I’d like to use a search-engine like MetaGer or startpage.com as default on my FP3.
So far I am always offered explicitly a Google-search which I dislike.
Looking in the settings, there seems no option to be existing for that. Instead I get offered - a Google-search.
Any hints?
What is your browser ?
In the /e/ native browser, no gogol search proposed
but only 4 choices.
To use alternative, you can set it as bookmark or default home page
As @piero already wrote: in /e/-Browser /e/spot (searx?) is the default search engine. You may choose DuckduckGo, Duckduckgolight or Qwant. Google is not offered.
If you use another browser that allows to add more search-engines (for example Fennec or FOSS Browser) and your prefered one is not included as default you may have a look at the homepage of MetaGer or Startpage how to add it.
For example: Hilfe - MetaGer (> “Ich möchte MetaGer zur Suchmaschinenliste meines Browsers hinzufügen.”)
I’m quite satisfied with the /e/spot search engine in general but sometimes it’s out of order.
For alternative browsers have a look at this privacy friendly suggestions (in German): Empfehlungsecke ⋆ Kuketz IT-Security Blog
@piero: I have the generic /e/ Browser 91.0.4472.158 and Brave 1.32.112.
In fact, when I look for something that is not on the phone, I get explicitly offered a Google-search:
@caos: Brave has startpage in its listings, but I am insecure whether a search in the main screen effects that at all.
Can I disable the generic browser?
if google is the default search in /e/OS anyway, then /e/OS is NOT google free as they mention!
Basically not acceptable.
Must be fixed, Fast
To get rid of a system app it does’t has to be uninstalled.
The app only needs to be diabled with:
pm disable-user --user 0 packagename
To bring it back just use:
pm enable packagename
if it is so, then it’s ok. if mungo was doing the evil thing… 
I often find that you are trigger-happy
@kisman172: The order doen’t work on my Linux-machine.
Instead I called
$ adb shell pm disable --user 0 Browser
Exception occurred while executing:
java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Unknown package: Browser
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerService.setEnabledSetting(PackageManagerService.java:21519)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerService.setApplicationEnabledSetting(PackageManagerService.java:21457)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerShellCommand.runSetEnabledSetting(PackageManagerShellCommand.java:1826)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerShellCommand.onCommand(PackageManagerShellCommand.java:212)
at android.os.ShellCommand.exec(ShellCommand.java:104)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerService.onShellCommand(PackageManagerService.java:22042)
at android.os.Binder.shellCommand(Binder.java:881)
at android.os.Binder.onTransact(Binder.java:765)
at android.content.pm.IPackageManager$Stub.onTransact(IPackageManager.java:4876)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerService.onTransact(PackageManagerService.java:4110)
at android.os.Binder.execTransactInternal(Binder.java:1021)
at android.os.Binder.execTransact(Binder.java:994)
That doesn’t seem to work.
Maybe I called the wrong definition.
Where do I find the correct specifications?
In “About Browser” it is just called Browser.
Nope, not at all.
I am just citing what the phone tells me.
no, not me…i am harmless
packagename is in -->settings -->applications ;
“foundation.e.browser”
This doesn’t seem to work either:
$ adb shell pm disable --user 0 foundation.e.browser
Security exception: Shell cannot change component state for foundation.e.browser/null to 2
java.lang.SecurityException: Shell cannot change component state for foundation.e.browser/null to 2
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerService.setEnabledSetting(PackageManagerService.java:21578)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerService.setApplicationEnabledSetting(PackageManagerService.java:21457)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerShellCommand.runSetEnabledSetting(PackageManagerShellCommand.java:1826)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerShellCommand.onCommand(PackageManagerShellCommand.java:212)
at android.os.ShellCommand.exec(ShellCommand.java:104)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerService.onShellCommand(PackageManagerService.java:22042)
at android.os.Binder.shellCommand(Binder.java:881)
at android.os.Binder.onTransact(Binder.java:765)
at android.content.pm.IPackageManager$Stub.onTransact(IPackageManager.java:4876)
at com.android.server.pm.PackageManagerService.onTransact(PackageManagerService.java:4110)
at android.os.Binder.execTransactInternal(Binder.java:1021)
at android.os.Binder.execTransact(Binder.java:994)
It doesn’t want to be disabled.^^
Uninstall the App with the command
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 packagename
Perhaps Brave brought Google in? I would count this as a serious infection. Uninstalling the innocent party may not be the best road to take.
I am surprised, as I would not have expected that after the browser’s refusal to be disabled:
$ adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 foundation.e.browser
Success
I am quite sure not.
The Google offer on the search field existed long before I installed Brave.
In fact, it was there from day 1.
Today is day 13.
I an unsure of the mechanics of disabling, but as you say, browser is not up for disabling. The uninstall is not a root uninstall anyway, the command is only uninstall for user 0.
I would sooner fix Browse than have Brave - I know you were initially asking for hints for removing Google, if you are not finding a solution, I would rather be thinking of preparing for a factory reset.
Edit, sorry I am crossing with your posts @mungo 
Are you using kiss launcher and using the search bar on that?
If that is what is happening, change the launcher settings for searching.
.
solution is in the response number 20