Like other versions of Windows, Windows 8 comes with the latest version of Internet Explorer preinstalled, IE10, but it also comes with Bing as the default search provider. If you’re not a fan of Bing, changing it is going to take some work. But we have all the steps outlined below.
Tutorial Shortcut — If you’re looking to just quickly Add Google as your default search provider, just click this link: Google Search Provider Download and skip to Step 4 below.
Step 1
Open Internet Explorer 10 in desktop mode and Click the Gear (settings) button at the top-right of the window. From the list select Manage add-ons.
Note that the Metro skinned IE10 has compatibility issues with this, read below for a solution if you have problems.
Troubleshooting: If Manage add-ons is greyed out, press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and end the process for the immerse Metro Internet Explorer 10 client.
Step 2
In the Add-ons manager click the Search Providers tab. At the bottom of this tab select Find More Search Providers.
Step 3
A new IE10 window should open up that takes you to the Internet Explorer Gallery: search engine section. Now pick your favorite search engine of choice and click on it. In my example, I chose Google to be the first search provider to install.
Step 4
After you click on an add-on click the Add to Internet Explorer button that appears on the add-on’s specific page.
Step 5
A confirmation window will appear. This gives you the option to make this your default search provider. Check the options you want and click Add.
Your new search provider will be ready to go. If you want to change the default back to Bing or another provider, just visit the Search Provider tab in the Manage Add-ons window again. The buttons to change the default or remove it are at the bottom-right of the window.
what is internet explorer? lol
Oh come on, you know!
It’s that program you use to download Chrome or Firefox.
@Austin: Exactly
I am not too impressed with how the Metro IE and Desktop IE don’t work in harmony…hopefully they integrate them better with the final release.
Yeah – they basically different apps at this point as much as I can tell in regards to Metro.
Wow… that’s simple…… Um no.
The fact that this needs a how-to article is a bit crazy.
Just a heads up this only works with the desktop app of IE10, the metro version is stuck with bing
Good point. Let me play with that.
Played around a bit, it is possible to make chrome the default in the metro IE10, you have to change your search provider order so that chrome is first and then log off your user account and log back in (weird I know).
Ah nice.
And you mean Google, not Chrome I assume.
How did you manage to get so many search providers? When I searched on IE Gallery, all I got was Bing, and Bing.
me too! i really cant find Google as a serch provider at the ie galler…
Found it now! On the top of the page, where you can choose Your Language, i had Norwegian, With that i could not find Google. When i switched the language to United states i found it.. stupied…
Had the same problem too except mine was the Australian galley. Good riddance Bing
Thank you very much.
I want to add a search provider, goodsearch.com , that is not listed. how can I add if it is not in the pre-listed add ons? thanks in advance
GOLDEN!! BING SUCKS… thank you very much for allowing me not to have to tolerate it!
I cant set google as search provider, I get a message like this: The search provider could not be installed: This may have happened because: – A required file could not be downloaded, bla bla bla.
Please heeeeeeelp, I swer if I solve this I wil never ever upgrade IE anymore !!!
Thank you. Worked perfectly for my new HP laptop.
For some reason when I click on the magnify glass and click add, then find more search providers, google simply wont show up. Using the link provided in this tutorial was the only way I could add google as default search provider.
Seems (in Australia at least) Google can only be added as an “accelerator” rather than as a “search provider” in the mange add on lists procedure, and as such, Bing remains the default. Anyone else notice this?