How To Enable, Disable Encrypted Search In Google Chrome

Martin Brinkmann
Feb 3, 2011
Updated • Feb 3, 2011
Google Chrome
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A recent article on Neowin caught my attention that suggested that Google was changing the default search engine at least for some users to Google encrypted search. Whenever these users search they are automatically redirected to https://encrypted.google.com instead of the standard Google search address.

Encrypted search, often referred to as Google SSL, improves the protection against some attack forms that spy on a computer's traffic. SSL search is only enabled on some Google properties. Google images and Google Maps for instance are available over SSL currently.

google encrypted search

Chrome users who have experienced the switch to encrypted search may want to know how they can disable the feature again. Other users on the other hand may want to enable encrypted search. The following guide explains how to do that.

Google Chrome searches are initiated from the Chrome address bar since there is no additional search form available in the interface.

To change the default search engine, users need to click on the Wrench icon in the Chrome address toolbar, and select options from the pulldown menu.

The default search engine can be selected under Search on the first page that is opened.

google chrome search engine

Available for selection are the standard unencrypted Google Search engine, encrypted Google Search, Bing and two location based services. It is furthermore possible to add search engines by clicking on Manage search engines.

Users can change the search engine with a click on the pulldown menu and the selection of one of the available search engines. Google unencrypted users can for instance selected Google encrypted to search with SSL from that moment on, Google encrypted users can switch back to the standard Google search engine, Bing, or one of the other available search engines to get rid of encrypted search.

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Comments

  1. Anonymous said on February 17, 2023 at 8:24 am
    Reply

    Help it sucks plz take it off

  2. Anonymous said on August 22, 2017 at 2:45 pm
    Reply

    not good sucks

  3. paul said on December 31, 2013 at 1:34 pm
    Reply

    does not work I already had these settings but when i press home that stupid BUGGED encrypted search appears

  4. bob said on March 12, 2012 at 2:16 am
    Reply

    Does not work.

  5. von don krippin said on November 2, 2011 at 4:50 pm
    Reply

    unable to add to IE using the addon page. Also, http://www.ddg.gg is better :)

  6. Kristen said on August 4, 2011 at 11:06 pm
    Reply

    Encrypted Google isn’t working well for me, in fact it’s pissing me off. I keep getting redirected to the homepage when searching things and it won’t allow me to switch back to the original. I don’t know what to do. It’s more of a burden than helpful.

    Someone PLEASE help.

    1. gus said on August 8, 2011 at 9:20 pm
      Reply

      anyone got an answer to this.i’m having the same problem

      1. Delyfe said on August 17, 2011 at 12:19 am
        Reply

        Yes…please answer because I’m having the same problems. Encrypted google needs disabling.

  7. bill said on February 27, 2011 at 12:37 pm
    Reply

    …A post script to my earlier comment; I thought you had mentioned Scroogle before but I didn’t check well enough. I found it here – ” https://www.ghacks.net/2010/11/11/how-to-disable-google-instant-previews/ “.

  8. bill said on February 27, 2011 at 12:24 pm
    Reply

    Thanks, Martin – that’s good to know. Another exceptionally good way to make searches more private and secure is to use “Scroogle” (both the regular “Scraper” and the SSL version. I’ve been using them for a long time, and I find them not only secure, but also somewhat quicker than regular Google search. I’m no expert, but I think one possible reason for the speed is the delightful added benefit that Scroogle doesn’t load all those *%**@# advertisements. When I search, all I get are the results that I need. You can find it here- ” http://www.scroogle.org/ “.

  9. whoisbid said on February 26, 2011 at 3:43 am
    Reply

    Anyone finding it a lot slower?

  10. Keith said on February 3, 2011 at 3:10 pm
    Reply

    Thanks for the article!

    Here’s a guide for adding Google Encrypted to Firefox, Chrome, Opera and IE:

    https://www.ghacks.net/2010/06/26/how-to-add-google-encrypted-search-engine-to-firefox-opera-chrome-and-internet-explorer/

  11. Dan said on February 3, 2011 at 2:00 pm
    Reply

    I’ve been using Google SSL in Chrome (by editing the default search) since it became public.

  12. MartinJB said on February 3, 2011 at 1:06 pm
    Reply

    “caught my extension” – hope it wasn’t too painful LOL

    1. Martin said on February 3, 2011 at 2:55 pm
      Reply

      haha, corrected.

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