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How to Select a Default Search Engine in Safari and Switch Engines on the Fly

In macOS, Apple's Safari browser allows you to choose the default search engine that is automatically used whenever you type something into the address bar. Keep reading to learn how it's done.

Like rival web browsers, these competing search engines all have something a little different to offer. While Google is the dominant engine, it's certainly not the most privacy-focused – that award goes to DuckDuckGo .

Bing is the second most popular search engine after Google, and uses powerful algorithms to help you find what you're looking for, while Yahoo is also powered by Bing, but it has a more lively interface. Lastly, if you're more environmentally conscious, Ecosia is likely to be your preferred choice.

How to Select a Default Search Engine in Safari

So how do you let Safari know which search engine is your default preference? The following steps show you how it's done.

• Select the Search tab.

Note that if you check the box next to "Include search engine suggestions," Safari will Ask the search engine for search suggestions based on search terms you enter, but the search engine may record your search terms.

How to Switch Search Engines on the Fly in Safari

In Safari, it's actually possible to quickly switch between search engines from the address bar. Simply press the space bar before you type any words, and you'll get a dropdown menu where you can select from the browser's five search engine options.

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How to use the Smart Search bar in Safari on iPhone and iPad

• How to search the web using the Smart Search bar
• How to search bookmarks and web history using the Smart Search bar

How to search the text on a specific web page using the Smart Search bar

How to change your default search browser in safari, how to search safari from search on the home screen in ios 15.

The Smart Search bar in iOS 15 is a hybrid of the old address and search bars melded into one universal place to type and go. You can access your default search provider, your browsing history, saved bookmarks, and even specific words on web pages, all through the unified Smart Search bar at the top of your Safari browsing window. It makes searching for something on your best iPhone more straightforward. Here's how to use the Smart Search bar in Safari on iPhone and iPad.

How to search the web using the Smart Search bar on iPhone and iPad

• Launch Safari from the Home screen.
• Tap in the Smart Search bar at the top or bottom of your browser.

• Type in some keywords or a phrase you would like to search for.
• Tap on the Go button at the bottom right of your screen.

That's it! Safari will now use your default search engine to scour the internet for you.

How to search bookmarks and web history using the Smart Search bar on iPhone and iPad

• Launch Safari from your Home screen.

• Type in some keywords you would like to search the internet for (I searched for "apple").
• Tap on the site or bookmark you would like to navigate to under the Bookmarks and History heading.

• Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad.
• Open a web page in Safari.
• Tap the Smart Search bar .

• Type the word or phrase that you want to find on the page.
• Tap the word or phrase under On this Page.

• Tap the navigation buttons to jump to each instance of the word if there's more than one.
• Tap Done when you're finished.

Everyone has their favorite search engine. Make sure yours is programmed as the default and use the Smart Search bar in Safari.

• Tap on Settings from your Home screen.
• Tap on Safari (you may have to scroll down to find it).

• Tap on Search Engine .
• Tap on your preferred search engine from the list.

Next time you open up Safari and type something into the Smart Search bar, it will use your newly-set search engine.

In iOS 15 , super-powered the native search functionality available to the left of the Home screen. When you enter a search term in the Search feature, you'll see suggested web searches and even websites based on your term.

• Swipe right on your Home screen to navigate to search.
• Enter your search term in your search bar.
• Tap the search result you want.

As you can see in the example above, the search terms that iOS found for "iMore" will automatically open Safari and search the web using that term.

The Smart Search bar can be at the top or bottom

If you're on iOS 15, you may notice that Apple switched the search/address bar from the top of the screen in Safari to the bottom of the screen. There's no functionality difference between the two options, but if you prefer the Smart Search bar to be at the top rather than the bottom, you can change the location of the address bar in Settings .

Master your iPhone in minutes

iMore offers spot-on advice and guidance from our team of experts, with decades of Apple device experience to lean on. Learn more with iMore!

Updated March 2022: Updated for the most recent version of iOS 15.

Luke Filipowicz has been a writer at iMore, covering Apple for nearly a decade now. He writes a lot about Apple Watch and iPad but covers the iPhone and Mac as well. He often describes himself as an "Apple user on a budget" and firmly believes that great technology can be affordable if you know where to look. Luke also heads up the iMore Show — a weekly podcast focusing on Apple news, rumors, and products but likes to have some fun along the way. 

Luke knows he spends more time on Twitter than he probably should, so feel free to follow him or give him a shout on social media @LukeFilipowicz .

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Safari: A Beginner’s Guide for iPhone or iPad Users

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On Apple devices, the default web browser is called Safari. It shares a lot of similar features to other common browsers, like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. But if you’re new to using Safari, you may feel a little lost because the interface is slightly different to the others.

So, here’s a beginner’s guide on how to use the Safari app to browse the web on your iPhone or iPad.

