> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/ItzCrazyKns/Perplexica/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Browser search engine

> Use Perplexica as your default search engine directly from your browser's address bar

You can configure Perplexica as a custom search engine in your browser, allowing you to search directly from the address bar. This gives you quick access to AI-powered answers without opening the Perplexica UI first.

## Why use Perplexica as a search engine?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Quick access" icon="bolt">
    Search from your browser's address bar without opening a tab
  </Card>

  <Card title="Privacy-focused" icon="shield">
    Keep your searches private with local or self-hosted AI
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI-powered" icon="brain">
    Get intelligent answers with citations, not just links
  </Card>

  <Card title="Customizable" icon="sliders">
    Use your preferred AI models and search sources
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How it works

When you add Perplexica as a search engine, your browser sends queries to Perplexica using a special URL format:

```text theme={null}
http://localhost:3000/?q=%s
```

The `%s` is replaced with your search query. Perplexica receives the query and displays results in the standard UI.

## Setup instructions

Follow the steps below for your browser:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Chrome / Edge">
    ### Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open search engine settings">
        1. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top right
        2. Go to **Settings**
        3. Navigate to **Search engine** → **Manage search engines and site search**
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add a new search engine">
        Click **Add** next to "Site search"

        Fill in the following:

        * **Search engine**: `Perplexica`
        * **Shortcut**: `@perplexica` (or any shortcut you prefer)
        * **URL with %s in place of query**: `http://localhost:3000/?q=%s`

        <Note>
          Replace `localhost:3000` with your actual Perplexica URL if it's hosted elsewhere (e.g., `http://192.168.1.100:3000` or `https://perplexica.yourdomain.com`).
        </Note>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Set as default (optional)">
        If you want Perplexica as your default search engine:

        1. Find Perplexica in the list
        2. Click the three-dot menu next to it
        3. Select **Make default**
      </Step>

      <Step title="Test it out">
        Type your shortcut (e.g., `@perplexica`) in the address bar, press Space or Tab, then type your query.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Firefox">
    ### Mozilla Firefox

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open search settings">
        1. Click the menu button (≡) in the top right
        2. Go to **Settings**
        3. Navigate to **Search** in the left sidebar
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add a new search engine">
        Scroll down to **Search Shortcuts** and click **Add**

        Fill in the following:

        * **Search engine name**: `Perplexica`
        * **Keyword**: `@perplexica` (or any keyword you prefer)
        * **URL**: `http://localhost:3000/?q=%s`

        <Note>
          Replace `localhost:3000` with your actual Perplexica URL if hosted remotely.
        </Note>
      </Step>

      <Step title="Set as default (optional)">
        To make Perplexica your default:

        1. Find **Default Search Engine** at the top of the Search settings
        2. Select **Perplexica** from the dropdown
      </Step>

      <Step title="Start searching">
        Type `@perplexica` in the address bar, press Space, then type your query.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Safari">
    ### Safari (macOS)

    <Info>
      Safari doesn't natively support custom search engines, but you can use a browser extension like [Custom Search Engine](https://apps.apple.com/app/custom-search-engine/id1592449456) to add Perplexica.
    </Info>

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Install an extension">
        Download and install a custom search engine extension from the App Store.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Configure Perplexica">
        Add a new search engine with:

        * **Name**: `Perplexica`
        * **URL**: `http://localhost:3000/?q=%s`
      </Step>

      <Step title="Use the extension">
        Follow the extension's instructions to trigger Perplexica searches.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Brave">
    ### Brave Browser

    <Steps>
      <Step title="Open search engine settings">
        1. Click the menu button (≡) in the top right
        2. Go to **Settings**
        3. Navigate to **Search engine** in the left sidebar
      </Step>

      <Step title="Add a search engine">
        Scroll to **Manage search engines and site search** and click **Add**

        Fill in:

        * **Search engine**: `Perplexica`
        * **Shortcut**: `@perplexica`
        * **URL with %s in place of query**: `http://localhost:3000/?q=%s`
      </Step>

      <Step title="Set as default (optional)">
        Under **Default search engine**, select **Perplexica** from the dropdown.
      </Step>

      <Step title="Try it">
        Type `@perplexica` in the address bar, press Space or Tab, then enter your query.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Using with a custom domain or port

If Perplexica is not running on `localhost:3000`, adjust the URL accordingly:

### Examples

<CodeGroup>
  ```text Local network theme={null}
  http://192.168.1.100:3000/?q=%s
  ```

  ```text Custom port theme={null}
  http://localhost:8080/?q=%s
  ```

  ```text Remote server with domain theme={null}
  https://perplexica.yourdomain.com/?q=%s
  ```

  ```text Docker with port forwarding theme={null}
  http://localhost:3000/?q=%s
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Warning>
  If using HTTPS with a self-signed certificate, your browser may block the search. Make sure to trust the certificate first.
</Warning>

## Tips and tricks

### Use a keyword shortcut

Instead of making Perplexica your default search engine, you can use a keyword shortcut:

1. Set the shortcut/keyword to something short like `@p` or `@ai`
2. In the address bar, type `@p your question here`
3. Press Enter to search with Perplexica

This lets you keep your existing default search engine while having quick access to Perplexica.

### Search from selected text

Some browsers let you add context menu items:

1. Select text on any webpage
2. Right-click and choose "Search with Perplexica"
3. Your query opens in Perplexica

This requires a browser extension or built-in browser feature (available in some browsers).

### Mobile browsers

For mobile browsers (Chrome on Android, Safari on iOS):

* **Android**: Follow the Chrome instructions above
* **iOS**: Safari doesn't support custom search engines natively; use a browser extension or switch to a browser that does (like Brave)

## Troubleshooting

### Search doesn't work

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Perplexica is not running">
    Make sure Perplexica is running and accessible at the URL you configured.

    Test by opening `http://localhost:3000` in your browser directly.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Wrong URL or port">
    Double-check the URL in your search engine settings. It should match where Perplexica is actually running.

    Use `http://` not `https://` unless you've configured SSL.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Query parameter missing">
    Ensure the URL includes `?q=%s` at the end. The `%s` is required for the browser to insert your query.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Docker networking issues">
    If running Perplexica in Docker:

    * On **Windows/Mac**: Use `http://host.docker.internal:3000/?q=%s`
    * On **Linux**: Use `http://<your-local-ip>:3000/?q=%s`
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

### Can't set as default

Some browsers restrict which search engines can be set as default. If you can't make Perplexica your default:

1. Use the keyword shortcut method instead
2. Manually navigate to Perplexica when needed
3. Check if your browser has any security policies blocking custom search engines

## Alternative: Browser extension

For a more integrated experience, consider creating a browser extension that:

* Captures queries from the address bar
* Opens Perplexica in a popup or sidebar
* Provides right-click context menu integration

This requires development work but offers a smoother user experience.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api/overview">
    Integrate Perplexica into other applications
  </Card>

  <Card title="Configuration" icon="gear" href="/configuration/models-and-providers">
    Customize your Perplexica setup
  </Card>
</CardGroup>