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Cover image for šŸ” Restore Google Search in Brave Browser - Quick Dev Fix
Devashish Tiwari
Devashish Tiwari

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šŸ” Restore Google Search in Brave Browser - Quick Dev Fix

#brave #webdev #google #developer

Ever opened Brave and wondered where Google went? It's not a bugā€”Brave intentionally removed Google from the default search engine list to promote privacy-first alternatives. But as developers, we need quick access to Stack Overflow, GitHub, and documentation searches. Here's how to restore Google and supercharge your workflow with custom shortcuts.

šŸ¤” Why Did Google Disappear?

Brave removed Google as a pre-configured option back in 2021 to "de-Google" the web and default users to Brave Searchā€”their independent, tracker-free search engine. This aligns with Brave's core mission: block surveillance capitalism while preserving user choice.

The technical details:

  • Existing users keep their search settings unchanged
  • New installations default to Brave Search
  • Google is still allowedā€”just not pre-installed
  • You maintain full control over search engines

Brave Search uses an independent index (not Bing or Google), provides ad-free results, and doesn't profile you. Perfect for sensitive dev work or open-source research.

āš” Add Google Back in 30 Seconds

Here's the fastest way to restore Google search:

Step-by-Step

  1. Open Settings ā†’ Click the menu (ā˜°) and select Settings
  2. Navigate to Search engine ā†’ Find it in the left sidebar
  3. Click "Manage search engines and site search"
  4. Scroll to "Site search" section and click Add
  5. Fill in the details:
    • Search engine: Google
    • Shortcut: :g (or any prefix you prefer)
    • URL with %s: https://www.google.com/search?q=%s
  6. Save and set as default:
    • Click Add
    • Find "Google" in the list
    • Click the three dots (ā‹®) next to it
    • Select Make default

Test it: Type :g unreal engine 5 blueprint tutorial in your address bar and hit Enter. Google search loads instantly.

šŸŽ¬ Wrap-Up

Brave removed Google to fight surveillance capitalism, but they're not forcing anythingā€”you're in control. Add Google back in 30 seconds, set up dev shortcuts, and enjoy a privacy-first workflow that doesn't sacrifice productivity.

Your turn: What shortcuts do you use? Drop your setup in the commentsā€”I'm always looking to optimize my workflow!

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