Unable to change search website
Firefox updated two weeks ago. Since then the search site was changed to yahoo. I like Google better. I've changed my preferences to google, my homepage and every other thing I could think of to make Google the main search site. If I open a new tab it reverts back to Yahoo. If I click the home button it goes to Google. When I open Firefox the first time it goes to Google. It's only when I open a new tab. Please help as I open new tabs a lot when online.
Chosen solution
Hi jilletschko, since you may be experiencing multiple symptoms, let me cover a few things:
(1) New Tab Page
As you probably noticed on the Preferences page, Firefox has a selector to set the New Tab Page to either the built-in "Firefox Home" page or a blank page. If you are getting some completely different page, this could be caused by an extension. Does the Preferences page mention that an extension is managing your New Tab Page? To check on that:
- Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
- Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
- Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
- Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it
In the left column, click Home. On the right side, near the New tabs setting, does Firefox mention anything about an extension controlling your new tab page? If so, does it have an option to stop that?
(2) Default Search Engine
When you submit a search through the search box in the new tab page, or through the address bar, Firefox should use your default search engine. If Firefox is ignoring your default search engine, the most common culprit is an extension.
Default Search Engine setting
It sounds as though you are already familiar with this one, but just in case:
On the Preferences page, in the left column, click Search. Then on the right side, you should have Google selected by default in the Default Search Engine section. If there are two different Google choices, that's suspicious, try the other one.
Investigating Extensions
You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:
- Command+Shift+a (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+a)
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
- type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return
In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions.
Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything that mentions Yahoo, or mentions search, or looks suspicious or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove).
Any improvement?
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Hi jilletschko, since you may be experiencing multiple symptoms, let me cover a few things:
(1) New Tab Page
As you probably noticed on the Preferences page, Firefox has a selector to set the New Tab Page to either the built-in "Firefox Home" page or a blank page. If you are getting some completely different page, this could be caused by an extension. Does the Preferences page mention that an extension is managing your New Tab Page? To check on that:
- Mac: "3-bar" menu button (or Firefox menu) > Preferences
- Windows: "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Options
- Linux: "3-bar" menu button (or Edit menu) > Preferences
- Any system: type or paste about:preferences into the address bar and press Enter/Return to load it
In the left column, click Home. On the right side, near the New tabs setting, does Firefox mention anything about an extension controlling your new tab page? If so, does it have an option to stop that?
(2) Default Search Engine
When you submit a search through the search box in the new tab page, or through the address bar, Firefox should use your default search engine. If Firefox is ignoring your default search engine, the most common culprit is an extension.
Default Search Engine setting
It sounds as though you are already familiar with this one, but just in case:
On the Preferences page, in the left column, click Search. Then on the right side, you should have Google selected by default in the Default Search Engine section. If there are two different Google choices, that's suspicious, try the other one.
Investigating Extensions
You can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:
- Command+Shift+a (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+a)
- "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
- type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return
In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions.
Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything that mentions Yahoo, or mentions search, or looks suspicious or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove).
Any improvement?
