Little Known Google Search Tricks You Should Know
Learn practical Google Search tricks, including exact phrases, website searches, file filters, quick answers, and search safety. Google may change results or interactive tools over time, so always check important facts at their original sources.
Google Search Operators and Examples
Google Search operators narrow results when ordinary keywords are too broad. Enter the examples directly into Google without adding spaces between an operator and its value. Results may still vary by indexing, personalization, and Google's interpretation.
| Operator | Example | What it helps find |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation marks | "website security tips" | Pages matching a specific phrase |
| site: | site:rshweb.com phishing | Results within a specific website or domain |
| filetype: | filetype:pdf password guidance | Files of a particular type, such as PDFs |
| Minus sign | jaguar speed -car | Exclude a term from results |
| OR | laptop OR notebook | Search for alternatives |
| intitle: | intitle:privacy browser | Pages with a term in their title |
| before: and after: | browser updates after:2025-01-01 | Filter indexed results by indicated dates; verify source publication dates independently |
Find Exact Phrases and Exclude Unwanted Results
Place quotation marks around a short phrase, such as "reset browser settings", when the exact wording matters. Add -advertisement to exclude an unwanted term, or use OR to compare alternatives. Quoted searches can still yield imperfect results; inspect each page before relying on it.
How to Search Within One Website
Use site:rshweb.com followed by a topic. For example, site:rshweb.com browser security helps locate relevant material from the same domain. Browse the RSH Web article index or our support guides for related resources. A site: search is not an exhaustive listing of every indexed page.
Find PDF Documents and Other Files
Try filetype:pdf disaster preparedness to narrow results to PDFs. Combine filters, such as site:gov filetype:pdf online safety, when researching primary documents. Check the document's publication date, author, and relevance before using it as a source.
Everyday Google Search Tools
The examples below cover calculations, definitions, translations, weather, time zones, and other quick-answer searches. Google's result features and layouts vary over time and by location.
Calculate Your Tip With “Calculate Tip [$$$]”
No longer need that app on your phone to figure out how much to tip your server
Just type in “Calculate Tip [Bill Total]” into the search bar
A screen pops up that’ll help you toggle the percentage
And it will even split a bill for multiple people with the click of a button
Get a Word’s Definition
This one is Great!! If you ever want to know the definition of a word without having
to go to dictionary.com or Merriam-Webster or, God forbid, a book
Just type in “Define [Term]” and Google will find and highlight the definition for you.
Demographics
If you have ever wondered how many people live in a particular city, country, or even continent, then the first is for you
Type: “population [location]” Example: “population london”
Type: unemployment rate [location] Example: “unemployment rate london”
Translation
Type: translate [words] [language] Example: “translate read carefully french”
Weather
Type: “weather [location]” Example: “weather london”
Sunrise Location or Sunset Location
Another easy one to remember
Type: “sunrise [location]” Example: “sunrise london”
Type: “sunset [location]” Example: “sunset london”
Don't buy it until you Google it
Before buying, search for the retailer name with terms such as coupon, return policy, or reviews. Confirm discount codes on the retailer’s own site and be cautious about coupon pages asking for account details. See our guide to fake review websites and safe browsing advice.
Get a Random Fun Fact by Typing “Fun Facts” Into the Search Bar
Searching for fun facts may display educational results or interactive features. Google changes its result layouts, so a dedicated random-fact button is not always available.
Get Time in a Different Time Zone
Some of these tips are about as basic as it gets
If you’re planning for your trip and want to figure out how far ahead or behind you’ll be
It’s as simple as typing “Time in [city_name]”
Google will automatically return the time in that particular city!!!
Searching For things Near Me or even by a Certain Location
If you search for anything (restaurants, movie theaters, grocery stores, bars, etc.) with “near me,”
Google will give results based on your current location
If you’re going to be traveling, or just want to see what there is to do in a certain city, you can do that, too
Looking for the best tourist attractions in a city
Typing “Attractions [city_name]” will allow Google to create a special list of the top attractions for you to check out
Get a Customer Service Phone Number?
Try [company] customer service, then verify any phone number on the company’s official contact page. Scammers sometimes publish misleading support numbers or paid search ads. Review our phishing prevention guide before sharing account or payment information.
Find works from your favorite authors and artists
Find all the books your favorite author has ever written simply by typing in "books by", then your author's name
You can do this with albums ("albums by") as well. This is a great way to find past works (or future works) that you might not be aware of.
Find the origins of common words
Find out the origins - or etymology - of a specific word by typing in the word plus "etymology
For example, if you type in "flour etymology" you'll see that it is Middle English: a specific use of flower in the sense
‘the best part,’ used originally to mean ‘the finest quality of ground wheat’...
The spelling flower remained in use alongside flour until the early 19th cent."
Compare the nutritional value of one food with another
Not sure if that piece of pizza is going to be better for you than say a cup of broccoli?
Ask Google to compare the nutritional value by typing in "pizza vs. broccoli", or anything else you'd like to compare
Google will come back with all pertinent nutritional and caloric information - it's up to you what you choose to do with that information, of course.
Listen to songs by your favorite artist
If you want to listen to a particular song by your favorite artist, or maybe even explore their discography,
just type in "artist" and "songs", i.e., "Carole King songs". You'll get a complete list of songs, plus videos and biographical information
You can also listen to the songs right there within your Web browser; note that this feature isn't always available for all artists.
Find what those symptoms are similar to
Google can help you research general information about symptoms, but search results do not establish a diagnosis. For urgent, severe, or persistent symptoms, seek appropriate medical care rather than relying on search snippets.
