Installing Ecosia on your desktop device

On your desktop device, you can use Ecosia in a variety of ways. Ecosia offers its own desktop browser, or you can choose to set Ecosia up on your favorite browser. Follow the instructions below and make your searches turn into climate impact!

Download the Ecosia browser

Ecosia offers its own browser, which you can download below.

You can read our setup guide here, which will help you transfer your data over to the Ecosia browser and get yourself familiarized with it.

Set up Ecosia on other browsers

If you prefer to use another browser, that is perfectly fine! We understand that there are a range of features available on different browsers. While there are several options on each browser, they can all be set up in just a few clicks. Find your favorite browser from the list below:

Use Ecosia on Chrome

Setting Ecosia as your default search engine

The default search engine setting determines which search engine is favored when you look up something on the address bar at the top. You can make Ecosia your default in Chrome by following these steps:

Note: Chrome may only show you the top search engines in your country, potentially making Ecosia unavailable to you. No worries, you can install the Ecosia extension instead! Instructions follow right after.

  1. Open Chrome and click on the three dot menu, usually found at the top next to the address bar
  2. Click on Settings

Image showing how to access the settings on Chrome

  1. From the menu on the left, click on Search engine. Then, click on the Change button. 

Image showing how to access the search engine tab in the settings on Chrome

  1. Select Ecosia and click on Set as default

Image showing how to select Ecosia as the default search engine on Chrome

  1. Ecosia is now your default search engine!

Installing the Ecosia extension

Alternatively, Ecosia has a Chrome extension that you can quickly set up. Its advantage is that it automatically defines both your default search engine and your homepage. As a result, upon opening Chrome, you will be greeted with the Ecosia homepage. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Chrome. Go to the Ecosia page on the Chrome Web Store by clicking on this link, or by copy and pasting it into your search bar 
  2. Click on the Add to Chrome button in the middle of your screen

Image showing how to add the Ecosia extension to Chrome by visiting the Chrome Web store

  1. A little pop up will appear. Click on Add extension

Image showing how to confirm the addition of the Ecosia extension on Chrome

  1. A new tab should open, congratulating you for joining Ecosia. The Ecosia extension is now installed!

Setting Ecosia as your default homepage

You can also make www.ecosia.org your browser’s homepage instead. Find out how to change your homepage in Chrome.


Use Ecosia on Safari

Setting Ecosia as your default search engine

The default search engine setting determines which search engine is favored when you look up something from the address bar at the top. You can make Ecosia your default in Safari by following these steps:

  1. Open Safari
  2. Click on the magnifying glass right next to the address bar. Select Ecosia from the dropdown menu that appears

Image showing how to access the magnifying glass and selecting Ecosia on Safari

  1. Ecosia is now your default search engine!

Set Ecosia as your default homepage

Alternatively, you can make Ecosia your browser’s homepage. This means that whenever you open Safari, you will be greeted with the Ecosia homepage. Follow these steps:

  1. Go to the Safari app on your Mac.
  2. From the top left, choose Safari, then Settings

Image showing how to access the settings on Safari

  1. Click on General. In the Homepage field, enter a web page address. To simply use the web page you’re currently viewing, click Set to Current or add https://www.ecosia.org/

Image showing how to access and change the homepage on Safari

  1. Choose when your homepage is shown

Use Ecosia on Edge

Setting Ecosia as your default search engine

The default search engine setting determines which search engine is favored when you look up something from the address bar at the top. You can make Ecosia your default in Edge by following these steps:

Note:  This following procedure may not be available in your country. No worries, you can install the Ecosia extension instead! Instructions follow right after. Although a little more complicated, there is a way to set Ecosia manually as your search engine. You will also find those instructions below. 

  1. Open Edge and click on the three dot menu, usually found at the top next to the address bar
  2. Click on Settings

Image showing how to access the settings on Edge

  1. From the menu on the left, click on Privacy, search, and services. Scroll down until you reach the Services section. Click on Address bar and search

Image showing how to access the privacy, search and services tab and then the address bar setting on Edge

  1. Next to Search engine used in the address bar., you will see a dropdown menu. Click on it and select Ecosia

Image showing how to define Ecosia as the default search engine on Edge

  1. Ecosia is now your default search engine!
  2. To ensure that Ecosia is always selected, we recommend choosing Address bar from the dropdown menu right next to Search on new tabs uses search box or address bar

Manual Ecosia search engine set up:

  1. Instead of step 4 above, click on Manage search engines

Image showing how to access the manage search engines setting on Edge

  1. In the new menu that opens, click on Add

Image showing how to access the

  1. Enter the following details
    1. Search engine: Ecosia
    2. Shortcut: ecosia.org
    3. URL with %s in place of query: https://www.ecosia.org/search?q=%s&addon=manualopensearch
  2. Once the details are entered, click on Add

Image showing the custom details that must be added to define Ecosia as the default search engine on Edge

  1. Ecosia should now appear in the list. You can then click on the three dots to the right of Ecosia, and select Make default

Image showing how to make Ecosia the default search engine on Edge

  1. Ecosia is now your default search engine!

Installing the Ecosia extension

Alternatively, Ecosia has an Edge extension that you can quickly set up. Its advantage is that it automatically defines both your default search engine and your homepage. As a result, upon opening Edge, you will be greeted with the Ecosia homepage. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Edge. Go to the Ecosia page on the Edge add-ons store by clicking on this link, or by copy and pasting it into your search bar 
  2. Click on the Get button

Image showing how to access the Ecosia extension page on Edge

  1. In the pop-up, confirm your choice by clicking on Add extension

Image showing how to add the Ecosia extension on Edge

  1. Microsoft Edge may show you the following in the top right corner, saying Edge has turned off Ecosia. Click on Turn on so that we can activate it.

