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Cannot change search engine selection, no matter what I select, it says it's using google, but, the result is a YAHOO result.

  • 14 replies
  • 2 have this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by Dolly

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I open a new window, and it says, "Google Search". So I type in a search item, the result comes back from YAHOO search. I have tried several times, without success, to change it, or remove YAHOO Search engine. Yahoo doesn't appear in the engine selections, and google does. I select it, save, restart, and BOOM... I get Yahoo rsults from the google search.... What gives?

Thanks...

I open a new window, and it says, "Google Search". So I type in a search item, the result comes back from YAHOO search. I have tried several times, without success, to change it, or remove YAHOO Search engine. Yahoo doesn't appear in the engine selections, and google does. I select it, save, restart, and BOOM... I get Yahoo rsults from the google search.... What gives? Thanks...

Chosen solution

I just checked the addresses searched when pressing google search... Turns out, the Emoji app hijacks your browser to maintain a yahoo google force count. A little bit dishonest, but, they seem to be getting hits because of the Emoji add on. I removed it, and everything went back to normal. I am nit sure how the app got installed, but, it could have been as an add on during an installation. I usually check pretty close for those, because they like to add things that aren't quite the best thing to have on your computer.

Thanks for everyone's help. I knew we would come up with the answer. Thanks again!!!

Taz...

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (14)

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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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I don't have ANYTHING YAHOO on my computer. never had, never will. It does not show up in my search engine selections though....

This is NUTS!!!! I cannot even change to ANY other engine!

Taz...

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To reset the search engines, remove these files in the Firefox profile folder; search.json + search-metadata.json + search.sqlite + search.json.mozlz4

search.json.mozlz4 ==only== (v45+)

New files are created when needed.

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It comes up with NOTHING.... I didn't have ths problem until it updated to the latest version.

No m,atter who I try to make my default search engine, it says it is each one I try, and every result is a yahoo result. I mean, they are fine too, but, I have saved google searches I want to keep....

I'd hate to lose Firefox, because I cannot select Google, english, NORMAL... lol!!!

I'm stuck, don't know what to do next...

Taz...

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Are you typing your search into the search box on the Google page, a Google search box in the "Firefox Home" page, or into the address bar in Firefox? Any should work properly, but if you get a Yahoo return when typing into the Google search page, something is terribly wrong and your network traffic is being intercepted and altered. (Possibly "potentially unwanted programs" or an ISP might do it.)

Can you copy and paste here any address you see in the address bar before and after you execute a search?

If you have a malware or antivirus or internet security program, can you run those?

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Chosen Solution

I just checked the addresses searched when pressing google search... Turns out, the Emoji app hijacks your browser to maintain a yahoo google force count. A little bit dishonest, but, they seem to be getting hits because of the Emoji add on. I removed it, and everything went back to normal. I am nit sure how the app got installed, but, it could have been as an add on during an installation. I usually check pretty close for those, because they like to add things that aren't quite the best thing to have on your computer.

Thanks for everyone's help. I knew we would come up with the answer. Thanks again!!!

Taz...

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That was very good work. Well Done. Please flag your last post as Solved Problem as this can help others with similar problems.


It’s very sad, but many software downloaders/ installers will trick you into installing not only their program, but other programs as well.

You have heard of the fine print in shady contracts, right? Well, some installers you need to look at the itsy bitsy teeny weeny fine print.

You are thinking you are giving the installer permission to install the program you want by using the recommended option. But if you use the Manual Option Instead, you discover all kinds of stuff that you do not even know what it is or what it does.

From now on, everyone needs to Use The Manual Option to put a stop to this.

Note that these programs can also change browser/computer settings.

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Glad to see you got it sorted by checking the address bar! Please mark your post as solved, as FredMcD suggests. (His other points are very good also.)

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This problem has NOT been solved. None of the solutions present here have worked for me. I don't have any of the extensions mentioned, I don't even know what the "emoji app" is, and I haven't been to the yahoo.com domain in years!

Does anyone, anyone at all, know what exactly is happening? I am running Firefox on the latest Mac OS X, 10.15.2 Catalina.

Modified by skeptic_about_everything

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david.hincapie- 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.

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Yes, the problem has been solved, as the question owner stated. Your problem is obviously different. Definitely follow the instructions from FredMcD so someone can look into it. Thanks!

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This is the solution for my Google search problem. Hope this helps someone else. SO EASY!!! https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/refresh-firefox-reset-add-ons-and-settings

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Huzzah! Huzzah! Thank you, Dolly, for a solution that really is a solution (unlike others I have found on these fora).

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You're welcome; I'll pass your thanks along to my son who helped ME!!!