptive name (for example, “StartPage”).
    • Keyword: A shortcut keyword (for example, sp).
    • URL with %s in place of query: The search URL pattern (for example, https://www.startpage.com/sp/searchq=%s).
  • Save your entry. The new engine appears in your list and can be set as default.

Using Shortcut Keywords

Shortcut keywords allow you to quickly switch search engines without changing defaults:

  • In the address bar, type your keyword followed by a space.
  • Enter your search terms and press Enter.
  • Brave uses the associated engine for that single search.

Privacy and Security Considerations

Different search engines offer varying levels of privacy. Brave encourages using privacy-respecting engines such as DuckDuckGo or Qwant. The following table compares key options:

Search Engine Privacy Features Default in Brave
Google High relevance, lower privacy
(tracks usage)
No
DuckDuckGo No tracking, encrypted searches Yes
Bing Personalized results, tracks data No
Qwant No user tracking, EU-based No

Advanced Customization

Site Search Shortcuts

Brave lets you set custom shortcuts for site-specific searching:

  • Under Manage search engines and site search, select Add or edit an existing entry.
  • Provide the site name, keyword (for example, yt for YouTube), and search URL pattern (for example, https://www.youtube.com/resultssearch_query=%s).
  • Use the keyword in the address bar to search directly on that site.

Syncing Across Devices

If you use Brave Sync, search preferences (including custom engines and shortcuts) can synchronize across your devices. To enable Sync:

  • In Settings, go to Sync and follow the instructions to add devices to your Sync chain.
  • Ensure Settings and Search engines are selected in the Sync options.

Conclusion

Configuring search preferences in Brave empowers you to tailor your browsing experience for speed, privacy, and convenience. Whether you prefer a mainstream engine like Google, a privacy champion like DuckDuckGo, or your own custom setup, Brave’s intuitive interface makes management easy. Explore the options, set your shortcuts, and enjoy a search workflow designed around your needs.

For more information on Brave features and updates, visit the official Brave website: https://brave.com.

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