Image showing how to activate extensions on Edge

  1. Now that you are in the extensions section, you can click on the little slider next to Ecosia to turn on the extension

Image showing the final step to activate the Ecosia extension on Edge

  1. A new tab should automatically open, showing you a welcome message. Ecosia is now installed!

Setting Ecosia as your default homepage

You can also make www.ecosia.org your browser’s homepage instead. Find out how to change your homepage in Edge.


Use Ecosia on Firefox

Setting Ecosia as your default search engine

The default search engine setting determines which search engine is favored when you look up something from the address bar at the top. You can make Ecosia your default in Firefox by following these steps:

Note:  As of December 2024, this procedure is only available in the following countries: Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and Sweden. If you are not in one of these markets, no worries, you can install the Ecosia extension instead! Instructions follow right after.

  1. Open Firefox and click on the three line (Burger) menu, usually found at the top next to the address bar
  2. Click on Settings

Image showing how to access the settings on Firefox

  1. From the menu on the left, click on Search. Under Default Search Engine, click on the dropdown menu and select Ecosia

Image showing how to access the search engine setting and set Ecosia as default on Firefox

  1. Ecosia is now your default search engine!

Installing the Ecosia extension

Alternatively, Ecosia has a Firefox extension that you can set up in just a few clicks. The advantage with the extension is that it automatically defines both your default search engine in the address bar, as well as your homepage. As a result, any time you open Firefox, you will be greeted with the Ecosia homepage. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Firefox. Go to the Ecosia page on the Firefox add-ons store by clicking on this link, or by copy and pasting it into your search bar 
  2. Click on the Add to Firefox button in the middle of your screen

Image showing the Ecosia extension page on Firefox

  1. A little pop up will appear in the top right. Click on Add

Image showing how to activate the Ecosia extension on Firefox

  1. You should see two more pop-ups. Click on Okay and on Yes

Image showing the final checks on Firefox

  1. The Ecosia extension is now installed!

Setting Ecosia as your default homepage

You can also make www.ecosia.org your browser’s homepage instead. Find out how to change your homepage in Firefox.


Use Ecosia on Brave

Setting Ecosia as your default search engine

The default search engine setting determines which search engine is favored when you look up something from the address bar at the top. You can make Ecosia your default in Brave by following these steps:

  1. Open Brave and click on the three line (Burger) menu, usually found at the top next to the address bar
  2. Click on Settings

Image showing how to access the settings on Brave

  1. From the menu on the left, click on Search engine. Then, click on the Change button

Image showing how to access and change the search engine setting on Brave

  1. Select Ecosia and click on Set as default

Image showing how to select Ecosia as your default search engine on Brave

  1. Ecosia is now your default search engine!

Set Ecosia as your default homepage

Alternatively, you can make Ecosia your browser’s homepage. This means that whenever you open Brave, you will be greeted with the Ecosia homepage. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Brave and click on the three line (Burger) menu, usually found at the top right next to the address bar
  2. Click on Settings

Image showing how to access the settings on Brave

  1. From the menu on the left, click on Get started. Under the On startup section in the middle of your screen, click on Open a specific page or set of pages. Click on Add a new page

Image showing how to access the homepage modification options on Brave

  1. Enter www.ecosia.org and click on Set as default

Image showing where to enter Ecosia as the homepage on Brave

  1. Ecosia is now your default homepage!

Use Ecosia on Opera

Manual search engine set up

Installing Ecosia on Opera requires a bit of a manual setup:  

  1. Open Opera. Click on the Opera logo, usually in the top left corner.
  2. Click on Settings

Image showing how to access the settings on Opera

  1. Scroll down to the Search engine section. Click on Manage search engines and site search

Image showing how to access the search engine settings on Opera

  1. Scroll down to the Site search section. Click on the Add button. 

Image showing how to manually add Ecosia as a search engine on Opera

  1. Input the following info:
    1. Name: Ecosia
    2. Shortcut: e
    3. URL with %s in place of query: https://www.ecosia.org/search?method=index&q=%s
  2. Press on Add

Image showing the custom information to be added to define Ecosia as the default search engine on Opera

Now, anytime you write an “e” in front of your search query, Ecosia will be the selected search engine.


Use Ecosia on Vivaldi

Setting Ecosia as your default search engine

The default search engine setting determines which search engine is favored when you look up something from the address bar at the top. You can make Ecosia your default in Vivaldi by following these steps:

  1. Open Vivaldi. Click on the little gear typically in the bottom left corner to access the Settings

Image showing how to access the settings on Vivaldi

  1. In the panel that opens, click on Search on the left hand side. Click on the Default Search Engine field and select Ecosia. Alternatively, you may also set Ecosia in your Private Window Search Engine

Image showing how to access and define the default search engine setting on Vivaldi


Use Ecosia on other browsers

Your favorite browser isn’t listed above? Don’t worry, you can still use Ecosia. On other browsers, you usually have the option to define a new homepage by default. All you have to do is enter https://www.ecosia.org  in that setting. This will make it so that whenever you open that browser, Ecosia will be the first thing you see! 

Looking for another browser or procedure? Get in touch with us at techsupport@ecosia.org and we can have a look!

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