Change or choose a search provider in Internet Explorer

You can choose which provider you would like to use when you search for information on the Internet. You can change the search provider for a specific search (Internet Explorer will use that search provider until you choose another one or until you close Internet Explorer) and you can specify which search provider you prefer to use by default. When you first install Internet Explorer, you might have only one provider installed.

Some search providers offer search suggestions to help make your searches faster. When you start typing a search term into the search box or Address bar, a list of other search terms will appear. You can continue typing, or use your arrow keys or mouse to choose one of the suggested terms.

If you want to change providers, follow the steps below to add new search providers.

 To add new search providers

1. Click to open Internet Explorer.
2. Click the arrow to the right of the search box.
   The Internet Explorer search box
3. Click Find More Providers.
4. Click the search provider you would like to add. This opens the Add Search Provider dialog box.
5. If you want the provider that you just added to be used by default when you search from the Address bar or search box, select the Make this my default search provider check box.
6. If the search provider offers search suggestions, select the Use search suggestions from this provider check box to receive search suggestions.
7. Click Add.
8. Repeat steps 4 through 7 for each provider you want to add.

 To add search providers discovered on webpages

Some webpages offer search providers. These providers will appear in the search provider list for your current browsing session and are identified with a gold star next to them. If you want one of these search providers to be available in Internet Explorer all the time (not just for the current browsing session), follow these steps:
1. Click to open Internet Explorer.
2. Go to a website that offers a search provider.
3. Click the arrow to the right of the search box.
   The Internet Explorer search box
4. Point to Add Search Providers to display a list of the search providers that Internet Explorer has discovered. Click the provider you want to add.
5. Follow the instructions in the Add Search Provider dialog box.

 To change the search provider temporarily (this session only)

1. Click to open Internet Explorer.
2. Click the arrow to the right of the search box.
   The Internet Explorer search box
3. Click the search provider you would like to use.
4. In the search box, type the word or phrase you want to search for, and then press Enter.
   This search provider will be used until you close Internet Explorer. When you restart Internet Explorer, the default search provider will be used.