Setting Kagi as Your Default Search Engine

Table of Contents

• Option 1: Use Orion browser by Kagi (currently for macOS/iOS only)
• Option 2: Using the Kagi Browser Extension
  • Setting up the Extension
    • Google Chrome
    • Safari for Mac
      • Choosing a Search Engine to Redirect (Mac)
    • Safari for iOS
      • Choosing a Search Engine to Redirect (iOS)
  • Note for Safari Users: Browsing History
  • Note for Brave Browser Users
  • Note for Opera Browser Users
• Option 3: Manual Configuration
  • Custom use
  • Private Session link (use Kagi in private windows without logging in)
  • Chromium-Based Browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, Arc...)
    • Desktop
    • Mobile (iOS/Android)
  • Firefox-Based Browsers
    • Desktop
    • Android Mobile
    • iOS
  • Safari
    • Desktop
    • iOS & iPadOS
  • Firefox Focus
    • Android Mobile
    • iOS
  • Custom Use

Option 1: Use Orion browser by Kagi (currently for macOS/iOS only)

If you use Apple devices with macOS/iOS/iPadOS you can use Orion browser by Kagi. It has Kagi built-in and is the easiest option to start using Kagi.

Download Orion.

You can also scan the QR Code below to download Orion on your iPhone or iPad:

Tip: It is recommended you enter your private session link in Orion settings, as it will allow you to use Kagi in private windows and after clearing cookies. To do this, first go to Orion > Settings.

Next, go to the Search tab, select Kagi under Search engine, then click on Kagi Settings.

A modal will appear, click the Get Your Session Link button to get the link with your token and paste it in the text field, then click OK.

Option 2: Using the Kagi Browser Extension

Kagi is available as an extension for all major browsers. The extension sets Kagi as the default search engine on some browsers/platforms and allows you to search with Kagi even in a private window without logging in (this can be also set manually with the use of a private session link).

Extension download links:

• Chromium-based browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, Arc...)
  • After installing the extension make sure to set Kagi as your default search engine.
• Firefox-based browsers
  • If you use Firefox on Android, please know there are many known limitations with the extension, at this moment. That means you need to follow the Firefox Android search setup above to search with Kagi.
  • After installing the extension, if your profile deletes cookies frequently, go to the extension settings (click the puzzle piece in the top right corner of the browser window) for Kagi and enter your private session token URL to be logged in automatically even when cookies have been deleted.
  • If you run into a problem of not being logged in to Kagi on incognito sessions, try manually setting your session token. If that doesn't work, try disallowing it on Incognito, saving the session token manually, and then re-allowing it again.
• Safari for macOS/iOS
  • You can also scan the QR code below to download the extension on your iPhone or iPad:
• The xSearch, QueryDial and HyperWeb extensions for Safari also support Kagi

If you are a macOS, iOS, or iPadOS user, you can complement your Kagi experience with the free Orion web browser, produced by the same team that built Kagi Search.

Setting up the Extension

Setting up the Kagi Extension in Google Chrome

To enhance your browsing experience with Kagi, follow these steps to set Kagi as your default search engine in Google Chrome:

1. Launch Google Chrome.
2. Install the Kagi Search extension from the Chrome Web Store by clicking the Add to Chrome button.
3. You will be prompted to confirm you want to add the extension. To confirm, click on Add extension.
4. Click the puzzle-piece icon in Chrome’s toolbar (this is the Extensions menu), then click the Pin icon next to Kagi Search for Chrome.
5. Finally, click the Kagi icon in Chrome’s toolbar. If you see a message saying No Kagi session found, click the Let’s go! link (you may need to log into Kagi if you haven’t already).

Setting up the Kagi Extension in Safari for Mac

To set up the Kagi extension for Safari on macOS click on the extension icon in Safari's toolbar and then:

• Make sure the Make Kagi Default Search Engine checkbox is checked to search Kagi from the address bar.
• Use the Get Your Session Link button to get the link with your personal token.
• Paste the Session Link in the text field. This will allow you to use Kagi Search in private windows.

