iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma have made numerous enhancements to Private Browsing in Safari, like adding FaceID and Advanced Tracking and Fingerprint protection. But that's not all. You can now even set different default search engines for your normal and private browsing sessions.

Adjusting your default search engine for private browsing in Safari can provide a more personalized and secure browsing experience. Previously, there was no such option, and you had to use the same search engine for private browsing as you did for normal browsing when using the address bar in Safari. To use a separate search engine, you had to manually navigate to it. But now, Safari makes it extremely easy for you.

While both iPhone and Mac allow this customization, the steps to achieve it vary slightly between the two platforms.

Changing the Search Engine for Private Browsing on iPhone

You can change the default search engine for Private Browsing in Safari through the settings app on your iPhone.

  1. Launch the 'Settings' app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap on 'Safari' to access its settings.
  1. In the 'Search' section, tap on the option for 'Private Search Engine'.
  1. Without any separate configuration from you, it'll use the same default search engine as your normal browsing mode. You'll have the option to choose from the list of available search engines, including 'Google', 'Yahoo', 'Bing', 'DuckDuckGo', and 'Ecosia'. Select your preferred search engine for private browsing by tapping on it.

Changing the Search Engine for Private Browsing on Mac

The steps to change the search engine for Private Browsing in Safari are slightly different for Mac.

  1. Open the Safari browser on your Mac.
  2. Click on 'Safari' from the menu bar in the top-left corner of the screen and select 'Settings' from the menu.
  1. In the Settings window that'll open, switch to the 'Search' tab.
  1. Click on 'Default' next to the option for 'Private Browsing search engine'.
  1. Then, select your preferred search engine from the drop-down menu. The options are the same as they are on the iPhone; you can choose from Google', 'Yahoo', 'Bing', 'DuckDuckGo', and 'Ecosia'.

Setting a different search engine for private browsing in Safari can offer a tailored browsing experience based on your preferences. You can want Google for your normal browsing but DuckDuckGo for enhanced privacy in private browsing. With this feature in iOS 17 and macOS Sonoma, you can easily ensure that your private browsing sessions align with your search preferences.