When you start typing in the search bar, the default search engine should appear at the top of the drop-down. Does it show Google after you changed to Google or does it show something else? If Google is not the default on the drop-down, right-click the Google icon and select Set As Default Search Engine, then close the drop-down and open it again. Can you make it stick? If Firefox won't allow changes to your default search engine or ignores it, you probably have a malware infection. This usually is implemented through a bad add-on, but may also be accompanied by external software or settings files that will need to be cleaned out. Here's my suggested procedure for tracking down and cleaning up bad add-ons and other hijackers. I know it seems long, but it's really not that bad. (For Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1, 10; XP is somewhat different) (1) Open the Windows '''Control Panel''', Uninstall a Program. After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. ''Be suspicious of everything you do not recognize/remember, as malware often uses important or innocent sounding names to discourage you from removing it.'' Take out as much trash as possible here. (2) Open Firefox's '''Add-ons page''' using either: * Ctrl+Shift+a * "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons * in the Windows "Run" dialog, type or paste <br><code>firefox.exe "about:addons"</code> In the left column, click '''Plugins'''. Set nonessential and unrecognized plugins to "Never Activate". In the left column, click '''Extensions'''. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions. ''All extensions are optional; none come with Firefox.'' Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step. Any improvement? (3) You can search for remaining issues with the '''scanning/cleaning tools''' listed in our support article: [[Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware]]. These on-demand scanners are free and take considerable time to run. If they finish quickly and especially if they require payment, you may have a serious infection. I suggest the specialized forums listed in the article in that case.