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I have tried changing my default search engine to DuckDuckGo several times and Firefox defaults to Yahoo. How can this be fixed?

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  • Last reply by cor-el

sehkmet
sehkmet
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In the last version of Firefox, I could designate a Search engine hit return and the search would take place in the default engine. Now I have designated my preferred search engine AND deleted Yahoo as a choice, but unless I select DuckDuckGo each individual time I search, Firefox defaults to Yahoo. I use DuckDuckGo so I won't be tracked by my search engine. It is the only such search engine I'm aware of that doesn't track me. I want it as my default. I don't use Yahoo as a search engine. I've only used it for a couple of interest groups years ago. I don't use it now. How can this problem be resolved? I really like the security and do not track features on Firefox. This search engine tracking issue is enough for me to look for another independent browser. I don't want to do that, but I feel strongly about being tracked. The more I educate myself on this topic the stronger my views on it become. Please fix this problem with Firefox. It is the best browser out there. I'd like to stay with it.

In the last version of Firefox, I could designate a Search engine hit return and the search would take place in the default engine. Now I have designated my preferred search engine AND deleted Yahoo as a choice, but unless I select DuckDuckGo each individual time I search, Firefox defaults to Yahoo. I use DuckDuckGo so I won't be tracked by my search engine. It is the only such search engine I'm aware of that doesn't track me. I want it as my default. I don't use Yahoo as a search engine. I've only used it for a couple of interest groups years ago. I don't use it now. How can this problem be resolved? I really like the security and do not track features on Firefox. This search engine tracking issue is enough for me to look for another independent browser. I don't want to do that, but I feel strongly about being tracked. The more I educate myself on this topic the stronger my views on it become. Please fix this problem with Firefox. It is the best browser out there. I'd like to stay with it.

All Replies (2)

Gert Van Waelvelde
Gert Van Waelvelde
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Hello,

Let's first check that DuckDuckGo is indeed set as your default search engine:

  1. Type about:preferences in your address bar and press Enter
  2. Click Search on the left of the screen
  3. Verify that Default search engine is set to DuckDuckGo

If it isn't, you can select it from the dropdownlist. If DuckDuckGo is not in the list you can:

  1. Type duckduckgo.com in the address bar and press Enter
  2. Click the magnifying glass in the search bar (top right of your screen; next to the address bar)
  3. Click Change Search Settings
  4. Select DuckDuckGo

I hope this helps.

By the way, StartPage and Ixquick are also search engines that don't track you. Thought you might like to know this.

Modified by Gert Van Waelvelde

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Try to delete the search.json file and possible search-metadata.json and search.sqlite files in the Firefox profile folder to reset the search engines to the default.

You can use this button to go to the current Firefox profile folder:

Firefox will rebuild the search.json file from the default built-in search engines that come with Firefox and the searchplugins folder in the Firefox profile folder.