How to Use Kagi.com as a Default Search Engine in Safari Without a Kagi Safari Extension?

Safari does not support setting up a custom search engine like Kagi.com as the default search engine without using a Safari extension. The browser only allows you to choose from its integrated search engines: Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia.

However, there is a workaround to use a custom search engine for specific searches. Safari has a “Quick Website Search” feature that allows you to search within specific websites directly from the Smart Search Field. Here's how you can use it:

  1. Open Safari and go to the website you want to use as a custom search engine.
  2. Use the search function on the website at least once. Safari will automatically recognize the search engine of the website.
  3. Go to Safari > Settings > Search and ensure that “Enable Quick Website Search” is checked.
  4. Under “Manage Websites”, you should see the website you used for the search listed.
  5. Now, when you want to search using this website, type the name of the website followed by your search query in the Smart Search Field. For example, if you want to search “macOS tips” on Kagi.com, you would type “kagi macOS tips” in the Smart Search Field. Safari will then show an option to “Search Kagi.com for ‘macOS tips'”. Select this option to get search results directly from Kagi.com.

Remember, this method does not change your default search engine. It only allows you to use a custom search engine for specific searches. Your default search engine (Google, Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia) will still be used for general searches from the Smart Search Field.

With PopClip

PopClip is a macOS utility tool that pops up with a menu of actions when you select text on your screen.

(1) Kagi search extension for PopClip: Search Kagi from anywhere using PopClip.

(2) Or, you can change PopClip's default search and change the Alternate default URL:

https://kagi.com/search?q=***

Press alt + shift to use an alternative URL with PopClip search.

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