How to Search for Content in the Safari App

As with all web browsers, you’ll need to first enable your iPhone’s mobile data or connect to a Wi-Fi network to access the internet.

Then, to search in Safari, simply type a term, phrase, or URL into the Smart Search bar at the bottom of the screen and tap Go on your keyboard. The Smart Search bar is a combination of the address bar and search bar. As you type, you’ll see search suggestions based on your keyword as well as results from your bookmarks and browsing history.

How to Navigate a Webpage in Safari

Once you obtain your search results, you tap on a link you’re interested in. Now let’s look at how you can navigate the webpage once it’s loaded.

How to Jump Back to the Top of Webpage

After swiping to scroll down a long article, you may want to go back up to access the website’s menu. To instantly jump back to the top of the webpage, just tap the topmost edge of your screen.

How to Go Backward (or Forward) a Webpage

After tapping on a link, perhaps the webpage isn’t quite something you’re looking for. To go back to your search results, swipe from left to right from the edge of your screen.

To go forward on a webpage, swipe from right to left instead.

Related: Essential Safari iOS Tips & Tricks for iPhone Users

How to Reveal the Safari Address Bar

Your Safari address bar is automatically hidden away when you’re scrolling down a webpage. To bring it back, tap the bottom edge of the screen that shows the website’s main URL.

How to Work With Multiple Tabs in the Safari App

Having multiple tabs opened in Safari can help you to compare information between webpages and search for new content without having to close your current webpage. Here’s how to work with multiple tabs in Safari on your iPhone or iPad.

How to Open a New Tab

To open a new tab, select the Tabs icon in the bottom-right corner, which looks like two overlapping squares. Then tap the Plus (+) to open a new tab.

How to Switch Between Tabs

Again, hit the Tabs icon. You’ll see a gallery of all your opened tabs in Safari. Select a tab to visit the webpage you want.

Since the release of iOS 15, Apple introduced a new feature in Safari: tab groups. Many of us are probably guilty of having way too many opened tabs. Therefore, organizing tabs into groups makes them more manageable. Learn more about how to use tab groups in Safari on your iPhone .

How to Open a Link in a New Background Tab

When you read long articles, you’ll likely come across a link or two within the content that sparks your interest. To avoid disrupting your reading process, you can make Safari open the link in the background, in a new tab. To do so:

• Go to the Settings app.
• Select Safari .
• Scroll down and tap Open Links .
• Choose In Background .

Next time you want to open a link, long-press it. Then, select Open in Background . When you want to visit that link, select Tabs to view all your opened tabs and choose the loaded webpage.

Saving and Sharing Webpages in Safari

The internet gives you access to a whole new world of information. Save a webpage to refer to it later, or share it with your family and friends.

How to Bookmark a Safari Webpage

To bookmark a webpage to read later, tap the Share icon in the middle of the bottom of the screen (it looks like an arrow coming out of a square) and select Add Bookmark . Type in a bookmark name.

To access your bookmarked webpage later, tap the Bookmark icon (an opened book) and browse through your bookmarks, reading list, and history to find what you’re looking for.

Besides the bookmark option, you’ll also notice that you can add a webpage to your favorites or reading list. Marking a webpage as a favorite will make it show up on your Safari home page. It’s useful if you visit the website often.

To learn more about reading lists, you can visit our guide on the differences between a bookmark and a reading list .

How to Share a Link From the Safari App

Stumble upon an interesting DIY project? A promising recipe you’d like to share with your family? You don’t have to bookmark and remind yourself to show the webpage to them later. You can share the link directly from the Safari app.

Tap the Share icon. You can then select the receiver’s name from the horizontal list of recent contacts, or choose your preferred communication app to send the Safari link to them.

Erasing Your Digital Footprint in Safari

If you’re an aspiring crime writer, having a friend notice your crime-filled search history when they peer over your shoulder is inevitably awkward. Hence, there are some things we’d prefer to keep private and erase all traces of once we exit a web browser.

Safari has a few features to help you with this.

How to Close a Tab

If you don’t close your tabs, old webpages will just auto-load again the moment you head into Safari. Having too many opened tabs affects your browsing speed as well.

Closing a tab is simple. You just need to tap the Tabs icon and then tap the Close (x) button in the corner of the tab.

How to Browse Privately in Safari

Similar to Google Chrome’s Incognito Mode, Safari has a feature called Private Browsing Mode. Your autofill information and browser history won’t be saved when you use this function. Here’s how to use it:

• First, tap the Tabs icon.
• Select the center Tabs button with an arrow next to it.
• Choose Private .
• To open a new private tab, tap the Plus (+) button.

Whenever you’re in doubt about whether you’re in Private Browsing Mode, just check the Smart Search Bar. It will be dark grey instead of white when you’re browsing privately.

