The Google Chrome Feature That Makes It Easier To Browse Multiple Search Engines
As someone who frequently has Chrome open, you likely find yourself using Google for a myriad of internet searches, ranging from finding the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe to understanding how to use Vlookup on Excel. But while Google can definitely get the job done, there are instances when you would prefer using a different search engine. Say the search results on Bing are better, or you’d want to help Ecosia plant more trees for the planet.
If you only use a single search engine, you can alwayschange Chrome’s settingsto use the search engine of your choice as the default. However, if you constantly switch between multiple search engines, you can’t set them all as your default search tool. You’d need to manually visit them every time you want to use each one. If you’re tired of doing this over and over again, you’d be glad to know that there’s a better way alternative. Chrome has a built-in shortcut feature that simplifies the process of browsing across different search engines. Here’s how to use it.
Using Chrome’s preloaded search engine shortcuts
By default, Google Chrome comes with a list of search engines that you can access using a shortcut. This includes Google, Bing, Yahoo!, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia. To use any of these search engines, all you have to do is navigate to your address bar, input your preferred search engine’s URL (e.g., ecosia.org for Ecosia, bing.com for Bing), and hit the Tab key. The left-hand side of the address bar should now display “Search [search engine],” and you can start typing your search query.
If inputting the complete URL for the search engine seems too tedious, you have the option to replace it with a custom shortcut for quicker access. Here’s how to do so:
Now, when you want to use a different search engine, you can just input your chosen shortcut into the address bar.
Adding a new search engine shortcut in Google Chrome
If you use a search engine other than the five preset ones, Chrome allows you to add a new search engine to the list. Follow these steps:
Your new search engine is now added, and you can use the custom shortcut you entered to access it just as easily as the pre-existing search engine options.
Alternative method using the Search All Chrome extension
If you don’t want to mess around with the Chrome settings and prefer a more plug-and-play approach,Search Allis one of thebest Chrome extensionsyou should have installed. Search All lets you access a wide variety of search engines without needing to remember or type any shortcuts or URLs. Here’s how you can set it up and use it:
you’re able to also customize the default search engine options in the Search All menu. To do so, follow these steps:
