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How can I replace Yahoo with Google as default search engine?

  • 8 ŋuɖoɖowo
  • 16 masɔmasɔ sia le wosi
  • 7 views
  • Nuɖoɖo mlɔetɔ cor-el

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I have Firefox 33.1 and Windows 8.1 and do NOT like Yahoo. Google had boxes that remembered fave sites and Yahoo doesn't. I prefer Google and it's why I've stayed with Firefox. Yahoo has taken over and requires many more keystrokes/work to get where I'm going. HELP make Yahoo go away!!!

I have Firefox 33.1 and Windows 8.1 and do NOT like Yahoo. Google had boxes that remembered fave sites and Yahoo doesn't. I prefer Google and it's why I've stayed with Firefox. Yahoo has taken over and requires many more keystrokes/work to get where I'm going. HELP make Yahoo go away!!!

Ŋuɖoɖo si wotia

That addon is very simple, It was written by a Mozilla engineer, and will just reset all search preferences to their default, google. It's a fast and easy way to do what you can otherwise do manually. It will then uninstall itself.

Xle ŋuɖoɖo sia le goya me 👍 1

All Replies (8)

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You can easily change your search Engine, simply follow the directions at Search bar - add, change and manage search engines on Firefox to change to any search engine you want.

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Maybe I wasn't clear, or either didn't understand your response. On the search bar in the upper right corner, Yahoo has been deleted as an option. When I open a new tab, Yahoo pops up, rather than Google, which underneath their logo, gave several options of sites I regularly visit. Not to mention, I prefer Google over Yahoo in every category. I want Google to be the one that pops up when I open a new tab. NOT yahoo. I hope that clarifies my problem and helps find a resolution to this problem.

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Have you selected Google to be the default in the Search bar? Because that should make Google default across the whole browser.

Otherwise, try https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/searchreset/

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After further reading, I'm guessing this has something to do with FF's new deal with Yahoo? If there's no workaround, this all might be for naught. Any ideas?

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No, because that change hasn't happened yet (It won't for another week), and even after that you'll always be able to pick whatever search provider you want. Did you try my steps above?

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I did the search bar suggestion, but I'd already removed Yahoo as an option. I'm always hesitant to do anything with add-ons because it only gets me in more trouble...Usually the Yahoo-take-over variety. I'll try and see. Thanks. Regardless, if this isn't supposed to happen until December, I don't understand why I'm having the problem now.

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Ɖɔɖɔɖo si wotia

That addon is very simple, It was written by a Mozilla engineer, and will just reset all search preferences to their default, google. It's a fast and easy way to do what you can otherwise do manually. It will then uninstall itself.

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You can check if you have the XML files of the default search engines including Google in the browser\searchplugins folder in the Firefox program folder.

If not then you need to reinstall Firefox.


You can 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.

Firefox will rebuild the search.json file from the default search engines in the "browser\searchplugins" folder in the Firefox program folder and the searchplugins folder in the Firefox profile folder.

Start Firefox in Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions (Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Extensions) or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem.

  • Switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox/Tools > Add-ons > Appearance
  • Do NOT click the Reset button on the Safe Mode start window

If you do not keep changes after a restart or otherwise have problems with preferences, see: