Can You Change the Bing Search Engine to Google in Office 2019?
Question details
The user wants to replace the default Bing search engine with Google in Microsoft Office 2019's built-in Research feature to better accommodate specific language preferences.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Using the built-in search or Research feature in Word to look up text while working with multilingual documents.
- Observed behavior
- Office 2019 hardcodes Bing as the default provider for the Research pane, preventing users from customizing the search engine via settings or older registry tweaks.
Keep in mind that Microsoft tightly integrates Bing into Office 2019's native research and smart lookup tools, meaning there is no officially supported method to switch the search provider to Google.
Manage Search Context via Proofing Language Settings
While you cannot replace Bing with Google, you can ensure the internal Bing search fetches results in the correct language by explicitly setting the text's proofing language.
The built-in Research pane relies heavily on the assigned proofing language of the selected text to determine the language of the search results. If you are getting results in the wrong language, updating the proofing settings will correct the search context.
Highlight the specific word, phrase, or sentence in your Word document that you want to research.
Go to the 'Review' tab on the top ribbon and locate the 'Language' group.
Click the 'Language' button, then select 'Set Proofing Language' from the dropdown menu.
Choose the appropriate language for the text from the dialog box and click 'OK'. When you use the Research or Search tool on that text, Bing will now use the correct language context.
Manually Search Using Your Preferred Web Browser
If you absolutely need to use Google or another specific search engine for your research, you will need to bypass the internal Office tools entirely.
Try WPS Office for a Flexible and Lightweight Workspace
If built-in restrictions like forced Bing integration in Microsoft Office frustrate your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, fast, and completely free alternative with a familiar interface that won't lock you into specific web services.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Run the setup: Open the downloaded file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to install the suite.
- 3. Open your files: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word documents to continue working without interruption.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a registry edit to change Bing to Google in Office 2019?
No. While much older versions of Office allowed users to change the search provider via registry tweaks, Office 2019 hardcodes Bing into its Smart Lookup and Research features, making these registry modifications ineffective.
Why is my Office 2019 search finding results in the wrong language?
The built-in search tool uses the proofing language assigned to the selected text. If the text defaults to English but you are searching for a French term, Bing will search in an English context. Highlight the text and go to Review > Language > Set Proofing Language to fix this.
How do I enable spell checking when typing in web forums or browsers?
Spell checking in web forms, such as Microsoft Community pages or other forums, is handled directly by your web browser (like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge) or your operating system, not by Microsoft Office's proofing tools. You can adjust these settings in your browser's language preferences.
