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Default search engine keeps changing itself

  • 5 replies
  • 5 have this problem
  • 36 views
  • Last reply by FredMcD

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About once a week, my default browser search in Firefox changes itself to Yahoo and I have to go into Preferences and manually change it back to Google. Any ideas why this keeps happening? I love Firefox!

About once a week, my default browser search in Firefox changes itself to Yahoo and I have to go into Preferences and manually change it back to Google. Any ideas why this keeps happening? I love Firefox!

Chosen solution

To expand on Fred's reference to the Applications folder:

Could you check the following location, which allows files to override normal Firefox behavior:

/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/Resources/defaults/pref

A file named channel-prefs.js is normal here. Any other file in this folder is suspicious if you do not remember creating it yourself. Remove any such files to a neutral location for further analysis at your leisure.

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All Replies (5)

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Type about:addons<enter> in the address bar to open your Add-ons Manager. Hot key; (<Control> [Mac=<Command>] <Shift> A)

In the Add-ons Manager, on the left, select Extensions. Remove “ Yahoo “ Anything.

Also remove SafeSearch, SearchAssist Incognito, FileConverter Addon, SearchLock, DiscreteSearch, WebSearch, Findwide Search Engine, securedsearch

Now do the same in the computer’s Programs Folder.

Windows: Start > Control Panel > Uninstall Programs. Mac: Open the Applications folder. Linux: Check your user manual.

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Chosen Solution

To expand on Fred's reference to the Applications folder:

Could you check the following location, which allows files to override normal Firefox behavior:

/Applications/Firefox.app/Contents/Resources/defaults/pref

A file named channel-prefs.js is normal here. Any other file in this folder is suspicious if you do not remember creating it yourself. Remove any such files to a neutral location for further analysis at your leisure.

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Thank you both, that took care of it!

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None of these posts solves my own identical problem.

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J1709 Please go to the top of any support.mozilla.org web page and use the Get Community Support link: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/new

Select the product for what the problem is (Firefox or whatever). Now select the category for the problem. At the bottom is Other.

Describe the problem in brief (one line). Then press <enter>. The website will display any prior posts that might help you. If nothing on the list can help, at the bottom press the button; None Of These Solve My Problem.

Now enter all the relative information on the problem. At the bottom of this, you can Add Images.

Under this is Troubleshooting Information. Please press the Share Data button. This will let us look at your system details. No Personal Information Is Collected.