Firefox keeps changing my default search engine to Bing. I've changed it back 20 times already. Enough is enough.

Ever since the deal went down when Firefox changed its default provider from Google, I have had to reset my default search engine back from Bing at least every other day, if not more frequent. It is maddening. It doesn't just happen on one machine either, it's happening on all of mine.
I do have Firefox sync enabled with preference sync, so is it possible Firefox sync is getting out of sync? IE every time I change it on a machine, it misses a browser, and then the browser that doesn't get changed goes out and changes all the rest back in the next sync? That's the only thing I can think of, other than Mozilla selling their souls and values and forcing Firefox users to use a search engine they hate.
If the latter is the case, I have had enough and am switching to Chrome. I can't handle having to change my default search engine back every other day. Please someone tell me there is an explanation and a fix. Thanks.

Alright, I feel like an idiot. It was from an extension I installed called InvisibleHand that I installed right around the time the Google deal with Mozilla expired, which is why I assumed the problem was a result of that.
I just checked the settings of the extension and sure enough it has an option that gets ticked by default called "InvisibleHand Search (Use InvisibleHand (powered by Bing) as my default search provider)". So I jumped the gun and blamed Firefox, my apologies.
The extension automatically shows you if an item is cheaper elsewhere while online shopping which is useful, however having that setting ticked by default is pretty skeevy.
Anyway, thanks for the response and sorry I blamed Firefox :P

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How can I stop Firefox from changing my default search engine to Yahoo when I want it to be Bing?

I keep changing my default search engine to Bing but it keeps changing back to Yahoo. HOW CAN I STOP THIS?!?!

Bookmark and use this;
Download the '''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/searchreset/ Mozilla Search Reset]''' {web link}
This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up
and then resets your search preferences and home page
to their default values, and then uninstalls itself. This
affects the search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.
Sometimes a problem with Firefox may be a result of malware installed on your computer, that you may not be aware of.
You can try these free programs to scan for malware, which work with your existing antivirus software:
* [http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/default.aspx Microsoft Safety Scanner]
* [http://www.malwarebytes.org/products/malwarebytes_free/ MalwareBytes' Anti-Malware]
* [http://support.kaspersky.com/viruses/disinfection/5350 Anti-Rootkit Utility - TDSSKiller]
* [http://general-changelog-team.fr/en/downloads/viewdownload/20-outils-de-xplode/2-adwcleaner AdwCleaner] (for more info, see this [http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/ alternate AdwCleaner download page])
* [http://www.surfright.nl/en/hitmanpro/ Hitman Pro]
* [http://www.eset.com/us/online-scanner/ ESET Online Scanner]
[http://windows.microsoft.com/MSE Microsoft Security Essentials] is a good permanent antivirus for Windows 7/Vista/XP if you don't already have one.
Further information can be found in the [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]] article.
Did this fix your problems? Please report back to us!

How to change the default search engine? I accidentaly change it from google to yahoo, and I can't get it back. I changed my homepage too, but it isn't solved. Thanks

dear, there.
how to change the default search engine? I accidentaly change it from google to yahoo, and I can't get it back. I changed my homepage to google too, but it isn't solved. Thanks

Clarification:
I believe now you potentially lose all extensions, plug-ins when you use the new reset function, but you will let me know.
If that is the case, your find corrupt file method maybe better. However, I reviewed the two help articles and there appear to be more files than just the delete search.json file and a possible search.sqlite file in the Firefox Profile Folder. I am confused. Then I have to find the folders. I think help articles mentioned how to find the profile containing the files, but not sure.

How do I change my default Search Engine from Yahoo to Google permanently?

Every time I restart Firefox my search engine reverts back to yahoo, how do I fix this permanently. I only want to use google to search for things it is much more efficient. Is there some firefox connection to yahoo that is causing this?

None of above worked for me.
This did:
"In your address bar, type in: “about:config”
Inside of the filter search box, type in:
browser.search.defaultenginename
Double click that entry (or right click and choose “Modify”) and then type in the name of the search engine you wish to have as the default search engine. It must be one that you already have installed and also make sure you type in the name correctly.
Now if you type in “Yahoo”, restart Firefox and when your browser comes back up you will see the red Yahoo “Y” and Yahoo as your default search engine."
(as found on http://www.searchenginejournal.com/change-your-default-search-engine-in-firefox-google-chrome-ie/24378/)
Since I wanted to be rid of Yahoo and get Google back - in the last part instead of typing "Yahoo" I typed "Google".
That's it.

How do I change my default search engine back to google

my default search engine is ask.com
I changed my home page to be goggle but its the old firefox start unlike the one it shows when it sent me to ask :(
Question
Every time I get online my search engine is ask UI have typed in google into my about:config settings many times yet my search engine remaines ASK (it changes back every time and iI used the google URL on firefox's help page)how do I fix this so that my search remaines with goole not ASK because I hate ASK(no offense ask).

Quit the application.
Go to Finder and select your user/home folder. With that Finder window as the front window, either select Finder/View/Show View options or go command - J. When the View options opens, check ’Show Library Folder’. That should make your user library folder visible in your user/home folder. Select Library. Then go to Preferences/com.apple.Safari.plist. Move the .plist to your desktop.
Restart, open the application and test. If it works okay, delete the plist from the desktop.
If the application is the same, return the .plist to where you got it from, overwriting the newer one.
Thanks to leonie for some information contained in this.

How do I change my default search engine?

I would like to change my default search engine so that a search bar for said engine opens when I open a new tab.

See this support article: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-search-bar-firefox-and-manage-search-engines#w_set-a-default-search-engine

How do I change my default search engine from Yahoo to Google

How do I change my default search engine which appears as a free text band at the top of my default Apple website. I want to change it from Yahoo to Google.
Thx

Safari/Preferences/General. There is a place there to specify your default search engine.

How do I change my default search engine in Safari?

I would like to change my default search engine other than the options that's given in the Preferences. Does anyone know how to?

This extension claims to be able to divert your search requests to any specified search engine:
https://github.com/mcs07/AnySearch-safari-extension
This page details a hack to change one of the defaults to an engine of your choice:
http://hints.macworld.com/article.php?story=20120213221354176
Disclaimer: I have not tried either of these and have no idea whether they work reliably or are safe. Use at your own discretion.

How do I change the default search engine in the address bar?

I am trying to change the default search engine in the address bar to Scroogle SSL, I have tried editing about.config but it either goes to Google or on rare occasions it has opened to Scroogle SSL and the address bar shows https://ssl.scroogle.org/(+whatever was entered), while the main window shows a proxy error .
I have an idea that something needs to be added at the end of the URL in about.config to actually make it search.
Can anybody tell me what the specific settings would be to get this working?
I have Scroogle SSL in the search engine list but I want to remove the search box to save space.
Also I cannot get the search to open in a new tab even though browser.search.openintab is set to True.
Thanks in advance.
== Operating system ==
XP-SP3

Hi, having tried both ways myself what you say is true but that is not the source of my confusion.
(In fact I discovered that when I set the same thing up in Opera10.53 everything up to the ? appears on one line in the setup and the Gw=%s on another.)
What I cannot understand is why, if I am using Scroogle SSl search it is opening the OpenDNS guide.
If I use my Scroogle SSL home page it opens a minimal Google search page, the same thing happens if I use the search box. I expected this would be the same as well or am I missing something?
OpenDNS is preferable to Google but not what I was looking for.
Since I started writing this I have just discovered that changing the keyword.URL does not affect this.
Earlier I recovered my system from an image which undid the changes that I had made to about.config, I have run searches both before and after I edited it again. Both times I finished up on OpenDNS?

Can you please stop changing my default search engine every time you update Firefox?

I would like for the developers of Firefox to respect my settings. I have taken the time to set them and do not appreciate my default search engine changed by Mozilla when updates are automatically applied. Somewhere along the lines, Mozilla hopped in bed with Yahoo. I'm not in bed with Yahoo, please keep me out of the bedroom!!!!

''stepfahn [[#question-1042292|said]]''
<blockquote>
I would like for the developers of Firefox to respect my settings. I have taken the time to set them and do not appreciate my default search engine changed by Mozilla when updates are automatically applied. Somewhere along the lines, Mozilla hopped in bed with Yahoo. I'm not in bed with Yahoo, please keep me out of the bedroom!!!!
</blockquote>
Agree completely. Mozilla's reputation takes a hit from affiliation with Yahoo - this is one of the reasons I've stopped automatically accepting upgrades, no matter how many times a day mozilla pushes them at me with a pop-up message.

I get a message asking me if I want to change my default search engine to Yahoo! Search each time I open Firefox. How do I disable this annoying message?

