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✅ Default Search Engine

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Choose which 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.

After Install

Go to Settings > General > Search

  • Address Bar (omnibox) - Choose from the dropdown:
    • Google
    • Microsoft Bing
    • Yahoo Search
    • DuckDuckGo
    • Ecosia
  • Manage Search Engines - 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

Site search shortcuts allow you to use the address bar (also known as the Omnibox) to search within a specific website, without having to visit the site first. This works similarly to using the Omnibox for a general Google search across the entire web.

We have included some site searches in Wavebox for: @amazon, @calendar, @dos, @drive.

Go to Settings > General > Search > Manage Search Engines & Site Search

  • Visit the website you want to create a site search shortcut.
  • Find the site's search field and do a test search.
  • Copy the URL of the search results page and replace the word you used as a search term with %s.
  • 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.
  • Click Add again to create the shortcut.

Test the Search

  • Click on the omnibox in the address bar
  • Type the shortcut, followed by the search term e.g. @kb profiles
  • Hit enter to see the results.

Enabling Site Search

Site search shortcuts allow you to use the address bar (also known as the Omnibox) to search within a specific website, without having to visit the site first. This works similarly to using the Omnibox for a general Google search across the entire web.

We have included some site searches in Wavebox for: @amazon, @calendar, @dos, @drive.

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 add a new Site Search above.

  • 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.