If Google searches are opening Bing, first check where the redirect happens: an address-bar search, a separate browser search box, or a search started on Google’s website. A changed browser default or extension may explain it; if searches from multiple routes redirect, Mozilla says malicious software is a likely cause. The switch alone does not prove your device is infected.
1. Identify which searches redirect
Try the same search through the routes available in your browser:
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- Type a query in the address bar.
- If the browser has a separate search box, try the query there.
- Open Google directly and search from its website.
In Firefox, Mozilla says an internet provider’s DNS assistance may redirect searches entered in the address bar. Ask your provider whether you can opt out of that assistance or use a different DNS server. If searches from both the search bar and the search website redirect, Mozilla says malicious software is a likely cause. These patterns are clues, not proof of infection. See Mozilla’s guidance on searches going to the wrong website, updated March 17, 2024.
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2. Check the browser’s default search engine
A browser can send searches to a different engine if its default has changed. Check the setting in the browser where the redirect occurs; the menu path differs by browser.
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- Open Settings.
- Select Search engine, then Change.
- Choose the search engine you want as the default.
Chrome’s available defaults can vary by country, and you can change the selection at any time. Google documents the setting in its Chrome search-engine help.
Microsoft Edge
- First perform a search using the engine you want to use.
- Open Settings.
- Go to Privacy, search, and services > Search and connected services > Address bar and search.
- Select your preferred engine.
These are Microsoft’s documented steps for changing Edge’s default search engine.
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3. Check extensions and add-ons
Extensions can change a browser’s search preference, so inspect them if the chosen default does not explain the redirect or keeps changing back.
- Open the browser’s extensions or add-ons manager.
- Disable unfamiliar or recently installed items one at a time.
- Retest the same search routes after each change.
- Remove an extension if you confirm it is unwanted.
Microsoft explains how to disable or remove Edge extensions and notes that some can change the default search engine. Mozilla also describes add-ons and extensions as a possible route for search hijacking in its search hijacking overview, updated October 25, 2025.
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4. Check whether settings are managed
If a setting will not stay changed or an extension cannot be removed, check whether a work or school administrator manages the browser. Do not try to override a legitimate organization policy; ask the administrator or IT team to confirm whether the extension is required.
Microsoft advises consulting IT before removing an extension installed through organizational policy. If an extension claims to be managed by your organization on a device that is not managed by one, Microsoft recommends a full scan with Microsoft Defender or another reputable antivirus program. Its Edge extension guidance covers managed extensions and removal.
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5. Reset the browser or investigate malware
If the redirect persists after you verify the default and review extensions, take the next step that fits the pattern. For Firefox, Mozilla says Refresh Firefox restores the browser to its default state while saving essential information and can resolve many issues. Follow Mozilla’s Refresh Firefox instructions if you choose to reset it.
If searches from both the address bar and the search website redirect, use the browser vendor’s malware guidance and scan the device. Avoid suspicious links and downloads, and keep the browser and operating system updated. A scan is a security check when the symptoms warrant it—not a reason to assume every Google-to-Bing switch requires paid software.
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