This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Lolu chungechunge lwabekwa kunqolobane. Uyacelwa ubuze umbuzo omusha uma udinga usizo.

Firefox keeps chaning my search preferences, even between updates

  • 2 uphendule
  • 1 inale nkinga
  • 2 views
  • Igcine ukuphendulwa ngu bnemo

more options

I go in to preferences/search. Then change the default search engine to the preferred engine, provide search suggestions, show in address bar clicked on. Here's where the problem lies, in the one-click section I delete ALL the search engines except my default. After a few day I will find the Yahoo is suddenly the search engine being used when I put search content in the address bar. When I go back in to the preference setting for search, there is "Browser default" added to the one-click search engines, I can delete it and in a few days... it returns. This has been happening since the last several updates...

I go in to preferences/search. Then change the default search engine to the preferred engine, provide search suggestions, show in address bar clicked on. Here's where the problem lies, in the one-click section I delete ALL the search engines except my default. After a few day I will find the Yahoo is suddenly the search engine being used when I put search content in the address bar. When I go back in to the preference setting for search, there is "Browser default" added to the one-click search engines, I can delete it and in a few days... it returns. This has been happening since the last several updates...

All Replies (2)

more options

Hi bnemo, Firefox no longer comes with a Yahoo search plugin, and the default in (most or all) English-speaking parts of the world is Google. So this is most likely a malware problem.

As a first step, you can view, disable, and often remove unwanted or unknown extensions on the Add-ons page. Either:

  • Command+Shift+a (Windows: Ctrl+Shift+a)
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • type or paste about:addons in the address bar and press Enter/Return

In the left column of the Add-ons page, click Extensions.

Then cast a critical eye over the list on the right side. Any extensions Firefox installs for built-in features are hidden from this page, so everything listed here is your choice (and your responsibility) to manage. Anything search-related, suspicious, or that you just do not remember installing or why? If in doubt, disable (or remove).

Any improvement?

more options

The only extension I see installed is the FVD speed dial. I'm running Mac OS 10.13.5 (High Sierra) Ran Malwarebytes yesterday and it did clean some threats, so I'll see how thing progress from here. Thanks!