Darn easy tip: How to change and add search providers in IE9

Internet Explorer Search Providers

In IE9, like in IE8, you can change the default provider you use when doing a search on the internet from the IE search-box, you can also add other search providers from a specific service if you wish, for example Amazon, New York Times, Google among many others — service that Internet Explorer 9 will keep as the default until you choose another provider or you close the Web browser –. Additionally you can set a default search provider for all your searches from a specific provider, and today I am going to show step-by-step how to customize these settings in IE9 to get the most out of your searches.

How to add a new search provider

1. In the IE9 search-box click the down-arrow and then click Add.

Internet Explorer 9 - Add Search Provider

2. Now you will be redirected to the new Internet Explorer Gallery Add-ons page. From the drop-down list in the right-bottom corner of the window select Search Providers (like indicated on the image below).

Internet Explorer Gallery Add-Ons

3. Look for the provider that you are interested, click it and in the next page click Click to install.

Internet Explorer 9 - Install new provider

4. Next the Add Search Provider option-box will appear, choose whether or not you would like to have search suggestions as you type a term turned on and if you want to make this search provider your new permanent default, then click Add to finish.

Internet Explorer 9 - Search Provider options

How to change or set as default a search provider

To change or switch between the current Internet Explorer 9 search provider, click the down-arrow in the search-box and click one of the providers that are available to you and perform your search.

Internet Explorer 9 - Change or switch Search Providers

Note that like I said before Internet Explorer will keep the new provider as default until you choose another provider or until the IE9 is closed. To make a search provider your permanent default, try the following two ways:

While adding a new search provider in the option-box choose the option Make this my default search provider or if you already have installed the search provider do the following:

1. Click on Tools and select Manage add-ons.

IE9 - Tools and Manage  Add-Ons

2. Now from the left menu click Search Providers, then select the provider you want to make the new default and click the button Set as default.

Internet-Explorer 9 - Add-Ons Manager

3. Finally click Close to finish setting the default Internet Explorer 9 search provider.

I hope this tutorial has been helpful for you. Please let me know if you have any questions by leaving a comment below!

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.