How to Clear Your Safari Browsing History

If you forgot to use Private Browsing while searching for confidential information, don’t worry. You can still clear your history in Safari. Just follow these steps:

• Tap the Bookmarks icon.
• Select History (the clock icon).
• Tap Clear .
• Choose the time length from which you want Safari to clear your history.

Use the Safari App to Surf the Internet on Your iPhone

The Safari app has all the features you need for a seamless browsing experience. Once you’re familiar with these basic functions, you can check out and download Safari extensions from the App Store to enjoy more helpful features while surfing the internet on your iPhone or iPad.

• Safari Browser

Choose a browser that protects your privacy. Switch to Safari

Blazing fast. Incredibly private.

Safari is the best way to experience the internet on all your Apple devices. It brings robust customization options, features powerful privacy protections, and optimizes battery life — so you can browse how you like, when you like. And when it comes to speed, it’s the world’s fastest browser. 1

Privacy is built in.

Safari comes with industry-leading privacy protection technology built in, including Intelligent Tracking Prevention that identifies trackers and helps prevent them from profiling or following you across the web. And Private Browsing adds even more protections, such as locking your windows when you’re not using them. Online privacy isn’t just something you should hope for — it’s something you should expect.

Intelligent Tracking Prevention

Safari stops trackers in their tracks.

What you browse is no one’s business but your own. Safari has built‑in protections to help stop websites and data-collection companies from watching and profiling you based on your browsing activity. Intelligent Tracking Prevention uses on‑device intelligence to help prevent cross‑site tracking and stops known trackers from using your IP address — making it incredibly difficult to learn who you are and what you’re interested in.

Privacy Report

Safari makes it simple to see how your privacy is protected on all the websites you visit. Click Privacy Report in the Safari menu for a snapshot of cross-site trackers currently prevented from profiling you on the website you’re visiting. Or view a weekly Privacy Report to see how Safari protects you as you browse over time.

Browser Privacy

Performance, more with the battery. less with the loading..

With a blazing-fast JavaScript engine, Safari is the world’s fastest browser. 1 It’s developed to run specifically on Apple devices, so it’s geared to make the most out of your battery life and deliver long-lasting power.

Increased performance

We’re always working to make the fastest desktop browser on the planet even faster.

Improved power efficiency

Safari lets you do more online on a single charge.

Up to 4 hours more streaming videos compared with Chrome 3

Up to 17 hours of video streaming 3

Best-in-class browsing

Safari outperforms both Mac and PC browsers in benchmark after benchmark on the same Mac. 4

• JetStream /
• MotionMark /
• Speedometer /

JavaScript performance on advanced web applications. 4

Safari vs. other Mac browsers

Safari on macOS

Chrome on macOS

Edge on macOS

Firefox on macOS

Safari vs. Windows 11 browsers

Chrome on Windows 11

Edge on Windows 11

Firefox on Windows 11

Rendering performance of animated content. 4

Web application responsiveness. 4

4K video streaming

See your favorite shows and films in their best light. Safari supports in-browser 4K HDR video playback for YouTube, Netflix, and Apple TV+. 5 And it runs efficiently for longer-lasting battery life.

Customization

Putting the you in url..

Safari is more customizable than ever. Organize your tabs into Tab Groups so it’s easy to go from one interest to the next. Set a custom background image and fine-tune your browser window with your favorite features — like Reading List, Favorites, iCloud Tabs, and Siri Suggestions. And third-party extensions for iPhone, iPad, and Mac let you do even more with Safari, so you can browse the way you want across all your devices.

Safari Profiles allow you to separate your history, extensions, Tab Groups, favorites, cookies, and more. Quickly switch between profiles for topics you create, like Personal and Work.

Web apps let you save your favorite websites to the Dock on Mac and to the Home Screen on iPhone and iPad. A simplified toolbar and separate settings give you an app-like experience.

Safari Extensions add functionality to your browser to help you explore the web the way you want. Find and add your favorite extensions in the dedicated Safari category on the App Store.

Save and organize your tabs in the way that works best for you. Name your Tab Groups, edit them, and switch among them across devices. You can also share Tab Groups — making planning your next family trip or group project easier and more collaborative.

Smart Tools

Designed to help your work flow..

Built-in tools create a browsing experience that’s far more immersive, intuitive, and immediate. Get detailed information about a subject in a photo with just a click, select text within any image, instantly translate an entire web page, and quickly take notes wherever you are on a site — without having to switch apps.

Notes is your go-to app to capture any thought. And with the Quick Note feature, you can instantly jot down ideas as you browse websites without having to leave Safari.

Translation

Translate entire web pages with a single click. You can also get translations for text in images and paused video without leaving Safari.

Interact with text in any image or paused video on the web using functions like copy and paste, translate, and lookup. 6

Visual Look Up

Quickly learn more about landmarks, works of art, breeds of dogs, and more with only a photo or an image you find online. And easily lift the subject of an image from Safari, remove its background, and paste it into Messages, Notes, or other apps.

