Built-In Search Engine Choices in Safari Settings

This article provides a complete overview of the built-in search engines available in the Search settings of Apple's Safari web browser. While Google is configured as the default option for most users, Safari allows you to easily switch your primary search provider to Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia, as well as a few region-specific alternatives, depending on your preferences for search accuracy, privacy, and features.

Safari includes five primary search engines globally in its Search settings. You can select any of the following as your default provider for both standard and private browsing modes:

  • Google: As the default search engine in Safari for most regions, Google offers the most comprehensive search index, deep map integration, and highly relevant query suggestions.
  • Yahoo: Powered largely by Bing's underlying technology, Yahoo provides a classic search experience that integrates closely with Yahoo's broader media ecosystem, including news, finance, and sports.
  • Bing: Microsoft’s search engine is known for its strong image and video search capabilities, daily background wallpapers, and integration with Microsoft Rewards and AI-assisted search tools.
  • DuckDuckGo: Designed specifically for privacy-conscious users, DuckDuckGo does not track your search history, create user profiles, or sell your data to advertisers. Every user receives the exact same unpersonalized results for any given search term.
  • Ecosia: This eco-friendly search engine donates the vast majority of its ad revenue to conservation organizations that plant trees in deforested areas around the world. Powered by Bing, Ecosia is also privacy-focused and runs on renewable energy.

Regional Search Engine Options

Depending on the region and language settings of your Apple device, Safari unlocks additional region-specific built-in search engines.

  • China: Users with devices set to mainland China have built-in choices that include Baidu, Sogou, 360 Search, and Shenma.
  • Russia: Users in Russia and select neighboring countries have the option to select Yandex from the built-in menu.

How to Change Your Search Engine

Switching between these built-in choices is done directly through your device or browser settings. In newer versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, you can even set one search engine for standard browsing and a different one for Private Browsing.

On iPhone and iPad:

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Scroll down and tap Safari.
  3. Tap Search Engine (or Private Search Engine).
  4. Tap the name of the search engine you want to use.

On Mac:

  1. Open the Safari browser.
  2. Click Safari in the top-left menu bar and select Settings (or Preferences on older macOS versions).
  3. Click the Search tab at the top of the window.
  4. Click the Search engine dropdown menu (or Private Browsing search engine dropdown) and select your preferred choice.