Add Custom Search Engines to Chrome, Firefox and Edge Address Bar

How to achieve the same search experience in the address bar as in the respective website's search bar? Additionally, how can we set our custom search engine as the default search engine for the browser? The solution lies in adding custom search engines to the address bar on your browser.

Let's get started.

Part 1: Adding Custom Search Engines to Chrome's Address Bar

In this section, I will guide you through the process of adding a custom search engine to Google Chrome. Once you've completed these steps, you'll be able to perform searches using your custom search engine directly from the Chrome address bar.

Action 1: Locate the respective setting in Chrome

Step 1: Click the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the browser and choose the Settings option from the menu.

Step 2: Navigate to Search engine in the left sidebar.

Step 3: Click on Manage search engines and site search on the page.

Tips: Alternatively, you can enter chrome://settings/searchEngines in the address bar to access this section.

chrome://settings/searchEngines

Step 4: Click the Add button in the Manage search engines and site search page to open the Add search engine window.

Action 2: Configure your custom search engine

Step 1: Provide a simple and clear name in the "Search engine" field.

Step 2: Assign a keyword to invoke this search engine in the "Shortcut" field.

Note: You can employ "@" followed by the relevant abbreviation as the keyword, for instance, using "@yt" to activate the YouTube search engine.

Step 3: Enter the URL of your custom search engine.

Step 4: Click the Add button to complete the configuration.

Action 3: Utilizing the custom search engine

Tip 1: Enter the keyword you filled in the "Shortcut" field from Step 2, then press Tab or Space to invoke the respective search engine.

Tip 2: Alternatively, you can set it as the default by clicking the three-dot icon and selecting Make default from the menu.

Part 2: Configuring Custom Search Engines for Firefox's Address Bar

Way 1: Install the Appropriate Search Engine Extension

Firefox offers extensions to facilitate the addition of custom search engines.

Step 1: Navigate to the relevant settings page.

Note: Paste "about:preferences#search" into the address bar to open the Search settings page.

about:preferences#search

Step 2: Click on "Find more search engines" at the bottom of the page.

Step 3: Search for the desired search engine extension using the website name followed by "search engine," e.g., "YouTube search engine" for the YouTube Search Engine extension.

Step 4: Return to the original settings page, and you will find the YouTube search engine in the "Search Shortcuts" section.

Tips: You can modify the keyword by double-clicking the corresponding Keyword column. Type a new keyword and press Enter to save it.

Way 2: Employ the "Add custom search engine" Extension

For a more customizable experience similar to Chrome, use the "Add custom search engine" extension.

Step 1: Install the "Add custom search engine" extension for Firefox.

Step 2: Click on the Extensions icon in the top-right corner and select this extension to open it.

Tips: Right-click its icon, choose "Pin to Toolbar" for easy access.

Step 3: Configure the custom search engine on this page.

Note: The Name is similar to the "Search engine" field in Chrome, and the Icon is optional.

Step 4: Click the "Add custom search engine" button.

Step 5: Move the cursor to the address bar, right-click, and select Add xx in the menu.

Step 6: Go to the search settings page and add a keyword to this custom search engine.

Step 7: Now you can use the custom engine in your address bar.

Part 3: Implementing Custom Search Engines in Edge's Address Bar

The process of adding custom search engines to Microsoft Edge closely mirrors that of Google Chrome.

Step 1: Paste "edge://settings/searchEngines" into the address bar to access the "Manage search engines" page.

edge://settings/searchEngines

Step 2: Click the Add button to introduce a custom search engine to Edge.

Step 3: Complete the required information in the "Add search engine" window and then click "Add" to add it into the "Address bar search engines".

Tips: You can continue editing it on this page.

Step 4: Utilize it similarly to how it's done in Chrome.

Closing Words

This article provides guidance on adding custom search engines to the address bars of Google Chrome, Firefox, and Microsoft Edge. Once configured, you have the flexibility to tailor the actual query. Additionally, you can perform searches directly from the address bar without the need to open the respective site first. The time saved, when accumulated, can prove to be quite impressive.