Choosing a Search Engine to Redirect (Mac)

By default, the Kagi Search extension for Safari will redirect searches from any search engine to Kagi. For a better experience, we recommend selecting a single search engine to redirect (DuckDuckGo or Ecosia are recommended options as they have better privacy policies than other alternatives). You can accomplish this by following these steps:

1. Open Safari.
2. In the menu bar, go to Safari > Settings.
3. Click on the Search tab.
4. In the Search engine dropdown, select the search engine you want to redirect to Kagi (DuckDuckGo or Ecosia are recommended).
5. Close the Settings window.
6. In Safari’s toolbar, click on the Kagi extension icon.
7. In the Engine to redirect dropdown, select the same search engine you chose in step 4.

Note: If you set DuckDuckGo as default and experience issues with Bangs we recommend switching to Ecosia instead.

Setting up the Kagi Extension in Safari for iOS

Set Kagi as your default search engine in Safari by installing the Kagi for Safari extension.

Follow these steps to set up the Kagi for Safari extension:

1. Install Kagi for Safari from the App Store. You can also scan the QR code below with your iPhone or iPad camera to go directly to the download page:
2. Open the Settings app and navigate to Safari > Extensions > Kagi for Safari.
3. Enable the Allow Extension and Allow in Private Browsing toggles.
4. Under Permissions, set kagi.com and Other Websites to Allow.
5. Open Safari and visit kagi.com.
6. Tap the AA icon in the address bar and select Kagi for Safari.
7. If prompted with The extension 'Kagi for Safari' would like to access kagi.com, tap Always Allow, then confirm by tapping Always Allow on Every Website.

Choosing a Search Engine to Redirect (iOS)

By default, the Kagi Search extension for Safari will redirect searches from any search engine to Kagi. For a better experience, we recommend selecting a single search engine to redirect (DuckDuckGo or Ecosia are recommended options as they have better privacy policies than other alternatives). You can accomplish this by following these steps:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap on Safari.
3. Tap on Search Engine.
4. Select the search engine you want to redirect to Kagi (DuckDuckGo or Ecosia are recommended).
5. Open Safari.
6. Tap the aA or puzzle piece icon in the address bar.
7. Tap on Kagi for Safari.
8. In the Engine to redirect dropdown, select the same search engine you chose in step 4.
9. Tap on Done.

Note: If you set DuckDuckGo as default and experience issues with Bangs we recommend switching to Ecosia instead.

Note for Safari Users: Browsing History

When you install the Kagi Search browser extension in Safari, you will see the extension requires access to your browsing history. This access is needed so the extension can intercept queries sent to other search engines and instead send them to Kagi Search.

No data from your browsing history is sent to Kagi Search beyond the search queries you make while running the extension. All queries made to Kagi Search are anonymized, never being tied to your specific Kagi Search account.

Note for Brave Users: Settings Update

In addition to installing the Kagi Browser Extension, Brave users must also make a settings change in the Brave web browser:

1. Go to Settings > Search engine (link).
2. Turn on the "Index other search engines" option.

Note for Opera Users: No Longer Compatible

Opera is no longer compatible as it is restricting users from using alternative search engines. If you are an Opera user you can reach out to Opera and request them to add Kagi to their list of search engines.

Option 3: Manual Configuration

You can configure your web browser manually to use Kagi as its default search engine.

If you are interested in using Kagi in private (incognito) browser windows, be sure to check our section on private session tokens​.

Custom Use

If you want to manually set Kagi as a default search engine, use these settings:

• Kagi Search URL https://kagi.com/search?q=%s

• Kagi auto suggestions URL https://kagi.com/api/autosuggest?q=%s

Private Session Link

To use Kagi Search inside a private browser window without logging in, you can use the Session Link feature found in your Account Settings.

The session link will include a special token that will allow you to log into Kagi even in a private browsing window.

Read more about Session Link

Chromium-Based Browsers (Chrome, Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, Arc...)

Unfortunately, as this github issue is tracking, there is a limitation with Chromium-based browsers, which don't allow extensions to set default search engines. As such, you need to do it manually.

