Google Chrome is by far one of the most popular browsers available right now. The browser has been around since 2008 and has been improved significantly by Google ever since.
However, just like everything tech, it also faces bugs and issues from time to time. In this article, we’re going over eight ways how you can stop Chrome from changing the default search engine to Yahoo.
Also read: How to fix the Err_Connection_Aborted error in Chrome?
Check the settings
As you’d expect, Chrome already has in-built settings for users to set the default search engine. Check to make sure your search engine of choice is already selected here.
Step 1: Head over to chrome://settings/ and scroll down to Search engine.Â
Step 2: Make sure your search engine of choice is selected in the Search engine used in the address bar dropdown.
Step 3: As an added precaution, click on Manage search engines and remove Yahoo from the list of default search engines.
Disable Chrome extensions
Sometimes Chrome extensions can change your default search engine. To find the extension at fault here, try disabling all extensions and re-enable them one at a time.Â
Head over to chrome://extensions and try disabling all your extensions to check if the browser goes back to using the default search engine; if it does, enable them one by one until you have all the essential extensions working again.
Also read: How to fix ‘Chrome ran out of memory’ issue?
Update Chrome
Another possibility of this issue could be a bug in Chrome itself; try checking if there’s an update available. Head over to chrome://settings/help and make sure you’re on the latest update. If you’re not, update immediately and try again.
Clear Chrome’s data
Corrupt files in your cache or otherwise can cause this error as well. Clear them out to see if you can get Chrome to work.
Step 1: Type in chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in your browser’s address bar and hit Enter.
Step 2: Select the cache and cookies options and make sure the Time range is set to All time. Click on the Clear now button to clear out all the data.
Also read: How to preview pages on Chrome for Android?
Reset Chrome
If clearing out the browser’s data didn’t help, try resetting the browser to see if that resolves your issue.
Step 1: Head over to chrome://settings/reset. Click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
Step 2: Chrome will show you a warning prompt. Click on Reset Settings, and your browser will reset to default settings.
Remove any suspicious software
Some adware or malware can also cause your default search engine to change on its own. Here’s how to scan for such software and remove them.Â
Step 1: Head over to chrome://settings/reset.Click on Clean unwanted Software.
Step 2: Click the Find button and wait for Chrome to automatically find out and remove unwanted apps/software that might be causing this issue.
Also read: How to hard refresh Chrome and other web browsers?
Scan your PC using Microsoft Defender
If using Chrome’s utility to weed out any malware on your PC didn’t work, try running a scan using Microsoft Defender to see if it catches any malicious software on your machine.
Step 1; Press the Windows key and search for Windows Security. Click on the corresponding search result.
Step 2: Head over to Virus & threat protection and click Quick scan.
Ditch Chrome
If nothing else works, ditching Chrome and moving on to another browser is the best way to go forward. There are a bunch of amazing Chrome alternatives out there to try. Microsoft’s Edge runs on the Chromium engine and is compatible with all Chrome extensions. Firefox and Opera/Opera GX are also good alternatives.
Also read: How to fix ‘Chrome not opening Windows 10’ error?
