Windows 7: Internet Explorer Search Providers - Add and Remove

   Information

A search provider is used when you search for information on the internet. You can change the search provider for a specific search (Internet Explorer will use that search provider until you choose another one or until you close Internet Explorer) and you can specify which search provider you prefer to use by default. When you first install Internet Explorer, you might have only one provider (ex: Bing) installed.

This tutorial will show you how to add (install) or remove (uninstall) search providers in Internet Explorer.

1. In Internet Explorer, click/tap on Tools (IE8) or Tools icon (IE9/IE10), then click on Manage add-ons. (see screenshot below)

2. In the left pane of Add-on Types, click/tap on Search Providers. (see screenshot below)

3. To Remove Search Providers in Internet Explorer

A) Select a search provider (ex: Google) that your want to remove and is not set as the default search provider, then click/tap on the Remove button. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: If the search provider that you want to remove is the default search provider (ex: Bing), you will need to select another search provider (ex: Google), set it (ex: Google) as the new default instead, then you will be able to remove it (ex: Bing).

B) The search provider (ex: Google) is now removed. (see screenshot below)

C) Repeat step 3 for any other search providers that you wish to remove.

4. To Add Search Providers in Internet Explorer

A) At the bottom left corner, click/tap on the Find more search providers link. (see screenshot below)

B) At the IE Add-ons Gallery webpage, find the search provider that you want to add (ex: Google), and click/tap on it's Add to Internet Explorer button. (see screenshot below)

C) Check any options that you want set for this search provider, and click/tap on the Add button. (see screenshot below)

D) Close and reopen all Internet Explorer windows, and repeat steps 1 and 2 above.

E) Your selected search provider (ex: Google) has now been added.

F) Repeat step 4 for any other search providers that you may wish to add.

5. When finished, click/tap on the Close button. (see screenshot below steps 3B or 4E)