Search Manager Documentation
How to Use Search Manager Like a Pro
Step-by-step guides for custom search engines, hotkey configuration, and drag & drop start pages.
Add YouTube, Reddit, GitHub or any website URL with %s parameters.
Set keys to switch to Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo or cycle engines instantly.
Reorder shortcuts by dragging tiles with smooth sync.
Adding Custom Search Engines
Search Manager supports any website that accepts search queries. All you need is the URL format with %s where your query goes.
How to find the Search URL for ANY website:
- Go to the website you want to add (e.g.
youtube.comorgithub.com). - Perform a search for a test word, for example:
testquery. - Look at your browser's address bar. You will see something like:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=testquery. - Replace the test word
testquerywith%s. Your URL will be:https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%s. - Open Search Manager Settings ⚙️, paste the URL, give it a name, and click + Add Engine!
Popular Search Engine URL Cheat Sheet
Click any preset chip inside the extension popup or copy the exact URL template from below:
| Platform | Category | Search URL Template |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube | Video | https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%s |
| Community | https://www.reddit.com/search/?q=%s | |
| GitHub | Code | https://github.com/search?q=%s |
| Wikipedia | Reference | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=%s |
| Amazon | Shopping | https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%s |
| Perplexity AI | AI | https://www.perplexity.ai/search?q=%s |
| Marginalia | Indie Web & Small Web | https://search.marginalia.nu/search?query=%s |
| Kagi | Privacy Search | https://kagi.com/search?q=%s |
| X / Twitter | Social | https://x.com/search?q=%s |
| WolframAlpha | Math & Data | https://www.wolframalpha.com/input?i=%s |
| IMDb | Movies | https://www.imdb.com/find/?q=%s |
| Twitch | Streaming | https://www.twitch.tv/search?term=%s |
Configuring Keyboard Hotkeys
You can switch search engines without touching your mouse! Chrome allows custom key combinations for extensions.
Step 1: Open Chrome Extension Shortcuts
In Chrome address bar, open chrome://extensions/shortcuts (or click "Configure shortcuts in Chrome ↗" in our Settings modal).
Step 2: Assign Your Preferred Hotkeys
Locate Change Default Search Engine — Search Manager. You will see individual actions:
- Open Search Manager popup: (Default: Alt + Shift + S)
- Switch default search to Google: Click the pen icon and press e.g. Ctrl + Shift + G
- Switch default search to Bing: Click the pen icon and press e.g. Ctrl + Shift + B
- Switch default search to DuckDuckGo: Press e.g. Ctrl + Shift + D
- Switch default search to Brave: Press e.g. Ctrl + Shift + R
- Cycle to next search engine: (Default: Alt + Shift + N)
Instant Visual Feedback (Badge Indicator)
Whenever you switch search engines via hotkey, the extension icon in your browser toolbar flashes a quick badge (G for Google, B for Bing, DDG for DuckDuckGo, BRV for Brave) for 2.5 seconds, so you always know your active search provider without opening any menus!
New Tab Drag & Drop Reordering
Organize your start page shortcuts effortlessly:
- Click and hold any shortcut tile (YouTube, Gmail, GitHub).
- Drag it to your desired position. The target tile will highlight with a subtle dashed outline.
- Release the mouse button to drop. The new order is automatically saved and synced across all your devices.
- Hover over any tile and click the small red
×button to delete it.
Ready to Take Full Control of Your Search?
Enjoy instant switching, zero ad-hijacking, and a clean personalized start page.
Install Search Manager on Chrome