If you follow the steps in the list below, you should be able to remove Yahoo! Search as your default search engine or homepage in Chrome. The first solutions should allow you to swiftly undo changes to the default search engine and startup page. If it doesn’t work, try the next steps, which include scanning your PC or Mac for malware. Only reinstall or reset Chrome if none of the other options work.
Changing the default search engine is a good idea.
By explicitly selecting an alternative search engine, you may be able to undo any unauthorized modifications to Chrome’s default settings. Try looking for something in a new tab. If you still get Yahoo! Search results when searching in Chrome’s address bar, continue with the rest of the steps.
Get rid of the search engine
If Chrome’s default search engine reverts to Yahoo! Search, consider removing Yahoo! Search from your browser. Yahoo! Search should be removed from the startup menu. Check the necessary browser settings and make the changes as follows if Yahoo! Search (or another suspicious-looking site) appears when Chrome starts up or when you click the Home button.
Chrome’s Preferences
Alternatively, choose Open the New Tab Page to have Chrome open a new tab at startup.
Settings for Chrome’s Home Page
Suspicious Extensions should be disabled.
Let’s say Chrome continues to show Yahoo! Search results (or if the search engine keeps appearing as your startup page or homepage). In such scenario, you’ll need to check for and remove any suspicious-looking or side-loaded extensions you’ve lately installed.
Uninstall Any Suspicious Programs
Have you lately installed an application on your PC or Mac? Consider deleting Yahoo! Search from your computer if it began acting as the default search engine shortly after. You should also go through your list of apps and delete anything strange. You could, for example, have mistakenly installed a browser hijacker that came packaged with other software.
Windows Programs Can Be Removed
On a Mac, you can delete programs.
Run the built-in cleanup utility (PC Only)
If you’re still having difficulties modifying or uninstalling Yahoo! Search (or any other extension you installed using the procedures above), you can use Chrome’s built-in malware detection tool to find and remove any malicious software. Unfortunately, it is only available on Chrome for Windows.
Check for Malware on Your Computer
Despite using Chrome’s built-in malware scanner, it’s better to use a dedicated malware removal application to check the entire operating system for dangerous information. Malwarebytes is a great option, and the free edition can identify and remove malware from your entire computer. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac OS X. The built-in Windows Security applet in Windows 10 can also be used to scan for malware. Before you do that, make sure it’s up to date with anti-malware definitions (go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update).
Chrome should be reset.
Restart Chrome and see if it helps. This disables all extensions, resets all browser settings to their defaults, and aids in the resolution of serious problems caused by malicious malware. During the reset procedure, you will not lose any locally stored bookmarks or passwords.
Chrome should be reinstalled
If you’re still having difficulties getting rid of Yahoo! Search, you’ll have to reinstall Chrome. Don’t be concerned. It won’t take long, and you should be finished in minutes. You will, however, lose any locally stored data during reinstallation, unlike with a browser reset. So, before proceeding with the procedures below, sync your bookmarks and passwords to a Google Account. On Windows, reinstall Chrome.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features from the Start menu.
- To remove Google Chrome from your computer, go to the Google Chrome menu and select Uninstall.
- Copy and paste the two folder paths into the address bar of a File Explorer window. Then, beneath that folder, erase everything. %userprofile %AppDataLocalGoogle %userprofile %userprofile %userprofile %userprofile %userprofile %userprofile Chrome Google Chrome (C:Program Files)
- Reinstall Chrome using the Google Chrome installer stub. If Yahoo! Search returns as your default search engine, use a dedicated software remover (such as Revo Uninstaller) to remove Chrome and try again.
Chrome should be reinstalled on macOS.
- In a Finder window, go to the sidebar and pick Applications.
- Right-click Google Chrome and select Move to Trash from the context menu.
- On the navigation bar, choose Go > Go to Folder. Then, go to the following directories and trash everything inside. Google/Chrome/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/Library/Ap ~/Library/Caches/Google/Chrome
- Reinstall Google Chrome on your Mac by downloading the Google Chrome installation file.
‘Goodbye,’ says the narrator.
Have you finally gotten Yahoo! Search out of Chrome? That’s fantastic! Limiting yourself to downloading apps from reliable sources, opting out of additional software during installation, and avoiding side-loading extensions should reduce the possibilities of a browser hijacker infecting your PC or Mac in the future. Keeping an antimalware scanner running in the background is an additional option for protecting your computer from dangerous threats. The finest malware scanners for Windows and Mac are discussed.
