How to set up Perplexity AI as your default search engine—a step-by-step guide

Perplexity AI offers a compelling alternative to Google Search with its conversational interface and research-oriented approach at a time when Google’s search experience has deteriorated. This step-by-step guide explains how to set up Perplexity AI as your default search engine across different browsers and devices, highlighting why it might be worth making the switch.

1. Why consider Perplexity AI as your search engine

• Unlike Google’s increasingly cluttered search experience, Perplexity AI combines traditional search functionality with large language model capabilities, allowing for conversational, context-aware interactions.
• The platform maintains conversation history, enabling you to ask follow-up questions without starting a new search query each time.
• Perplexity puts sources front and center with tappable citations, helping users verify information and explore topics more deeply.

2. Setting up Perplexity AI in Chrome or Chromium browsers

• Open Chrome and click the three dots in the top-right corner, then navigate to Settings.
• Select “Search engine” from the left sidebar, followed by “Manage search engines and site search.”
• Add Perplexity using these details: Name: Perplexity, Shortcut: perp, URL: https://www.perplexity.ai/?q=%s
• Click Add, return to the list, and either use the “perp” shortcut to trigger Perplexity searches or set it as your default search engine.

3. Setting up Perplexity AI in Firefox

• Open Firefox and install the Search Engines Helper Extension from the Firefox Add-Ons store.
• Open the extension and enter https://www.perplexity.ai/?q=%s as the Search URL.
• Right-click the address bar and select “Add ‘perplexity.ai'” to complete the setup.

4. Using Perplexity AI on mobile devices

• Simply install the Perplexity Ask app on your smartphone for access to the same conversational search capabilities.
• The mobile version offers similar functionality, including news summaries with citations and related topic suggestions.
• Paid subscribers can access additional features like audio recordings of search results and news summaries.