Is Google the built in search browser for all devices or just all phones or is it only for some devices?

1. Why the question matters: default vs. built‑in and who controls it

The phrase “built‑in” conflates two different realities: one is the search engine embedded as the default action in a browser’s address bar; the other is deeper system‑level integration where a vendor makes a single search provider the preselected option across devices — both are influenced by browser settings, device vendors, and commercial agreements rather than a universal technological mandate, and those defaults are changeable in most mainstream browsers and operating systems ^{[1] [2] [5]}.

2. What browsers and devices actually do by default

Google Chrome on desktop and mobile typically uses Google Search as the default, but Chrome explicitly allows users to change the default search engine in settings on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iPhone and iPad; Chrome’s omnibox will use whichever engine is set as the default ^{[1] [6] [2]}. Safari on Apple platforms defaults to Google in many markets but also offers alternate defaults (Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia) and can be switched in Safari’s Preferences ^{[7] [3]}. Other browsers — Firefox, Edge, Opera, Samsung Browser — similarly provide settings to select a preferred search provider ^{[2] [8] [9]}.

3. Exceptions and regional rules: when users must be offered a choice

Regulatory and regional requirements can affect what ships on new devices: for example, devices distributed in the European Economic Area (EEA) on or after March 1, 2020, must include an explicit option to choose the default search engine, reflecting legal and competitive pressure to give users a choice rather than lock a single provider in place ^[4]. Browser behavior also varies by country: in some territories Google Search is the automatic default; in others the user may be prompted to choose during setup ^[6].

4. Power, payments and why Google is so often default

The prevalence of Google as the default is not merely technical convenience but commercial muscle: reporting notes that Google pays Apple billions to remain the default search provider in Safari, a deal that helps explain Google’s dominant share of searches on phones and desktops ^[3]. That economic relationship creates a default environment for many users even though the software permits alternatives, and critics argue this entrenchment can dampen competition despite the ability to change settings ^[3].

5. What users can and cannot change, practically speaking

Practically, users can change the default search engine in almost every modern browser: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari and others expose a setting to switch from Google to Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Ecosia, or custom engines ^{[1] [2] [8]}. Some mobile versions and restricted profiles (managed devices, guest profiles) may impose limits — enterprise or admin policies can lock a default search engine, and some mobile browsers restrict adding fully custom engines on mobile without extensions ^{[1] [2]}.

6. Balance and the takeaways

The accurate answer is that Google is not a universal, immutable “built‑in” search engine for all devices; it is the default in many widely used browsers and devices because of user settings, market share, and commercial agreements, but it can usually be changed by the user and is subject to regulatory and policy exceptions in certain regions or managed environments ^{[1] [6] [4] [3]}. Where Google appears unavoidable, that is often the result of distribution deals and default settings rather than an absolute technical limitation, and alternative viewpoints stress both the user freedom to switch and the structural power that preserves Google’s default status for most people ^{[3] [2]}.