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WC_KStill's avatar
WC_KStill
Brass Contributor
Jun 19, 2020

Setting Google as Default Search Provider (Group Policy)

Hello,   I am testing the new Edge browser (I love it btw). Setting IE mode for specific websites and all kinds of other things and its working out great so far. I've noticed that for some reason i...
TheOtherJosh's avatar
TheOtherJosh
Brass Contributor
Jun 22, 2020

WC_KStill For chrome the formula would have been (if you're using Encrypted):

 

https://encrypted.google.com/search?{google:acceptedSuggestion}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}sourceid=chrome&ie={inputEncoding}&q={searchTerms}

 

 
If you're changing from Google Chome, to MS Edge (Chromium), why not just do a 'force settings import' (Unless you've done a User Data Directory redirect, which causes that data import to fail for Chrome) and allow the system do just import the user's prior settings? (i.e. Is there a corporate/agency requirement to force a specific search engine?)
  • WC_KStill's avatar
    WC_KStill
    Brass Contributor
    Jun 22, 2020

    TheOtherJosh 

     

    Are you talking about the default provider url gpo?

     

    Looks like you edited your reply and added a question -

     

    I already have it automatically import chrome settings. That isn't the issue. As far as Google as our Default Search provider - we have had it like that for years. Our users throw a fit every time we change anything. We spoke to department managers and they all agreed they wanted Google so we decided to stick with Google but I cannot go live with this project before I figure this out. When I was originally looking at the GPO's (screenshot I provided above). It seemed really easy for me to set the default search provider but its not working so project is on hold until I can figure it out.

     

     

    • TheOtherJosh's avatar
      TheOtherJosh
      Brass Contributor
      Jun 22, 2020

      WC_KStill Sorry ... the forum was interpreting the 'code' not as code, but as an HTML redirect.

       

      Previously we also configured the 'Default Search provider Name' for Chrome as:

      Google Encrypted Search

       

      • WC_KStill's avatar
        WC_KStill
        Brass Contributor
        Jun 22, 2020

        TheOtherJosh 

         

        I tried your suggestion and it still doesn't work. These are all the policies I have currently configured:

         

         

    • TheOtherJosh's avatar
      TheOtherJosh
      Brass Contributor
      Jun 22, 2020

      WC_KStill Yep, the policies respond to chromium.

       

      If I'm reading your GPO correctly, you're not following the example value for the default search engine:

       

       

      You don't have the actual URL, just the search value.

       

      Start by pulling out the Image Search GPO components, and the 'Suggested Search' drop the number of search components to this and then try it again.

       

       

      • WC_KStill's avatar
        WC_KStill
        Brass Contributor
        Jun 22, 2020

        TheOtherJosh 

         

        Originally I had 

        {google:baseURL}search?q={searchTerms}&{google:RLZ}{google:originalQueryForSuggestion}{google:assistedQueryStats}{google:searchFieldtrialParameter}{google:searchClient}{google:sourceId}ie={inputEncoding}

        Which is what Microsoft states to use:

         

         

        I've been searching around the net and using different suggestions including yours but none work.

         

        As you can see here (this is something I just now noticed) it shows both search options in the dropdown. I manually selected Google and now it finally defaults to Google... weird

         

         

         

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