Desktop

1. Right-click the Chrome address bar and choose Manage Search Engines and Site Search
2. In the Site Search section about halfway down, click the Add button at its upper right and fill in these details:
   • Search engine: Kagi Search
   • Keyword: kagi
   • Query URL: https://kagi.com/search?q=%s if you're not planning to use Kagi in private search. If you are, then use https://kagi.com/search?token=TOKEN&q=%s (replace TOKEN with the token found in your private session link​)
3. Find Kagi again in the Site Search section. You may have to click Additional sites at the bottom if you don't see it right away.
4. Click the three dots next to the Kagi entry in the list.
5. Click Make default.

Note: Opera is no longer compatible as it is restricting users from using alternative search engines. If you are an Opera user you can reach out to Opera and request them to add Kagi to their list of search engines.

Mobile (iOS/Android)

1. Open https://kagi.com, log in, and submit a search.
2. Open your browser’s settings. Choose Search engine.
3. Select Kagi Search from the Recently Visited section.

If you want to have Kagi Search easily available on Android after configuring Chrome, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Home screen
2. Tap and hold anywhere to show options
3. Tap on Widgets
4. Find the Chrome widgets in the list
5. Select and add the Search widget

Firefox-Based Browsers

Desktop

1. Open https://kagi.com, then right-click the browser address/search bar and select Add Kagi Search.
2. Open this URL in your search bar: about:preferences#search
3. Scroll to Default Search Engine and select Kagi from the dropdown.

To set up a private session link in Firefox:

1. Enter about:config in the address bar and press enter
2. Add a new preference called browser.urlbar.update2.engineAliasRefresh, of type Boolean and value true. (This will enable the button to add a new search engine in about:preferences#search)
3. Open this URL in your search bar: about:preferences#search
4. Click the "Add" button below the table under the heading "Search Shortcuts"
5. Enter the following values:
   • Search engine name: Kagi Search
   • Engine URL: https://kagi.com/search?token=TOKEN&q=%s (replace TOKEN with the token found in your private session link​)
   • Alias: kagi
6. Select the new "Kagi Search" as your default search engine using the dropdown at the top of this page.

There is currently no way to manually set the 'Search suggestion API' for a search engine in Firefox desktop. Installing the extension does allow you to use suggestions.

Android Mobile

1. Tap the three-dot menu button.

2. Tap Settings.
3. In the General section, tap Search.
4. Tap Add search engine.
5. A list of additional predefined search engines will be displayed.
6. Tap the Other radio button to add a search engine and do the following:
   • in the Name field, enter Kagi.
   • In the Search string to use field, enter https://kagi.com/search?q=%s
   • In the Search suggestion API (optional) field, enter https://kagi.com/api/autosuggest?q=%s
   • Tap the confirmation button in the top right corner of the screen.

If your browser is configured to default to private browsing, this will require you to log back in to Kagi each time your tabs are closed. To get around this, in the Search string to use field, use your session link and append &q=%s at the end.

iOS

1. Tap the menu button, then Settings > Search > Add Search Engine.
2. Enter the following:
   • Title: Kagi
   • URL: https://kagi.com/search?q=%s
3. Tap Save.
4. Under Default Search Engine, select Kagi.

Safari

Desktop

1. Install the Kagi Search for Safari extension.
2. Activate the extension in Safari > Preferences > Extensions.
3. Enjoy Kagi search from your Safari address bar!

If you are a macOS, iOS, or iPadOS user, we strongly recommend using Kagi with the free Orion web browser, produced by the same team that built Kagi.

iOS & iPadOS

Use the Orion iOS/iPadOS web browser, which has native support for Kagi Search.

If you prefer to use Safari, you can use the Kagi Search for Safari extension.

Firefox Focus

Android Mobile

1. Tap the menu button, then Settings > Search > Search Engine > Add another search engine.
2. Enter the following:
   • Search engine name: Kagi
   • Search string to use: (use your session link and append &q=%s at the end)
3. Tap Save.

iOS

1. Tap the menu button, then Settings > Search Engine > Add Another Search Engine.
2. Enter the following:
   • Name to display: Kagi
   • Search string to use: (use your session link and append &q=%s at the end)
3. Tap Save.