How can I change my default search engine in IE?
By default Internet Explorer (IE) favors Bing as its search engine of choice. There are ways to
circumvent this.
The simplest way to have access to a different search engine is to create a shortcut to it on your
Favorite bar that you can call upon at any time.
But, if you want to have a different context sensitive default browser inside IE, read on.
This short video from Microsoft “How-to” site will show you how to change and/or add several
search engines and add-ons to IE on your computer.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-choose-internet-explorer-searchprovider#1TC=windows-7 (If it does not open up to the correct page, please copy and paste in your browser address box).
Or, you can follow these step by step instructions:
1. In IE, click on the Search Tool , then on the ADD button. It will take you to Microsoft
main Add-ons page from you which you can select various search engines & Add-Ons.
Page | 1
2. Click on your choice of browser, “eg. Google”
3. On the next screen, click on “Add to Internet Explorer”
4. In the pop-up window, click the “Add” button to accept your choice
5. Now, please exit and close all instances of IE.
Page | 2
6. Restart IE. When you right click on a higlighted word in your IE browser, you will be
able to do a search with your newly added search engine. However, it is located in a sublevel of the Context Sensitive menu pop-up.
To promote it to the top position keep on reading.
7. Click on “Manage Accelerators”.
Page | 3
8. In the next window, select “Search Providers”.
9. Promote up your newly added search engine by right clicking on it and selecting “Move
up”.
10.While your favorite browser is still selected, make it your Default browser by selecting
“Set as default”
Page | 4
11.Once more, exit all instances of IE to make sure your changes were executed properly.
Next time you lunch IE, right click a highlighted word, you will see your favorite search
engine prominently listed in the context sensitive window.
Page | 5