For the past few days, each time I open Firefox on my home computer, a popup message is briefly displayed: "Your browser's default search engine is not set to Yahoo! Search. Would you like to set it now? (Yes/No)". After perhaps 15 seconds at most, the popup disappears and my home page appears as normal. I have the Yahoo! Toolbar installed, and Yahoo! Search is the search engine there; however, the search box on the address bar (which allows me to select from several search engines) is normally set to Google. The search engine in the address bar hasn't actually been changed to Yahoo! Search without my consent yet -- I'm just annoyed at getting nagged to change search engines every time I open Firefox. How do I get the "nag" messages to shut up & leave me alone?
I would also note that this is only happening on my home computer (which runs Windows 7), not on my work computer (which runs Windows XP, and which I also normally use Firefox as my browser on, with the same Yahoo! Toolbar + Google search in the address bar setup).
I have run Threat Scans with Malwarebytes (paid version) and a Quick Scan with Avast! (free version), and neither has eliminated this "nag" message from Yahoo! Search.

You can check for recently installed suspicious or unknown extensions.
Start Firefox in <u>[[Safe Mode|Safe Mode]]</u> to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.
*Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
*Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode
*https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

I cannot change my default search engine, despite trying all your suggestions. A friend suggested an add on- google default but for some reason Firefox is not

I have recently had the problem of Yahoo search becoming my default search engine. I loathe Yahoo having had many problems with them in the past so refuse to use them. I have tried uninstalling and re-installing...no change. I tried all your suggested fixes and none works. There is now no mention of Yahoo when I go to change search settings, but despite this Yahoo is the default search engine. This is intolerable for me and I am seriously on the verge of removing firefox for good. Stop me!!! I am having to send this in a different search engine as in Mozilla firefox this account is inactive...work that one out! It means there is no point giving you troubleshooting info...

You may have ad / mar-ware changing your settings.
First, check the programs that are on your computer
'''Windows:''' Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs.
'''Mac:''' Open the "Applications" folder.
'''Linux:''' Check your user manual.
Go thru the list. If you find something that you don't
know what it is, use a web search.
'''[https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/troubleshoot-firefox-issues-caused-malware Troubleshoot Firefox Issues Caused By Malware]''' {web link}
Bookmark and use this;
'''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/searchreset/ Mozilla Search Reset]''' {web link}
This add-on is very simple: on installation, it backs up and
then resets your search preferences and home page to their
default values, and then uninstalls itself. This affects the
search bar, URL bar searches, and the home page.
'''[https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/settings-guard Settings Guard for Firefox]''' {web link}
Detects and resets changes to settings that are frequently done
by add-ons and application installers.

Firefox forcing yahoo as default search engine

For several days now, every time I turn on my computer and open firefox, the default search engine has been reset to yahoo. I have reset it to my preferred search engine countless times now, I have even reset firefox, and frankly I am annoyed enough that if it continues I'm going to switch my default internet browser.
I would like to not have to reset my preferences each and every time I go on my computer.

Try to delete the search.json file and possible search-metadata.json and search.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder to reset the search engines to the default.
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
Firefox will rebuild the search.json file from the default search engines in the "browser\searchplugins" folder in the Firefox program folder and the searchplugins folder in the Firefox profile folder.
You can use this button to go to the currently used Firefox profile folder:
*Help > Troubleshooting Information > Profile Directory: Show Folder (Linux: Open Directory; Mac: Show in Finder)
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Profile_folder_-_Firefox
If you do not keep changes after a restart or otherwise have problems with preferences, see:
*http://kb.mozillazine.org/Preferences_not_saved

I can't change my default search engine.

A few days ago I wasn't careful enough by downloading a application from the internet. My landing page and my search engines were change to webssearches.com. Moreover a toolbar was installed. To remove the toolbar and clean out the addon wasn't that hard. To change the landing page was quite easy too, but I am not able to set my default search engine for the address bar back to DuckDuckGo.com. Eventhough I changed it in the about:config. After every restart of Firefox the search engine goes back to webssearches.com. How can i fix this? Even a complete new Firefox didn't solved the problem.

I am aware of that, but in that moment i was busy and forgot about that.
The Mozilla Search Reset helped a lot, but didn't solved the problem completely. Now my default search engine for the address bar was set to Google (not webssearches) which is a bit better, but i would like to have duckduckgo.com. Every time I try to change the configs, the value is changed, but it has no effect. So if I try to search in the address bar, mozilla keeps using google instead of duckduckgo. After a restart of mozilla the config is reset to google again. I can change every config except this one. How can I solve this?

How do i change my default search engine from yahoo to gooogle?

i used to have a search engine window, identified by the google logo, towards the upper right corner of my mozilla firefox screen.
This is a shared computer.
Somewhere along the line, someone did something to make the google search box disappear, replaced by a yahoo search box.
i liked it better the old way. how do i change it back?

Safari/Preferences/General. There is a place there to specify your default search engine.

Firefox keeps changing my default search engine to Bing. I've changed it back 20 times already. Enough is enough.

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