Default Search Engine

Last updated on 18 Jul 2025

You can select a search engine to use in Wavebox, or add a completely new Search Engine as a default.

During Install

Step 2 of the install screens lets you choose your search engine from a

After Install

Go to Settings > General > Search

Search engine used in the Address Bar (omnibox) - Click the dropdown to choose from:
- Google
- Microsoft Bing
- Yahoo Search
- DuckDuckGo
- Ecosia

Click [Manage Search Engines] for further options:
- Edit search keyboard shortcut
- Manually enter, or edit a search engine URL
- List of Site Search shortcuts (see below)
- Add a new Default Search Engine

Add a new Default Search Engine

You can add a new default search engine, such as Kagi, if you know the search URL that it uses - you can find it using the same process as Site Search.

Go to Settings > General > Search > Manage Search Engines & Site Search and scroll down to Site Search.
Click the [Add] button.
Fill in the name, shortcut, and paste the URL you copied earlier, such as:
Name: Kagi
Shortcut: @kagi
URL: https://kagi.com/search?q=%s
Click Add again to create the shortcut.
Click to expand the "Additional sites" at the bottom of the Site Search section, and scroll to see the added entry.
Click the three dots next to your new entry and select "Make default"

Test the Search

Open a new tab or window
Click on the omnibox in the address bar and enter your search term
Hit enter to see the results.