Surf safe and sound.

Strong security protections in Safari help keep you safe. Passkeys introduce a safer way to sign in. iCloud Keychain securely stores and autofills passkeys and passwords across all your devices. Safari also notifies you when it encounters suspicious websites and prevents them from loading. Because it loads each web page in a separate process, any harmful code is always confined to a single browser tab so it won’t crash the entire application or access your data. And Safari automatically upgrades sites from HTTP to the more secure HTTPS when available.

Passkeys introduce a more secure and easier way to sign in. No passwords required.

Passkeys are end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks, and they are stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. Thanks to iCloud Keychain, they work across all your Apple devices, and they even work on non-Apple devices.

Learn more about passkeys

Apple Pay and Wallet make checkout as easy as lifting a finger.

Apple Pay is the easiest and most secure way to shop on Safari — allowing you to complete transactions with Face ID or Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad, with Touch ID on your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, or by double-clicking the side button on your Apple Watch.

Learn more about Apple Pay

With AutoFill, you can easily fill in your previously saved credit card information from the Wallet app during checkout. Your credit card details are never shared, and your transactions are protected with industry-leading security.

Same Safari. Different device.

Safari works seamlessly and syncs your passwords, bookmarks, history, tabs, and more across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Apple Watch. And when your Mac, iOS, or iPadOS devices are near each other, they can automatically pass what you’re doing in Safari from one device to another using Handoff. You can even copy images, video, or text from Safari on your iPhone or iPad, then paste into another app on your nearby Mac — or vice versa.

When you use Safari on multiple devices, your tabs carry over from one Apple device to another. So you can search, shop, work, or browse on your iPhone, then switch to your iPad or Mac and pick up right where you left off.

Save web pages you want to read later by adding them to your Reading List. Then view them on any of your iCloud-connected devices — even if you’re not connected to the internet.

iCloud Keychain securely stores your user names, passkeys, passwords, and credit card numbers and keeps them up to date on your trusted devices. So you can easily sign in to your favorite websites — as well as apps on iOS and iPadOS — and quickly make online purchases.

Designed for developers.

Deep WebKit integration between Mac hardware and macOS allows Safari to deliver the fastest performance and the longest battery life of any browser on the platform, while supporting modern web standards for rich experiences in the browser. WebKit in macOS Sonoma includes optimizations that enable even richer browsing experiences, and give developers more control over styling and layout — allowing for more engaging content.

Make Safari your default browser

Customize your start page, view your browsing privacy report, monitor your saved passwords, use apple pay in safari, view your tabs across all your devices, read the safari user guide, get safari support.

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How to dump Google as your default Safari search engine on iPhone and Mac

There has been a lot of talk of late about Apple’s default search engine, which is Google (and for a time, Bing would power Siri/Spotlight search requests). Recent court documents have shown just how much Google pays Apple to be the default search engine across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Microsoft reportedly pitched selling Bing to Apple back in 2020, but with Google paying Apple billions of dollars a year to remain the default, Apple decided against it.

There have also been reports of Apple building its own search technology, with crawlers indexing the web to provide answers to common Siri questions and such. It fueled further speculation (yet again) that Apple would launch its own search engine, though that doesn’t appear to be happening any time soon. Apple’s new next-generation search technology is allegedly code-named “Pegasus” and it is already in use to index and find content within some Apple apps (like TV or Maps), and may soon extend to other apps or services, like the App Store.

It looks like, for searching the web, Apple users that use Safari (which is most of them) are going to be stuck with Google as the default search for quite some time.

But you don’t have to use Google if you don’t want to! Buried within settings, where 99.9 percent of the users will never look, is the option to change search engines. Here’s how you can change your Safari search default on iPhone/iPad and Mac.

• Time to complete: 2 minutes
• Tools required: none
• Materials required: iPhone, iPad, or Mac

Change search default on iPhone or iPad

To change your default search engine in Safari on iPhone or iPad.

• Open Settings.
• Tap Safari .
• Tap Search Engine.
• To select a different search engine for use in private browsing windows, tap Private Search Engine .

You should have several to choose from, but they may vary by region.

Change search default on Mac

To change the search default on Mac, you’ll need to access Safari’s preferences.

• Launch Safari.
• In the menu bar, select Safari and then Settings .
• Select the Search tab.
• Select the Search engine drop-down box to see and change between available search engines.
• Select the Private Browsing search engine drop-down if you wish to use a different search engine when in a private browser window.

As with iOS and iPadOS, the available search engines may vary by region.

It’s actually possible to change search engines on the fly in Safari on macOS. When you put the cursor in the search/address box, simply hit space bar first to see a drop-down list of available search engines.

