If you feel like Google’s results aren’t tuned to your brain, you’re not alone. As a tech writer, I constantly look up specs, reviews, and product pages. Whether I’m researching the best Chromebooks or looking for real opinions on Reddit, I don’t want to scroll through AI summaries and ads to get to what I need. I was happy to discover a faster way to search that gives me better results using only three keys.
Chrome lets me create custom search shortcuts that filter results, making it easy to find the answers I want from the sources I trust. A few simple tweaks let me cut the clutter while enjoying the depth and power of Google Search. I can limit results to my favorite websites, such as Amazon, Reddit, or Android Police. These tips and tricks help me customize Chrome to save time on all my devices.
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A small shortcut with big potential
Why can’t I find what I need on Amazon?
So many choices, but none I want
I’m often disappointed by Amazon searches. For example, I sometimes use my Android phone as a PC replacement, so I wanted a battery-powered display. I wanted the option to use it with my computer, so I searched Amazon for “portable monitor with USB-C AND USB-A.” That was the beginning of a long and frustrating journey.
The top results were sponsored posts; very few listings matched my search. Amazon has filters, but it takes extra effort to locate the right one in the sidebar, if it even exists.
Instead, I let Google search Amazon. An advanced search helped me find what I wanted. Here’s what I used: site:amazon.com portable monitor “USB-C and USB-A”
With the site: operator, I can limit results to Amazon’s website. Surrounding USB-C and USB-A in quotes prioritizes that phrase. The results are better than I get from Amazon’s search.
How to refine results with Google Search operators
Just the facts
This starts with a little-known feature of Google Search: operators. When I add site:reddit.com to a query, I search only Reddit, with no extra fluff from long-winded blogs or social media. I use this all the time to limit searches to:
- site:androidpolice.com for product news and guides
- site:reddit.com for personal opinions
- site:amazon.com when I’m ready to buy
That’s a big time-saver when I know the best website to find what I want. However, typing long domain names can be a hassle, so I use that makes advanced Google searches effortless.
If I need something local, I use the near operator and specify a location. If I were to visit Google headquarters, I might search for “vegan restaurants near Mountain View.” If I get too many results on an unrelated topic, I can remove them with the minus operator. For example, Bluetooth keyboard -receiver eliminates wireless keyboards that require a USB receiver.
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Make advanced searches faster with search engine shortcuts
Three keys to success
Typing site:androidpolice.com each time isn’t ideal, which is why Chrome’s custom search engine feature is a game-changer. I can type a shortcut in the address bar to start an advanced search after typing just three keys. I found this feature in Chrome Settings > Search engine and added several custom search engines with simple, easily remembered shortcuts.
Now, when I type ap best Android phone in the Chrome address bar, it performs a Google search with results from androidpolice.com. It only takes three keys, ap + tab to get great results. There’s an option to use the space bar, if preferred.
Here are a few of my favorite search engine shortcuts:
|
Name |
Shortcut |
URL |
|---|---|---|
|
Android Police |
ap |
https://www.google.com/search?q=site:androidpolice.com+%s |
|
Amazon |
az |
https://www.google.com/search?q=site:amazon.com+%s |
|
|
rd |
https://www.google.com/search?q=site:reddit.com+%s |
|
YouTube |
yt |
https://www.google.com/search?q=site:youtube.com+%s |
Here’s the template I follow:
- Start with https://www.google.com/search?q=site: to set up the Google Search.
- Add the website you want.
- End the custom search engine URL with +%s as a placeholder that Chrome fills with your keywords.
This turns a low-cost Chromebook into a fast and precise research tool. It’s an easy upgrade to improve search, without installing extensions or using an app.
How to perform fast, custom Google searches on Android
Quicker, more precise mobile results
Google Search works the same way on any device. That means I can use the same operators on my Android phone and my Chromebook. However, mobile Chrome doesn’t support custom search engines.
To get around this limitation, I bookmark my favorite custom searches for quick access on mobile devices. For example, I can perform a search for site:androidpolice.com and bookmark the results page. If I name it something unique like GSAP, I can find the bookmark with that shortcut. Bookmarks aren’t as simple and fluid as custom searches on desktop Chrome, but this technique eliminates excessive typing.
Faster, better searches with Google Chrome
If you search the web as much as I do, a few tips and tricks can improve your Google Chrome experience, and these shortcuts will optimize your efforts. It’s not only about speed. These tips increase relevance, so I find the answers I need with fewer visits to pages that lack the details I want. I’m making Google search the sites I trust to see the best results without as much scrolling.
Best of all, these techniques are simple, free, and work cross-platform. Custom search engines and bookmarks sync with my computer, Chromebook, and Android phone, so the time I invest in setting up these shortcuts will pay dividends day after day on all my devices.
