An Apple executive has unveiled a new feature in iOS 17 that will let you change the default search engine on your iPhone when using Safari in private browsing mode, according to Bloomberg Friday.
The admission came during the ongoing Google artitrust lawsuit brought by the US Department of Justice, calling Apple as a witness in the lawsuit over the multibillion-dollar deal that makes Google the default search engine on iPhones.
John Giannandrea, Apple’s senior vice president of machine learning and AI, revealed that in iOS 17, which comes with the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, users can set two default search engines: one for regular browsing and one for private browsing.
For those who don’t want Google to collect their data in private browsing mode on iPhone, they now have the option to choose an alternative search engine. Or maybe you don’t mind having Google as your default search engine, but prefer DuckDuckGo during private browsing. With iOS 17 it is now possible. And for extra privacy protection, it’s not a bad idea to use an iPhone VPN as well.
The ability to change your default search engine in iOS 17 comes as the US DoJ ramps up pressure on Big Tech and the power it has over online markets. The US government accuses Google of maintaining a monopoly in online search and online advertising sales. While the trial is ongoing, a central issue is the agreements Google has made with Apple, Samsung and Mozilla to make the search engine default on their browsers.
Although it is possible to change the default search engine in the settings, people rarely do this. One report shows that 99% of phone users in Britain have set Google as their default search engine. Google controls nearly 92% of the online search market, giving it much greater access to user data. It can then use that data to further refine its search, making it harder for competitors to break through.
How to change the default search engine in iOS 17
- Go to Settings.
- Tap on Safari.
- Search for Search.
- Select either one Search engine or Private search engine.
- Choose Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo or Ecosia.
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