Author: Jason Cross , Senior Editor, Macworld

Jason has written about technology for more than 25 years - first in the gaming press, then focusing on enthusiast PCs and general technology. He enjoys learning how complicated technology works and explaining it in a way anyone can understand.

Recent stories by Jason Cross:

• Everything Apple Intelligence can (and can’t) do in iOS 18.1
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How-To Geek

How to search open tabs in safari on mac.

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Today's NYT Connections Hints and Answer for August 29 (#445)

I won't use a vpn without these 6 features, why you need a longer password, quick links, searching tabs using "tab overview".

When you have dozens of tabs open in a Safari window, it becomes difficult to find a specific tab in the tab bar. Here's how to quickly search open tabs within the current window in Safari on Mac.

Safari's Tab Overview screen (similar to the tab switcher on iPhone and iPad) includes a built-in feature that lets you search through all the open tabs in the current window. The only drawback is that if you have multiple Safari windows open, you'll have to perform this action in each window.

To get started, open Safari on your Mac and visit several sites in multiple tabs. Then, click the Tab Overview button (which looks like one square overlapping another) in the top-right corner of the Safari window.

(Alternately, you can select View > Tab Overview in the menu bar or press Shift+Command+\ on your keyboard.)

You will now see all your open tabs in a grid view that Apple calls "Tab Overview." If you're using a modern version of Safari on your Mac, you'll see a "Search Tabs" bar in the top-right corner.

(If you don't see the search bar there, scroll up to reveal it. We recommend that you update Safari immediately  because using an older browser is a huge security hazard .)

On the Tab Overview screen of Safari 14 and up, simply start typing the name of the website or the title of the page that you're searching for---there's no need to click the search bar. On older versions of Safari, you'll need to click the search bar first or press Command+F.

Safari will instantly start filtering your results. When you find the tab you're looking for, click its thumbnail to switch to it.

Use it as much as you'd like to search through your tabs. If you use Safari as the default browser on your iPhone or iPad, this feature is available in the mobile version of Safari as well !

Related: How to Search for Specific Tabs in Safari on iOS 10

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How to Change the Default Search Engine in Safari for iOS

Make Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Yahoo Search your Safari search engine

What to Know

• From your iOS device's home screen, tap Settings , and then scroll down and tap Safari .
• Then, to Search Engine , you'll see the current default search engine, likely Google. To make a change, tap Search Engine .
• Finally, choose a different search engine from four options: Google, Yahoo , Bing , and  DuckDuckGo .

This article explains how to change the Safari iOS search engine from the default Google to another option, such as Bing, Yahoo, or DuckDuckGo. Information applies to Safari on iOS devices with iOS 14 through iOS 10.

How to Change Safari's Default Search Engine

To change the default search engine used by Safari on iOS devices:

Open the Settings app on the Home screen of your iOS device.

Scroll down and tap Safari .

The current default search engine is listed next to the  Search Engine entry.   Tap Search Engine to make a change.

Choose a different search engine from four options: Google, Yahoo , Bing , and  DuckDuckGo .

Tap Safari in the top left corner of the Search Engine screen to return to Safari's settings. The name of the search engine you chose appears next to the Search Engine entry. 

Search Settings in Safari

The Safari Settings screen includes other options you may want to use with your new default search engine. You can toggle each of these options on or off:

• Search Engine Suggestions presents suggested search terms as you type, obtained from the default engine.
• Safari Suggestions offers suggestions as you type, derived from a combination of sources including iTunes, the App Store, and the internet as a whole. This option also sends some of your search data to Apple, including which suggestions you selected.
• Quick Website Search speeds up search results. When you search within a particular website, Safari stores that data for future use, allowing you to then search that site directly from the Smart Search Field in subsequent browser sessions.
• Preload Top Hit loads pages quickly. Safari attempts to determine the best search result as you type, preloading that page ahead of time so that it renders in an instant if you select it. The determination process combines your browsing history and saved bookmarks.

The Search Settings screen contains several other options related to Safari on iOS devices, although not all of them are search-specific. In this screen, you can:

• Enter or choose autofill information to fill in forms on websites.
• Activate frequently visited sites in Safari.
• Opt to block pop-ups .
• Block cookies.
• Prevent cross-site tracking.
• Enable fraudulent website warnings.
• Ask websites not to track you.
• Allow websites to check if you have Apple Pay up on your device.
• Clear your history and website data.

Google, Yahoo Search, and DuckDuckGo all have apps you can download to your iOS device for those times you don't want to use the default in Safari for searches.

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Safari User Guide

for macOS Sonoma

Get started with Safari on Mac

Learn the basics to quickly get up to speed. Search the web, go to a website, set your homepage, and bookmark websites you want to revisit.

How to get started with Safari

Turn a website into an app

Get an app-like experience from any website. Receive notifications and open the web app directly from the Dock.

Turn a website into an app in Safari

Set up separate browsing profiles

Keep the different parts of your life separate by creating a browsing profile for each one.

