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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →If your searches now open an unfamiliar site, your homepage has changed, or browser settings refuse to stick, remove the extension or app that may be causing the change and then restore your browser’s settings. A settings reset can fix browser preferences, but it does not necessarily remove the software that changed them.
What browser hijacking looks like—and what it does not prove
Search hijacking can send searches to an unfamiliar website or change a browser’s homepage and search preferences. Mozilla notes that hijacked searches can be used to monetize ad views or paid links, or to collect search information. These symptoms are consistent with hijacking, but a changed setting by itself does not establish that every redirect is malware.
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Mozilla’s Firefox Help article on search hijacking says: “If you are unable to change your home page, remove a toolbar, or change your search settings, it’s likely that your browser has been hijacked.”
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First remove the likely cause
Before resetting settings, review browser extensions and recently installed apps. Remove items you do not recognize or trust; unwanted extensions, bundled software, or deceptive downloads can contribute to search hijacking. On Windows, Microsoft advises uninstalling software you do not need. If you only restore the browser preference while the responsible extension or app remains, it may change the setting again.
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- In the browser’s extensions or add-ons area, remove unfamiliar or unwanted items.
- Review recently installed programs or apps and uninstall anything you do not need or trust.
- Then use the browser-specific restoration method below.
Restore settings in the affected browser
Google Chrome: reset browser settings
Google’s documented reset returns the default search engine and homepage/startup settings, along with other preferences, to their original defaults. In Chrome, open Settings > Reset settings > Restore settings to their original defaults, then select Reset settings.
The reset also changes the new tab page, pinned tabs, content settings, cookies and site data, extensions, and themes. Google says saved bookmarks and passwords are not deleted or changed. This is a settings reset, not a full reinstall or a removal of the software that may have caused the change. Chrome’s default search engine can vary by country. See Google Chrome Help: Reset Chrome settings to default.
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Mozilla Firefox: use search reset or Firefox’s reset guidance
Firefox may detect a suspected search hijack and offer to reset the search engine; in some cases it may reset it automatically. Mozilla cautions that detection is not perfectly accurate. If you see a reset prompt and want to restore the previous search provider, use the offered reset option; the former search engine should remain available to select.
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If the search redirect persists, Mozilla’s broader Firefox reset guidance describes removing homepage and search-engine preferences and turning off extensions. Bookmarks and saved passwords remain. Menu labels can change between Firefox versions, so follow the current steps in Mozilla’s Firefox reset guidance rather than relying on older menu instructions. For search-specific symptoms, Mozilla also recommends its guidance on search hijacking.
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Microsoft Edge: set the homepage
For new Microsoft Edge on Windows 10 or Windows 11, open Settings and more > Settings > Start, home, and new tab page. Turn on the home button, then choose the new tab page or enter the web address you want. This corrects the homepage control; it does not remove an extension or program that changed it. See Microsoft’s browser homepage instructions.
Chrome, Firefox, and Safari: change only the homepage
If the homepage is wrong but you do not want to reset all browser preferences, Microsoft’s cross-browser guide documents these homepage controls:
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- Chrome: Open Settings > Appearance, enable Show home button, then select the new tab page or enter a custom web address.
- Firefox: Open Settings > Home and choose the homepage and new-window behavior you want.
- Safari: Microsoft’s guide uses Preferences > General. Because the guide’s wording may differ from current Safari or macOS versions, check the labels on your device.
These steps change the homepage setting, not the browser’s search engine or the underlying cause of a hijack. The same Microsoft Support page covers the browser-specific paths.
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A returning change suggests that an extension or unwanted program may still be present. On Windows, Microsoft distinguishes potentially unwanted apps from malware: such apps may show unwanted advertising or offer unexpected software without necessarily meeting the definition of malware. Uninstall software you do not need, update Microsoft Defender’s security intelligence, and run a full scan. See Microsoft’s guidance on protecting your PC from unwanted software.
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Use Microsoft Defender Offline for recurring threats
If malware keeps returning, Microsoft recommends Microsoft Defender Offline because it scans outside Windows and can help find threats that hide while Windows is running. Save open work first: the computer restarts to run the scan. This is a Windows-specific escalation, not a general procedure for macOS or mobile devices. Follow Microsoft’s malware detection and removal troubleshooting guidance.
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