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Adding google.co.uk as a search provider

I found changing the default Google search from google.com to the local google.co.uk a bit of a faff. As IE 7 and 8, Firefox 2 and 3, and Chrome all support OpenSearch, there are two simple ways to set google.co.uk as the default search provider:

Click on the button

OpenSearch xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<OpenSearchDescription xmlns="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/">
    <ShortName>Google.co.uk</ShortName>
    <Description>Google United Kingdom search provider</Description>
    <Url type="text/html" template="http://www.google.co.uk/search?q={searchTerms}&meta=cr%3DcountryUK%7CcountryGB"/>  
    <Url rel="suggestions" type="application/x-suggestions+xml" template="http://clients5.google.com/complete/search?q={searchTerms}&mw={ie:maxWidth}&sh={ie:sectionHeight}&rh={ie:rowHeight}&inputencoding={inputEncoding}&outputencoding={outputEncoding}" />
    <Image height="16" width="16" type="image/icon">http://www.google.com/favicon.ico</Image>
</OpenSearchDescription>

Or follow these steps in Internet Explorer

  1. Use the drop down menu in the search engine box and click on Find more providers... find more providers

  2. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Create your own Search Providercreate your own provider

  3. Enter the following:
    • URL:
    • Name:
    • Character encoding:
    and click on Install Search Provider button

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Posted in Technical | 5 Comments »

Five responses to Adding google.co.uk as a search provider

  1. Adam says:
    November 2, 2009 at 5:10 pm

    Thanks so so so much! Since I downloaded the latest firefox version, and since i’m temporarily living abroad, the foriegn results returned has been driving me up the wall. I’ve literally trawled through dozens of sites in hope of finding the correct xml code for a google.co.uk search, with no luck; until now! Much Appreciation and many thanks!

  2. Hugh says:
    November 2, 2009 at 6:00 pm

    You’re welcome! Glad it was useful to you too.

  3. Ray says:
    December 10, 2009 at 1:57 am

    Didn’t work 1st time (IE8).
    I had to delete %7 then retyped %7 … maybe your website includes a hidden line break/ or something???
    Anyway – thanks toooo much for the solution.
    Ray

  4. Ron says:
    December 14, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    If you just install the normal google search provider you can set it to uk by

    open regedit
    search for http://www.google.com/search?q=&rls
    select the item titled URL. type REG_SZ
    Change the .com section to .co.uk

    now all results through the search bar come up as .co.uk

  5. Rob says:
    December 15, 2009 at 9:27 am

    Big thanks man!

    I’m living in uk and all results displayed in google are usa related .. man that was diving me mad!!!

    Cheers!

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