Create a profile in Safari

Lock private browsing windows

Keep your browsing private when you’re away from your Mac.

Lock private browsing windows in Safari

Allow pop-ups

Choose which websites can show pop-up windows.

Got cookies?

Delete the cookies websites store on your Mac—or allow them.

Clear or enable cookies

• Browse privately

Keep your browsing history to yourself.

Use Private Browsing

To explore the Safari User Guide, click Table of Contents at the top of the page, or enter a word or phrase in the search field.

If you need more help, visit the Safari Support website .

• Get started
• Go to a website
• Bookmark webpages to revisit
• See your favorite websites
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The best search engines to use, if you're tired of Google

Last updated 1 year ago

When it comes to using an online search engine, the overwhelming majority — 92 percent worldwide , according to Statcounter — use Google as their search engine, whether by default or by choice. Some regions rely on it almost exclusively, like India, while in a few places it isn't easily available — such as China .

In those places, the government has replaced Google search with state-run or locally-controlled alternatives, such as Baidu (China) and Yandex (Russia). It is assumed that such governments gather data on users very aggressively, following Google's model.

Google's chief search rivals — including Bing and the former most popular engine, Yahoo — can't seem to make a serious dent in Google's dominance. In North America, for example, Bing manages a mere seven percent of search queries , while Yahoo doesn't even manage half of Bing's popularity, with three percent.

Much of Google's popularity is the result of user inertia alongside genuine consumer satisfaction. In addition, Google uses aggressive promotion to convert users to its search engine, including pop-ups offering to help switch users' default search every time an Edge user visits a Google site.

Naturally, Google uses its own search in its browser Chrome , now the most frequently-used browser, and it pays Apple billions per year to be the default search in Safari, Spotlight, and Siri. Effectively, Google pays Apple not just to provide services to Apple users, but also to prevent Apple from entering the search engine market.

Over the last two years, there have been numerous rumors that Apple will nonetheless eventually develop or unveil its own search technology to launch a universal Google competitor . So far, however, there's been no obvious move from the company to rid itself of the lucrative Google deal.

Many users are just in the habit of starting any exploration of the internet by going to Google.com first, or setting it as their default start page. Users across a wide age range (but tending to have been born before the home-computer generations) are often under the impression that the only easy way to find a website is to search for it in Google first.

It would take a lot to even come close to knocking Google off their "king of search" pedestal, given that it processes around 5.6 billion queries per day . The company doesn't reveal the average number of daily active users (DAU), but for comparison Facebook claims nearly two billion DAU, so it is likely that Google's count is similar — or even higher.

That's not to say that it doesn't have a few serious rivals. Baidu, for example, had 218 million average daily users as of the end of last year, thanks to its near-monopoly in China.

The best alternatives to using Google for search in the US

Google's search engine is the most popular in the world for a reason: it collects an astonishing amount of data about you more-or-less continuously. Thus, it can offer results very personalized for what it thinks you will click on, as well as based on recent behavior.

Some find this convenient, many find it disturbing, but its effectiveness is revealed in Google's fiscal results: outside of monetizing your data, it has no significant other income. Last year, Google alone reported nearly $257 billion in revenue , which accounted for 80 percent of the income of its parent company, Alphabet.

Due primarily to Google's ubiquity and data-monetization practices, other web-based search engines have emerged to offer effective alternatives. In addition to newer alternatives, it may surprise web veterans to know that a couple of the original search engines are still around, including Yahoo and Ask.com (formerly Ask Jeeves).

Some very small search engine sites claim to offer total anonymity and high security, or specialize in scouring the darker corners of the web. However, it is difficult to verify these claims, or determine how such services pay for themselves, so we won't be covering those here.

Instead, we'll compare the king of the hill to a handful of alternative search websites that offer search with a different spin, or alongside other services. We'll compare strengths and weaknesses, as well as assign an overall privacy-centric score.

Where Google excels: Exemplary database of business information, myriad extra services available if desired, fast and highly personalized results, available in a wide variety of outlets.

Where Google falls down: Massive collection and monetization of user data on a far more intimate level that most users are aware, manipulated rankings, and no discernible ethics regarding sales of personal data except where forced to comply with regulations or laws. Often prefers to pay fines and carry on over reforming itself.

Privacy: On a scale of 1 to 5, Google rates a one, but probably deserves a zero.

Where Google keeps its search engine page sparse, with barely more than a colorful logo and a text-entry box, Microsoft's Bing naturally tries to overcompensate. Visitors will be greeted with some beautiful photography, marred by the white text bar, with the page's understated but incredibly corporate "Microsoft Bing" logo, and trailed by some monetized clickbait "news" stories.

