In this article, I’ll show you step-by-step how to make Ecosia your default search engine in:
I’ll also show you how to search with Ecosia on your phone, whether you have an iPhone or Android.
Don’t worry — switching takes just a couple of minutes, regardless of browser.
Let’s get started.
How to Make Ecosia Your Default Search Engine in Google Chrome
Desktop
Method #1: Chrome Settings
1. In Chrome, click the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the screen
2. Select “Settings”
3. In Settings, select “Search engine” in the left sidebar
4. Select “Manage search engines”
5. Find Ecosia under the “Other search engines” section. (If your list is like mine, it will have an obscene amount of options and you’ll have no idea why they’re all there.)
6. Click the three vertical dots next to Ecosia
7. Select “Make default”
Done! 🥳
Method #2: Ecosia Chrome Extension
1. In Chrome, go to the Ecosia Chrome extension
2. Click “Add to Chrome”
3. In the window that pops up, click “Add extension”
Done! 💃
Mobile
Currently there is no way to set Ecosia as your default search engine in the Google Chrome iOS and Android apps.
But, good news, you can still search with Ecosia on your phone.
How to Make Ecosia Your Default Search Engine in Safari
Desktop
Currently there is no way to change your search engine to Ecosia in Safari. Apple limits you to four choices: Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo.
To search with Ecosia on your Mac you have a couple options:
- Switch browsers to one that let’s you set Ecosia as your default search engine (e.g. Chrome, Firefox, Edge)
- Set Ecosia as your homepage in Safari and visit it each time you search
Mobile
iOS
As of this writing, you cannot set Ecosia as your default search engine in the Safari iOS app. You’ll have to download the Ecosia app instead.
Android
Safari is not available for Android devices. Typical Apple.
How to Make Ecosia Your Default Search Engine in Mozilla Firefox
Desktop
1. In Firefox, go to the Ecosia Firefox Add-on
2. Click “Add to Firefox”
3. In the small window that pops up, click “Add”
4. In the next small window, click “Yes” to set Ecosia as your default search engine
Done! 🕺
Mobile
iOS
1. In the Firefox iOS app, tap the three horizontal lines in the bottom right corner
2. Tap “Settings”
3. Tap “Search”
4. Tap “Add Search Engine” under the “Quick-Search Engines” section
5. Type in the following, then tap “Save”
- Title = Ecosia
- URL = https://www.ecosia.org/search?q=%s
6. Tap “Google” (or whichever search engine is listed in the first row) under the “Default Search Engine” section
7. Select “Ecosia” from the list
Done! 🙌
Android
1. In the Firefox Android app, go to the Ecosia homepage
2. Long press on the search field until the “Add Search Engine” option appears
3. Tap “Add Search Engine”
4. Tap “OK” to add Ecosia as a search engine
5. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner of the screen
6. Tap “Settings” in the drop-down menu that appears
7. Tap “Search” in the Settings menu
8. Tap Ecosia under the “Installed search engines” section
10. Tap “Set as default” in the window that appears
Done! 🌳
How to Make Ecosia Your Default Search Engine in Microsoft Edge
Desktop
1. In Edge, click the three horizontal dots in the top right corner of the screen
2. Click “Settings”
3. In Settings, select “Privacy and services”
4. Scroll all the way down to the “Services” section and select “Address bar”
5. Select “Manage search engines”
6. Select “Add”
7. Type in the following, then click “Add”
- Search engine = Ecosia
- Keyword = ecosia.org
- URL = https://www.ecosia.org/search?q=%s
8. Click the three horizontal dots next to Ecosia
9. Select “Make default”
Done! 🎉
Mobile
As of this writing, both the Microsoft Edge iOS and Android apps do not let you choose Ecosia as a default search engine.
Fortunately, you can still use Ecosia on your phone.
Here’s how.
How to Search with Ecosia on Your Phone
If your web browser app of choice doesn’t let you change your default search engine, fear not! There is another way.
To search with Ecosia on your iPhone or Android phone, download the Ecosia app (one of the best eco-friendly apps out there, in our opinion).
Then just use the app to search and browse the web like you normally would.
Easy!
Reminder: Click the Ads in Ecosia’s Search Results!
Ecosia mainly makes money from people clicking on the ads in its search results.
If you’re like me, you’ve been using Google as your search engine for as long as you’ve been using the internet, and you’ve developed the habit of scrolling past all the ads at the top of the search results to the organic results below.
Of course, this habit needs to be unlearned when searching with Ecosia.
To help Ecosia make money so the company can plant trees, you’ll need to click on the ads in its search results. Don’t commit click fraud, just get in the habit of clicking on them when they’re relevant.
