- Private Search Engine is a feature in Safari to change different search engines for private browsing.
- To enable it, go to Settings > Safari > Private Search Engine, and select your preferred search engine.
Apple’s Safari browser now has a new feature called the Private Search Engine. This lets you select a different search engine when you’re in Private Browsing mode. This feature is great because you don’t have to go to other search engine websites each time you want to search something.
In this post, I’ll explain what the Private Search Engine is, how to use it, and why it’s useful. Let’s get started.
What is a Private Search Engine?
A Private Search Engine lets you choose a different search engine for your iPhone’s Safari browser when you open a private tab. You’re not stuck with the same default search engine (like Google) for both regular and private tabs. It’s a secure way to browse the web in private mode (also known as incognito mode), keeping your search history private.
With the Private Search Engine feature, you can enhance your search style. You don’t need to manually change your search engine each time you open a new Private tab.
How to Enable the Private Search Engine for Safari
You might want to set DuckDuckGo as the default search engine for regular browsing and use a different search engine, like Bing, for Private Browsing mode. Here’s how:
Note: Make sure you have the latest iOS 17 installed on your device.
Step 1: Open your iPhone settings app and tap on Safari.
Step 2: Tap on “Private Search Engine” to change the default search engine.
Step 3: Pick the search engine you want to use in Safari’s Private Tabs.
Step 4: Open a Safari Private Tab, and click on the + (Plus) icon at the bottom left.
Step 5: Search for anything, and you’ll be using your chosen private search engine.
Supported Private Search Engines in Safari
Currently, only a few popular search engines are supported as default in Safari’s private tabs:
- Yahoo
- Bing
- DuckDuckGo
- Ecosia
Best Search Engines for Privacy
There are many private search engines available, but the top choices among users are:
- DuckDuckGo
- Startpage
- Qwant
- Brave Search
- Mojeek
I hope you find this feature helpful and consider changing your default private search engine. To enhance your search experience, you can also create Safari profiles and maintain your workflow.