How to Customize a Google Logo

A 2008 Google Doodle featured Queen Elizabeth II.

Google's success in just 13 years has carried it from mere search engine to pursuit of its massive stated mission: "Organize the world's knowledge and make it universally accessible and useful." Despite this weighty goal, Google has maintained a lighthearted touch. An example is Google Doodles -- the often-playful decoration of Google's familiar logo with drawings to mark special occasions. Users of the Firefox and Google Chrome Web browsers can use favorite Doodles to customize their Google home pages on their browsers.

Instructions

Firefox

1. Install the Greasemonkey add-on in the Firefox browser. Click the "Tools" menu, and select "Add-ons." Click on the "Get Add-ons" tab. Search for "Greasemonkey," and select "Install" next to the add-on.

2. Install the Greasemonkey Scripts for Google Search. Go to code.google.com in your Firefox browser. Search for "gmsearchscripts." Click the "Download It" link. Once it downloads, you will be prompted to install the script. Allow the script to install.

3. Go to google.com to verify that the script installed correctly. If it did, the logo should be the Lego doodle.

4. Click on the monkey icon in the lower right corner of your Firefox browser. Highlight "User Script Commands" and select "Favorite Doodle -> Choose favorite doodle."

5. Browse through the logos to find the one you want, and click the "Make This My Favorite Doodle" button below the image. Go to google.com to verify that your favorite doodle is displayed.

Chrome

1. Open a new tab in Chrome and click on the "Web Store" link under the "Apps" section. This opens the Chrome Web store, where you can find applications and extensions for Chrome.

2. Type "Favorite Doodle" search box. Click on the first result under the "Extensions" section that lists that title.

3. Confirm that the author of the extension says "tiffography.com." Click the "Add to Chrome" button to install the application.

4. Go to google.com and click on the logo to open the Doodle Gallery. Select a favorite Doodle to appear at the top of Google whenever you open it in Chrome.

References

• PC Magazine: Google Turns 13: Its Biggest Hits and Misses
• USA Today: 'Google,' 'Unibrow' Added to Dictionary
• Mashable Tech: HOW TO: Change the Google Logo to Your Favorite Google Doodle
• Mozilla Add-ons: Greasemonkey
• Google Code: Gmsearchscripts - Greasemonkey Scripts for Google Search
• Chrome Web Store: Favorite Doodle