Apple has introduced a cool new feature in the Safari browser for iOS 17, called the Private Search Engine. Now, with the help of this feature, you can choose a different search engine when using Private Browsing in Safari. Personally, I think this feature is a home run, since you won’t need to visit other search engine websites every time you want to look something up.
Along with iOS 17, Apple has made several improvements to the Safari browser in the areas of security and privacy. In the latest iOS 17 beta update, you can now lock your Safari private tab and enable Advanced Tracking and Fingerprint Protection. So let’s dive right in and set up a private search engine on your Safari.
What is Private Search Engine?
A private search engine means that you can pick a different search engine for your iPhone’s Safari browser when in a private tab. You don’t have to stick with the same default search engine for both general and private tabs. It’s a safe way to surf the web in private mode (also known as incognito mode), keeping your search history under wraps.
Set Up a Private Search Engine for Safari
For instance, you might want to set DuckDuckGo as the default search engine for general browsing and use a different search engine, such as Bing, for Private Browsing mode. Here’s how you can do it:
Note: First, make sure you have the latest iOS 17 installed on your device.
- Open your iPhone settings app and tap on Safari.
- Tap on “Private Search Engine” to switch the default search engine.
- Choose the search engine you’d like to use in Safari’s Private Tabs.
- Open a Safari Private Tab, and click on the + (Plus) icon at the bottom left.
- Search anything, and you’ll be navigating with your chosen private search engine.
Which Private Search Engines are Default in iOS 17?
Currently, only a few popular search engines are supported as default in Safari’s private tabs:
- Yahoo
- Bing
- DuckDuckGo
- Ecosia
What are the Best Search Engines for Privacy?
While there are plenty of private search engines out there, the top choices among users are:
- DuckDuckGo
- Startpage
- Qwant
- Brave Search
- Mojeek
Stay Safe Out There…
We hope this article has helped you get the lowdown on how to set up a private search engine on Safari with iOS 17. Whether you’re an early adopter or planning to update to iOS 17 in the coming days, this new feature adds an extra layer of privacy to your browsing experience.
