Type about:preferences#search<enter> in the address bar. You can select any search engine to be your default from here.

I did the change in preferences as suggested, I did try this before. I closed out of Firefox and then re-entered to find Google was still the default search engine. Please, any other suggestions?

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-fix-preferences-wont-save

Note: Some software, like Advanced SystemCare with Surfing Protection, can protect files in the Firefox profile folder against changes. If you have such software then check the settings or uninstall this software.

Don't have Advanced SystemCare as far as I can tell. Thank you for trying

Hello mdmnd,

Would you please check in Preferences => Add-ons => Extensions and see if maybe there's an extension called "Search Updater" installed  ? If so : please disable or remove it, cause after that you should be able to regain control of your settings and set DuckDuckGo as your default search engine.

See : Change your default search settings in Firefox

Thank you for your persistence. The only items listed in Extensions is AdBlock and DuckDuckGo Privacy Essentials. I previously removed Google from my list of default search engines and made DuckDuckGo my default, but that still has not changed Google from coming up as my default search engine.

mdmnd said

When I open Firefox my search engine always shows Google.

At startup Firefox shows your homepage .....

Have you set DuckDuckGo as your homepage  ?

See :

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-to-set-the-home-page

It worked. Thank you so very much!

mdmnd said

It worked. Thank you so very much!

My pleasure - I'm really glad everything's okay now.