Technical guides for IT

This guide explains how an IT administrator can set Ecosia as the default search engine across a network of computers.

If you are configuring Ecosia for over 2,000 machines and would like to receive a monthly report or run a trial with us, please apply here.

In this guide you will find:

How to configure Ecosia using a Windows group policy
How to configure Ecosia using a Windows group policy Edge
How to configure Ecosia using a Windows group policy Chrome
How to configure Ecosia using a Windows group policy Firefox
How to configure Ecosia in the Google Workspace
How to implement a reporting code

Windows group policy

If you already use GPOs to control browser settings, please skip to Step 3

Download the relevant ADMX and ADML files for each browser:

Copy the ADMX and ADML files to your central store.

Local: %systemroot%\policyDefinitions (normally C:\Windows\policyDefinitions)
Domain: %systemroot%\sysvol\domain\policies\PolicyDefinitions (normally C:\Windows\sysvol\domain\policies\PolicyDefinitions)

See here for more information about creating a central store for your browser GPOs.

Login to your domain controller and open the Group Policy administration tool. You can start the group policy editor by typing "gpedit.msc" into the Windows command bar.

Navigate to the group policy rule that controls the browser you wish to configure, right click and click on “edit”.

Depending on the target of your policy LOCAL_MACHINE OR CURRENT_USER, expand either Computer Configuration OR User Configuration

Scroll to the browser you wish to configure: Edge, Chrome, Firefox

Microsoft Edge

Navigate to Administrative Templates → Microsoft Edge → Default search provider

Configure the following settings;

Setting	Task
“Enable the default search provider”	Set this to "Enabled"
“Default search provider keyword”	Set this to "Enabled" and enter the following value: `ecosia.org`
“Default search provider name”	Enter the following value: `Ecosia`
“Default search provider search URL”	Set this to "Enabled" and enter the following value: `https://www.ecosia.org/search?q={searchTerms}&addon=edgegpo`

Next, navigate to Start up, Home and New Tab page → New tab page URL

Configure the following settings;

Setting	Task
“New tab page URL”	Set this to "Enabled" and enter the following value: `https://www.ecosia.org/newtab/?&addon=edgegpo`

Tip

Within Edge’s GPO you have the option to set Ecosia as the default search engine and configure a list of alternative search engines for end users to choose from, using the “ MangedSearchEngines” GPO rule.

Chrome

Navigate to → Administrative Templates → Google Chrome → Default search provider

Setting	Task
“Enable the default search provider”	Set this to "Enabled" (must be enabled for other options to take effect)
“Default search provider icon”	Set this to "Enabled" and enter the following value: `https://cdn-static.ecosia.org/static/icons/favicon.ico`
“Default search provider keyword”	Set this to Enabled and enter the following value: `ecosia.org`
“Default search provider name”	Set this to Enabled and enter the following value: `Ecosia`
“Default search provider search url”	Set this to Enabled and enter the following value: `https://www.ecosia.org/search?q={searchTerms}&addon=chromegpo`
“Default search provider new tab page url”	Set this to Enabled and enter the following value: `https://www.ecosia.org/newtab/?&addon=chromegpo`

Disclaimer

The ADMX files provided by Google have limited flexibility. You have the option of switching on/off the default search provider and you can only provide one search engine as the default. It is not possible to offer multiple search engines options using Google’s ADMX file.

Firefox

Navigate to → Administrative Templates → Firefox → Search

Configure the following settings;

Setting	Task
"Default search engine"	Set this to "Enabled" and enter the following value: `ecosia.org`
“Search Engine One”	Set this option to "Enabled" and enter the following values: Name:`ecosia.org` URL Template: `https://www.ecosia.org/search?q={searchTerms}&addon=firefoxgpo` Method: `GET` Icon URL: `https://cdn-static.ecosia.org/static/icons/favicon.ico` Description: `Ecosia search engine`

Tip

Within Firefox’s GPO you have the option to set Ecosia as the default search engine and configure a list of up to 5 alternative search engines for end users to choose from, using the available GPO rules.

6

Ensure that you have the GPO rule linked to your domain and that you have specified the user groups/OU’s that this rule applies to.

In order for the GPO rules to take immediate effect, you may need to open a CMD window and type gpupdate/force to apply the settings on the end users devices. Otherwise the new GPO settings will apply after a reboot.

Configure Ecosia in Google Workspace

Create a new "organization unit" of managed browsers and "enroll" the users that you wish to configure Ecosia for.

Go to Devices → Managed Browser → Settings → User & browser → Omnibox search provider

Configure the following settings;

Setting	Task
“Omnibox search provider name”	Enter the following value: `Ecosia`
“Omnibox search provider keyword”	Set this to "Enabled" and enter the following value `ecosia.org`
“Omnibox search provider search URL”	Set this to "Enabled" and enter the following value: `https://www.ecosia.org/search?q={searchTerms}&addon=gsuite`
“Omnibox search provider icon URL”	`https://cdn-static.ecosia.org/static/icons/favicon.ico`

Next go to Devices → Managed Browser → Settings → User & browser → Start up

Configure the following settings;

“New tab URL” Enter the following value:
https://www.ecosia.org/newtab/?&addon=chromegpo

See here for more information on configuring an Omnibox default search provider.

Disclaimer

The Chrome admin console has limited flexibility. You have the option of switching on/off the default search provider and you can only provide one search engine as the default. It is not possible to offer multiple search engines options using Chrome's admin console.

How to implement a reporting code

To receive a monthly report to help you track your impact with Ecosia, please complete this form to register for a unique reporting code. Please note that submissions are subject to a due diligence review and must meet a minimum threshold of 2,000 devices.

Should your application be successful you will receive a unique 7 digit reporting code via email.

This reporting code must be implemented at the end of the search query URL of the GPO as follows;

&tt=xxxxxx

For example, in the Chrome GPO the search query URL would be:

https://www.ecosia.org/search?q={searchTerms}&addon=chromegpo&tt=xxxxxxx

Replace “xxxxxxx” with the reporting code provided to you by Ecosia.

Contact support@ecosia.org to tell us once you have implemented the reporting code in the GPO and we will be on hand to confirm we’re tracking your impact and schedule your monthly email reports.

If you have any questions about the information in this guide, get in touch via email or through the chat bot by selecting “business or partnership inquiry” and we’ll be happy to help.