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Chrome Homepage Changed Without Permission? How to Fix It

Chrome’s homepage and startup page are separate settings. Check which changed, review unfamiliar extensions and apps, then reset Chrome if the problem persists.
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If Chrome’s homepage changed without your permission, first check whether the change affects the Home button or the page Chrome opens at launch. Those are separate settings. A sudden change can be a clue to an unwanted extension or program, but it does not by itself prove your computer is infected. Check the likely source, then restore Chrome’s setting and reset the browser only if needed.

First, identify which page changed

Chrome’s homepage is the page that opens when you select the Home button. The startup page is what appears when Chrome launches. You can set them to different pages, so check the one that matches what you are seeing.

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  • If the changed page appears when you select Home, open More → Settings → Appearance and review the homepage setting.
  • If it appears when Chrome launches, open More → Settings → On startup and review the selected startup behavior and pages.

Google’s instructions for these settings are in Set your homepage and startup page.

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What can change Chrome’s homepage?

A changed homepage or search engine is a symptom, not a diagnosis. Google lists recurring changes, unwanted redirects, and unfamiliar extensions or toolbars among signs that unwanted software may be involved. The symptom alone does not identify a specific cause or establish that the device is infected.

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Possible source Where it is managed What to check
Chrome setting Chrome Settings Check Appearance for the Home button page and On startup for the launch page.
Extension Chrome’s extensions controls Look for an extension you do not recognize or trust, especially if the setting changes again after you correct it.
Installed application Your computer’s operating system Review installed applications for software you did not intend to install or do not recognize.
Administrator policy Work or school management If Chrome is on a managed Chromebook, ask the network administrator whether the setting is enforced.

Google says supported extensions that change startup, homepage, or search settings on Windows and Mac must use the Settings Overrides API. Chrome notifies users about these changes, and disabling the extension reverts settings it changed. See Chrome’s extensions quality guidelines FAQ for details.

Check for unwanted software before resetting Chrome

Google recommends checking the computer for unwanted programs before resetting Chrome. Use the normal application-removal controls for your operating system, and remove only software you have identified as unwanted.

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  • Windows: Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps, review the list, and uninstall an item you identify as unwanted.
  • Mac: Open Finder → Applications, review the apps, and move unwanted or unrecognized programs to Trash.

Be cautious if a pop-up or website unexpectedly tells you to download an update or cleanup program. Google advises against clicking suspicious download prompts; if you need software, get it from the program’s official website. Its full guidance is in Remove unwanted ads, pop-ups & malware.

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Review Chrome extensions

In Chrome, open More → Extensions → Manage extensions. Review the installed extensions and remove or disable any you do not recognize or trust. If a settings-changing extension is responsible, disabling it should revert the settings it changed, according to Chrome’s developer guidance.

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Do not remove an extension solely because its name is unfamiliar if you rely on it; check its purpose and whether you installed it before deciding. After disabling or removing an extension, revisit the homepage or startup setting and see whether the unwanted change returns.

Restore Chrome’s original settings if the change persists

If you have checked installed programs and extensions but the unwanted change remains, use Chrome’s built-in reset:

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  1. Open More → Settings.
  2. Select Reset settings.
  3. Choose Restore settings to their original defaults.
  4. Select Reset settings to confirm.

A reset may leave some extensions needing to be enabled again. Turn on only extensions you trust. Google’s reset instructions appear in its unwanted ads, pop-ups, and malware help.

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If Chrome is managed by work or school

On a Chromebook used at work or school, a network administrator controls homepage and startup settings. If you cannot change them yourself or the setting returns under management, contact that administrator rather than trying to bypass the policy. Google explains this restriction in its homepage and startup page help.

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Why an unexpected change deserves attention

Google’s Unwanted Software Policy says software should not be installed silently without the user’s permission and that programs modifying system settings should disclose what changed and how to undo it. Those principles are useful context when evaluating an unfamiliar app or extension; they do not prove which item changed your Chrome settings. Read the Unwanted Software Policy.

Quick Recap

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Plastic parts in K270 include 38% certified post-consumer recycled plastic; Eight hot keys: For instant access to the Internet, e-mail, music volume and more
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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