Those who scroll down get rewarded with the original photo and the story behind it, followed by the useful "previous images" collection and "this day in history" feature. Actually inputting a query takes you to a very Google-esque page of links, along with summaries and tips (if relevant), followed by videos, more links, and further subsections of related material.

Bing can be set as the default search engine on almost any browser. It is, of course, the default search engine on the Edge browser for Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.

Where Bing excels: Users can see the effort made in trying to provide links and related material that is as relevant as possible to the search or question asked at the very top of the page. It must drive the Bing team mad that the most frequently-searched term is "Google."

For example, a search on Bing for a driver for a specific printer actually does surface as the "top hit" the legitimate page of the actual maker of said driver. If you try the same with Google, a half-dozen scammers or malware merchants have paid Google in order to top the results and burying the actual answer — and not just for this category, but for every category.

Where Bing falls down: Bing does collect data on its users for monetization and ad-targeting purposes and does some limited tracking, though users do have the option of erasing their search history. The clickbait news-scams down the page should really be beneath a rich company like Microsoft, but there they are.

Bing Privacy: Bing is more privacy-protective that Google, but that's not saying much. Of the top three search engines, Bing might actually be the best in pure results — so we'll give it a 2 out of 5.

Outside of the top three, a relative veteran that has been slowly increasing its foothold since 2008 is DuckDuckGo . The service essentially anonymizes your search query, then feeds it to Microsoft's Bing, showing you the results without the intrusiveness — or benefit — of Google's more personalized findings.

The company makes its revenue by showing ads connected to the search terms alongside the results, but the results nor any clicks are added to a profile of users. No record is kept of one's past searches, and the neither the ads nor the site track user behavior as they continue to surf, again unlike Google.

Users can opt to set or change a default search engine in most browsers, or might opt to simply make a preferred search engine as the home page of their browser of choice. You can set DuckDuckGo as the default search engine in the four most popular browsers: Safari, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.

Where DuckDuckGo excels: A sustainable revenue model and additional privacy-focused products, and improving name recognition among privacy-focused web surfers.

Where DuckDuckGo falls down: Relies on Bing for non-personalized results. Its separate browser app for iOS includes a Bing tracker.

DuckDuckGo Privacy: Some smaller private search engines go further than DDG, for example obscuring any URL with search terms visible to people looking over your shoulder, but on the whole we'd give DuckDuckGo's search engine an 3.5 out of 5.

Brave Search

Brave's search engine claims to be one of the most private search engines around. It does this by simply not collecting any information about its users at all. Unlike DuckDuckGo, Brave doesn't rely on another company's index to produce results; it created its own index from scratch.

Brave is a good choice for a basic browser, though nowhere near as full-featured as Safari or Firefox. That said, while Brave does not offer a search extension for users of other browsers, the search engine's own web page — search.brave.com — can be bookmarked on all of them.

Where Brave Search excels: A browser and search engine combo that emphasizes and delivers the best alternative private search available, using its own index.

Where Brave Search falls down: Has had difficulty finding a mainstream audience due ironically to its privacy-centric policies.

Brave Search Privacy: 5 out of 5

Ecosia.org is an ecologically-oriented search engine that, like DuckDuckGo, offers anonymized Bing results, but uses its Bing affiliation and revenues generated from ads to plant trees around the world. The site does not store user searches indefinitely, nor allow third-party tracking tools, or sell any data gathered from users to non-Microsoft advertisers.

Users can opt to turn off all Ecosia's own "product improvement" tracking if desired, but it does require some small effort to do so. Ecosia can be set as the default search engine in Safari, Brave, Vivaldi, Firefox, and Chrome.

Where Ecosia excels: On par with DuckDuckGo for search, but uses its profits for a very worthy cause.

Where Ecosia falls down: Uses tracking for its own "product improvement" unless users make the effort to turn that off.

Privacy: 3.5 out of 5

Startpage is similar to DuckDuckGo and Ecosia, except that it uses Google rather than Bing to get results to your anonymized query. It bills itself as "the world's most private search," and its policies of no cookies, no search history retention, and no IP or location records support the company's claim.

Like Google and Yahoo, Startpage also offers email. It also features an anonymizing proxy page that hides your identity and location as you browse the internet, if desired.

In 2019, a marketing and advertising company called System1 invested in Startpage, raising suspicions among the search site's users that the privacy of the site has been compromised. Small promotional messages have since appeared on the main page, but thus far it does not appear to have changed the overall mission or policies of Startpage.

Where Startpage excels: Completely anonymous search.

Where Startpage falls down: Transparency with its users about System1's involvement.

Startpage Privacy: It would be a 5, but we're deducting a point due to the company's lack of candor in its funding model, so 4 out of 5.

Ask.com may be a nostalgia trip for veteran internet users, but it continues to focus on its original offering from 1996: answering questions rather than simply offering pages of links. It outsourced its search engine technology many years ago, and instead pulls from multiple sources — including a crowdsourced expert community — to compile answers.

