I'd Google the default search engine for all devices or all phones?
Executive summary
Google is the default search engine on a large share of phones and desktops because major browsers—particularly Chrome and Safari on many new devices—ship configured to use Google, but it is not an immutable rule for “all devices” and users can change defaults at will; choices are shaped by browser makers, carrier/manufacturer deals, and recent regulatory scrutiny of Google’s distribution practices [1] [2] [3]. Practical takeaway: for most people “Googling” will be the path of least resistance on phones, but it is neither universal nor unavoidable [4] [5].
1. Why saying “Google is the default on all phones” is an overstatement
The common shorthand that “phones use Google by default” reflects reality for many, but it’s not literally true for every device: web browsers and operating systems set their own defaults, and while Chrome and Safari often default to Google, other combinations and regional device builds can ship with a different engine or prompt the user during setup [6] [1] [7]. Technical documentation and how‑to guides show that all mainstream browsers—Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari, Opera and others—allow the user to change the search engine, meaning the manufacturer’s default is a starting point, not an irrevocable choice [4] [8].
2. Why Google is dominant on phones in practice
Google’s dominance is a product of ecosystem integration and commercial deals: Android phones normally come with Chrome (deeply integrated with Google services) and Apple’s Safari also defaults to Google in many regions, producing a huge volume of queries routed to Google by default behavior [1] [2]. Reviews and market analyses repeatedly note Google’s near‑ubiquity and ease of use as factors—users get fast, familiar results the moment they start typing in the address bar because the browser is already configured to call Google [9] [10].
3. Regulatory, technical and privacy exceptions matter
Regulators and judges have pushed back on how defaults are set: a court ruling found that Google used payments and partner arrangements to secure default positions on phones and browsers, a point that has real implications for whether defaults are the result of competition or commercial leverage [3]. Meanwhile, privacy‑focused alternatives such as DuckDuckGo, Startpage and Brave Search are explicit counter‑options for users concerned about tracking; independent browsers and some device manufacturers also steer users toward other engines or let users choose at first boot [3] [9].
4. Changing the default is straightforward and widely documented
Practical guides from Google, browser help pages and independent tutorials all walk through changing the default search engine across platforms—Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Android and iOS—so the choice ultimately rests with the user or IT admins deploying multiple devices [7] [6] [5]. Security caveats exist—unexpected changes can be caused by malware or unwanted extensions—so if the default flips without action, that’s a red flag to investigate [6]. For managed environments, Chrome and enterprise settings offer centralized ways to enforce a chosen default across teams [10].
5. Bottom line: “All phones” is wrong; “most phones” is defensible but contingent
Reporting and how‑to resources make clear that Google is the practical default for an overwhelming share of phone users, but it is not universal and is shaped by vendor deals, browser defaults, regulation, and user control—so the precise answer is conditional: Google is the default on many phones and browsers by design and dealmaking, yet any individual device can be reconfigured or shipped otherwise, and regulators have questioned how those defaults were secured [1] [3] [4]. Readers should view “Google everywhere” as a pragmatic generalization, not a technical law, and consult device or browser settings if they want a different default [8] [11].