New-Tab Extensions That Don't Hijack Your Search Engine

You install a new-tab extension because you want a nicer, more useful start page — a place for your tasks, a photo you like, a little calm. What you do not want is for that extension to quietly change how you search the web. Yet it is a common and frustrating pattern: you type a query into the address bar or the page, and instead of the search engine you have always used, results come back from somewhere you never chose. The good news is that a new tab and your search engine are two separate things, and you can absolutely have a customized new tab while keeping Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo exactly where it was.

Here is how to think about the problem, how to spot an extension that respects your search, and how to set up a new tab that adds to your day without taking anything away.

Why some new-tab extensions change your search

The new tab page and your default search engine are controlled by separate browser settings, but a single extension is technically able to request both. When an extension overrides your search — routing queries through a service you did not pick — it is usually doing so to monetize your searches, not to make them better for you. The result is the same either way: worse or unfamiliar results, and the uneasy feeling that something changed behind your back. This is the general pain point people run into, and it is the reason the phrase “new tab that does not change my search” is searched so often.

How to keep your search engine when you customize the new tab

1. Before installing anything, open your browser's settings and note your current default search engine so you have a reference point.
2. On the Chrome Web Store, read the permissions an extension asks for. Something that only changes the new tab page does not need to control your default search.
3. After installing, run a quick test search from the address bar. If the results come from the engine you expect, you are set. If not, remove the extension and reset your search engine in settings.

A well-behaved new-tab extension changes one thing — the page you see when you open a tab — and leaves everything else, including search, untouched.

A new tab that adds a workspace and leaves search alone

This is exactly the line Slaet draws. Slaet turns your new tab into a small workspace — tasks, notes, lists, and reminders, all in front of you the moment you open a tab — without replacing your search. Your existing search engine, whether that is Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo, stays exactly where it was. You get a more useful start page and the search you already trust, at the same time.

You can also make the page feel like yours with a custom wallpaper and adjustable blur, so the space stays calm and readable behind your tasks. If you want to see how a task-and-notes new tab compares more broadly, this rundown of free new-tab to-do and notes extensions is a useful starting point.

What “respecting your search” really means: privacy

Leaving your search engine alone is part of a bigger idea — an extension should not quietly take things from you. Slaet is built that way. It never reads your browsing history and it never sells your data. It is also local-first: your tasks and notes live in your browser by default and work fully offline, with no account required. If you want the same setup across machines, an optional sign-in syncs across Chrome, Brave, and Edge — but that is your choice, and your data stays on your device until you ask for it. You can read more about the approach in the Slaet guide.

Frequently asked questions

Will a new-tab extension always change my search engine?

No. Changing the new tab page and changing your default search are separate things. A new-tab extension can customize your start page while leaving search completely untouched — Slaet does exactly that.

Does Slaet keep my Google, Bing, or DuckDuckGo search?

Yes. Your existing search engine stays exactly where it was. Slaet adds tasks, notes, lists, and reminders to the new tab; it does not take your search engine away.

Does Slaet read my browsing history?

No. Slaet never reads your browsing history and never sells your data. It is local-first, works offline, and requires no account to start.

Is it free?

Yes. Slaet is completely free — a Chrome extension and a web app at app.slaet.space, with no paid tier and no account required.