As with the bigger-name search engines, Ask gathers question, location, and other user data, and sells this to advertisers. It does offer an opt-out on its tracking practices, but it cannot be set as a default search on any mainstream browsers.

Where Ask excels: The question-based approach results in actual answers rather than just links.

Where Ask falls down: The site's privacy policy outlines clearly the kind of information it collects, such as location, IP address, and query history. The site also explicitly states that it "shares" this information (also known as "selling this information") to advertisers and other vendors/partners.

Tracking users can only be avoided if the visitor is from California (where Ask complies with state law), and even then only if said user opts-out. Broadly speaking, Ask's gathering and use/sale of user data is on par with most commercial websites.

Ask Privacy: 1.5 out of 5

Yahoo, founded in 1994 and thus the earliest still-in-operation website search engine, bought up many of its rivals (such as Altavista) before falling from grace in the face of Google's superior data-driven search results in the late 2000s. It continues to offer search and other services, such as email, but is a pale shadow of its former glory as the "door to the internet."

Currently, the portal is owned by investment firm Apollo Global Management, which holds 90 percent ownership of the company. Like Google, its usage terms disclose that the company analyzes and sells the data it collects both on its site and via tracking technology.

Although it seems to be in a pre-death holding pattern, it remains one of the original multi-purpose "portal" sites, offering news and weather alongside a (poor) email service and search. Yahoo can be set as the default search engine on Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.

Where Yahoo excels: Survival.

Where Yahoo falls down: Mediocre email service and search, coupled with outsourced news and advertorial "content."

Yahoo Privacy: 1 out of 5.

Did I miss the part where you mentioned google is only useful for deciphering windows error messages? Oh, and if the search is medical related you get heavily censored results. They heavily deboost the most important medical info from the very same people that would benefit greatly from it. Frankly, lack of utility comes way before the privacy concern. 

Thanks for the best article on search engines I have ever read. I’ll definitely check out Brave search. 

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Namibia killing elephants, hippos to feed people amid worst drought in a century

Government contracting professional hunters, safari outfitters to cull more than 700 animals.

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Namibia's government is planning to cull some 700 wild animals, including elephants and hippos, in an effort to provide meat to people facing hunger, as the country copes with a historic drought. 

Nearly half of Namibia's population of 2.5 million people is facing food insecurity amid the worst drought conditions to hit the arid southern African nation in 100 years. 

Food crop and livestock production have been affected and, according to the United Nations last week, 84 per cent of the country's food reserves have been exhausted.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism will contract professional hunters and safari outfitters to carry out culls in areas where game numbers are sustainable, including national parks. 

"This exercise [is] necessary and is in line with our constitutional mandate where our natural resources are used for the benefit of Namibian citizens," the environment ministry said in a press release Monday.

Among the animals to be killed are 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffalos, 50 impalas, 100 blue wildebeests, 300 zebras and 100 elands, the second-largest species of antelope.

The Namibian government has already contributed nearly 57,000 kilograms of game meat from 157 animals to the relief program. The government did not specify which species of animals were killed.  

"By reducing wildlife numbers in certain parks and communal areas where we believe the population exceeds the available grazing and water resources, we can better manage the current grazing pressure and water availability," the statement read. 

Need to reduce elephant numbers 

The 83 elephants will be from "identified conflict areas" where human-wildlife interactions can include crop destruction, livestock loss and damage to homes and property, as well as causing injuries or death to people.

Human-animal conflicts have worsened as a result of recurring droughts, the ministry said in April 2023. 

At a conference the environment ministry hosted last year, conservation officials deemed it necessary to reduce elephant numbers in order to lower the risk of these interactions.

Southern Africa has one of the world's largest elephant populations.

More than 200,000 elephants are estimated to live in a conservation area spread over Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Angola and Namibia. 

El Niño a factor in drought

Namibia is one of the driest countries in southern Africa and it is prone droughts. 

The country previously declared national drought emergencies three times  over the last decade — in 2013-2014, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019.

The current drought is affecting a swath of southern Africa, from Namibia to Mozambique.

World Weather Attribution , a collection of scientists and researchers who analyze severe weather events found the recent El Niño phenomenon was the key driver of the drought and resulted in much of the region less than 20 per cent of its typical rainfall at the start of this year, when precipitation is usually at its highest . 

Although it did not draw links to climate change in this instance, it pointed to research showing climate change is a factor in increasing aridity in parts of the region. 

Namibia is one of the driest countries in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the World Bank's Climate Knowledge Portal , and is at increased vulnerability to the effects of climate change due, in part, to its reliance on rain-fed agriculture and livestock. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senior Writer

Nick Logan is a senior writer with CBC based in Vancouver. He is a multi-platform reporter and producer, with a particular focus on international news. You can reach out to him at [email protected].

With files from Reuters