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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.

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Why use Perplexica as a search engine?

Quick access

Search from your browser’s address bar without opening a tab

Privacy-focused

Keep your searches private with local or self-hosted AI

AI-powered

Get intelligent answers with citations, not just links

Customizable

Use your preferred AI models and search sources

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How it works

When you add Perplexica as a search engine, your browser sends queries to Perplexica using a special URL format: 
http://localhost:3000/?q=%s
The %s is replaced with your search query. Perplexica receives the query and displays results in the standard UI.

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Setup instructions

Follow the steps below for your browser:

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Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge

1

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
2

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
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).
3

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
4

Test it out

Type your shortcut (e.g., @perplexica) in the address bar, press Space or Tab, then type your query.

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Using with a custom domain or port

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

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Examples

http://192.168.1.100:3000/?q=%s
If using HTTPS with a self-signed certificate, your browser may block the search. Make sure to trust the certificate first.

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Tips and tricks

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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.

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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).

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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)

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Troubleshooting

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Search doesn’t work

Make sure Perplexica is running and accessible at the URL you configured.Test by opening http://localhost:3000 in your browser directly.
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.
Ensure the URL includes ?q=%s at the end. The %s is required for the browser to insert your query.
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

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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

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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.

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Next steps

API Reference

Integrate Perplexica into other applications

Configuration

Customize your Perplexica setup

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