diff --git a/searx/settings.yml b/searx/settings.yml
index fa6141dd4..81428a747 100644
--- a/searx/settings.yml
+++ b/searx/settings.yml
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ search:
   autocomplete_min: 4
   # Default search language - leave blank to detect from browser information or
   # use codes from 'languages.py'
-  default_lang: ""
+  default_lang: "auto"
   # Available languages
   # languages:
   #   - all