Windows 10: How can I make Cortana use Firefox and Google search engine?

It's really pissing me off that they won't let us do this. Can't I edit the file like the registry? Any help?

:)

 

Why does Cortana use Google on my laptop, but Bing on my other devices?

UPDATE! I've now solved this for myself, and have Cortana using Google in Firefox on ALL my devices. Since I can't mark my own reply as an answer, you'll have to scroll down to it to see the solution. (It's the one from me, dated August
17th 2015)

I've seen a lot of people moaning that Cortana searches with Bing, and they want to change it to Google, and I was always confused because for me, she does use Google.

Then I realised that's only on my laptop.

On the family desktop, and on my Surface Pro (yes, 1st gen.) she still uses Bing.

I haven't got any special software installed on my laptop to force her to use Google.

I don't have Firefox set up to redirect Bing to Google, as some people gave as a way to change Cortana's search engine.

I haven't changed any settings anywhere to make Cortana use Google.

So why does she use Google?

And why only on my laptop?

I hope someone can answer this, as it might help people figure out how to change Cortana's search engine.

 

Why does Cortana use Google on my laptop, but Bing on my other devices?

For all those wondering, I figured out why I can use Google with Cortana on my laptop!

My laptop was running a newer version of Firefox than my other devices, and since updating, my other devices can not use Google with Cortana, too.

The latest Firefox has an option under: Tools > Options, and then Search for it.

Pick a default search provider and then tick the box marked "Use this search engine for searches from Windows" and then whenever Cortana or Search has to search the web, it'll use your chosen search provider. (assuming you use Firefox as your default browser,
of course)

I don't know if any other browsers have this option yet. Although Microsoft Edge can use a custom choice of search with it's built-in version of Cortana, at least, so if that's your default browser, it'll probably open searches in that chosen search provider.

 

@McSweg, Welcome to TenForums.

Microsoft have apparently blocked all the previously known ways of weaning Cortana from Edge/Bing, saying last April...

Delivering Personalized Search Experiences in Windows 10 through Cortana - Windows Experience BlogWindows Experience Blog

There is of course nothing stopping you opening Firefox and searching with Google, just not from Cortana.

The one and only concession is that you can still choose to launch IE instead of Edge from Cortana.
Cortana Web Search Results - Show in MS Edge or Internet Explorer

 

How is that possible? Can't you edit a file in windows to make it open something else? That's not fair *Sad

 

You need to compile a redirect script and use 'Chrometana' extension in Chrome.

 

Does this work on 1607?

I thought chrometana no longer worked.

 

Install Chrometana in Chrome, and choose Google. Download this zip file Code: MEGA and extract the contents to C:\Customizations\CortanaSearch. Then open Task Scheduler, and import the xml file. Restart. Cortana will now search in Chrome with Google. Edge will briefly open first, then close. This is unavoidable.

 

But I don't want to use Chrome, I do not like it.

 

Use Firefox with "Bing - Google" addon

Bing-Google :: Add-ons for Firefox