Use Google as a timer
Try a query such as timer 10 minutes or stopwatch. An interactive timer may appear depending on your region and Google’s current interface. For time-sensitive tasks, keep a separate alarm or timer as a backup.
Graphing Calculator Anyone
For all you new-gen calculus nerds and engineering students, the search bar actually doubles as its very own graphing calculator
The coolest thing is there’s no secret to it. Just type your equation into the search bar and watch
Google may display a graph for supported mathematical expressions. Results vary by expression and interface.
Make Google do tricks
Some Google Search Easter eggs remain accessible. For example, searches for do a barrel roll and askew may animate the results page, while solitaire or pac-man may offer playable games. These are optional features, not guaranteed results in every browser or region.
Older tricks: The original built-in zerg rush animation and Atari Breakout in Google Images are no longer dependable native Google Search features. Third-party recreations may exist, but do not assume they are provided by Google. The Google Gravity experiment is also a third-party experience.
Find the roster of any sports team
Get a detailed roster breakdown of your favorite sports team simply by typing in "team roster" (substituting the name of your team for the word "team")
You'll see a full-page color roster, with player information.
Find a quote
Quote searches work especially well with short, distinctive phrases. Check the original publication before attributing a quote or a passage. Visit our blog index for more research resources.
Use quotation marks to search for an exact quote and its origin
For example, if you knew the partial lyrics to a song, but weren’t sure of the singer or the songwriter,
you could simply frame the snippet that you did know in quotation marks and plug it into Google
More often than not, you’ll receive the full song lyrics as well as author, when it was first released, and other identifying information.
Find related sites
The related: operator historically displayed websites similar to a specified domain, but it is not a dependable current Google Search operator. Instead, search for a website’s topic plus terms such as alternatives or compare relevant results manually. Our Bing search tricks article covers additional search options.
Type “Flip Coin” to Bring up Google’s Coin Toss Simulator
Search for flip a coin or roll a die to try Google’s interactive random-choice tools where available. Do not use random results for financial or safety-critical decisions.
Google Search Best Practices
- Start with the specific topic, product name, error message, or location you need.
- Use an exact phrase for quotations and error messages; remove the quotes if results become too narrow.
- Search trusted primary sources and check dates for time-sensitive information.
- Use
site:andfiletype:to find relevant documentation more quickly. - Check whether a result is an advertisement before clicking, and verify URLs before entering account details. Review our phishing prevention tips.
- Compare more than one independent source for medical, financial, legal, or safety-related decisions.
- Understand how location and search settings may affect the results. See our online privacy guide.
Why Google Search Results May Be Irrelevant
| Problem | What to try |
|---|---|
| Too many unrelated results | Use a longer, more specific query or put the essential phrase in quotation marks. |
| Search misses a known website | Try site:example.com topic; the page might not be indexed. |
| Outdated information | Look for newer source documents and check the original publication date. |
| No PDF results | Remove extra filters or change the file type; not all documents are indexed. |
| Local results are inaccurate | Include a city or region and review browser location permissions. |
| An old search trick no longer works | Google may have retired the interactive feature; use a currently supported tool. |
Google Earth
Google Earth is a computer program that renders a 3D representation of Earth based primarily on satellite imagery. The program maps the Earth by superimposing satellite images, aerial photography, and GIS data onto a 3D globe, allowing users to see cities and landscapes from various angles. Users can explore the globe by entering addresses and coordinates, or by using a keyboard or mouse. The program can also be downloaded on a smartphone or tablet, using a touch screen or stylus to navigate
Frequently Asked Questions About Google Search
How do I search for an exact phrase on Google?
Put the phrase inside quotation marks, such as "website security guide". This helps prioritize results containing the quoted wording. For more examples, see our Bing search operators guide.
How can I search only one website on Google?
Type site: followed by the domain and your keywords, for example site:rshweb.com privacy. You can also browse our blog article index directly.
How do I find PDF files using Google Search?
Use filetype:pdf with keywords, such as filetype:pdf online security. Combine it with site: to narrow results to a particular domain. Not every PDF is indexed.
How do I exclude a word from Google results?
Place a minus sign directly before the unwanted word, such as jaguar -car. Avoid putting a space between the minus sign and the term.
Can I use Google to find recently published information?
Try date filters or operators such as after:2025-01-01, then confirm the publication and update dates on the actual source. Search date filters do not guarantee that every result is current.
Does Google still support Zerg Rush and Atari Breakout?
Those older interactive experiences are no longer dependable built-in Google Search features. Third-party recreations may exist, but check their safety before opening them. See our safe browsing recommendations.
Why are my Google results different from someone else’s?
Location, language, query wording, settings, and Google’s ranking systems can affect results. For privacy considerations, read our online privacy guide.
Can Google Search results include scams or fake support numbers?
Yes. Check the destination URL and verify contact details on the organization’s official website before calling or sharing information. Learn to recognize scams in our phishing guide.
What is the difference between Google Search and Bing Search operators?
Both support common techniques such as exact phrases, excluding terms, and searching a specific domain. Their additional operators, ranking systems, and results can differ. Explore our Bing search tricks article for examples.
Where can I find more website and search help?
Browse the RSH Web blog index for practical tutorials or visit RSH Web support for website-related assistance.
Author Bio: Tadeusz Kehan
One of the best creative blog writers and social media. He has been sharing his design insights for over two decades. His expertise and passion for crafting engaging...
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