You want to change the Search Engine from the Search bar or Location bar ??

Modified January 30, 2012 3:23:06 PM PST by mha007

Question owner

search bar. mine has a yahoo icon, but i rather use google. I tried the drop down menu and there is no option for default.

Start Firefox in Troubleshoot Firefox issues using Safe Mode to check if one of the extensions or if hardware acceleration is causing the problem (switch to the DEFAULT theme: Firefox (Tools) > Add-ons > Appearance/Themes).

• Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window.
• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Safe+Mode

• https://support.mozilla.org/kb/Troubleshooting+extensions+and+themes

Helpful Reply

Perform the suggestions mentioned in the following article:

• Switching search engines

Check and tell if its working.

Question owner

Thanks for your help, but when I do that and close the window and reopen it, its not on google anymore, but back to yahoo. I am looking to change the default to google.

Question owner

@cor-el, I am confused about how you wrote it up. You wrote don't make any changes in safe mode. If I don't make changes there, where do I make them? Do I just use safe mode to figure out where the problem is and then change it out of safe mode? Thanks again!

Cor-el said : Don't make any changes on the Safe mode start window

By this he means that Don't Select any of the 5 Checkmark Options presented in the attached screenshot of the Safe Mode window. Just click Continue in Safe Mode button.

Check and tell if its working.

Modified January 30, 2012 7:33:11 PM PST by mha007

Question owner

Thanks for the suggestion. I finally had a chance to try it and in safe mode it is still listing yahoo as the default. I noticed the change after my dad had me install iobit software or another program. In safe mode, it was disabled and yahoo still listed as search engine. I tried setting it back to default settings in the window you told me not to, and its listed as yahoo. Any other suggestions? Or I guess I can just live with always changing it. You would think when you go to the manage search engines, there is a way to choose default.

An extension may change the setting back to Yahoo after you've changed the search engine to Google either via the user interface or on the about:config page.

So if you've changed the search engine Google and the change doesn't keep then you can check out if an extension is causing it.

Question owner

cor-el: i am new to all of this safe mode stuff and extensions, themes, etc. but if it was an extension, in safe mode it would have been disabled and google, would have apppeared correct? maybe it would be just easier to export my bookmarks. delete firefox completely from my computer, reinstall, reinstall my bookmakers?

Chosen Solution

Type about:config in the Location (address) bar and press the "Enter" key. When you see a warning, click I'll be careful, I promise! button.

• Preferences that have been modified are shown as bold (user set).
• Preferences can be Reset to the default or changed via the right-click context menu.
• http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config

-> In the Filter bar, type keyword.URL

• Right click the preference keyword.URL and click Reset
• OR choose Modify -> Replace the text with http://www.google.com/search?q=
• click OK

-> In the Filter bar, type browser.search.defaultenginename

• right-click the preference browser.search.defaultenginename and choose Reset from the menu
• OR choose Modify -> type Google
• click OK

-> In the Filter bar, type browser.search.selectedEngine

• right-click the preference browser.search.selectedEngine and choose Reset from the menu
• OR choose Modify -> type Google
• click OK

-> Close the about:config tab and Restart Firefox.

Check and tell if its working.

Modified February 5, 2012 8:34:54 PM PST by mha007

Question owner

thanks mha007! it worked!!! i don't know what program changed it, but they were all in bold (i don't know by changing the first one if that caused the other 2 to be bold). i didn't realize that this is what you wanted me to do in your previous message!

thanks again!

Glad to see its working.

Question owner

mha007...one more question. in the process, of doing it a screen came up saying that a program was trying to change my search engine so i hit ignore so that i could change it. now, i can't find the program that prevents this to change the settings back. any idea of what program it may be? i have malwarebytes, iobit, avg, ccleaner, a whole bunch of programs on my computer. or is it part of firefox or windows? thanks again!

That message was not from Firefox. It must be from one of the security programs that prevents the internet connecting softwares from making changes.

For Firefox to run successfully, best for you is to prevent these programs from interfering with Firefox.

• DON'T SELECT FIREFOX in These Programs' SETTINGS
• These softwares can be responsible for Changing and Deleting your Firefox Settings.

Question owner

I have not selected firefox in any of the programs. its just a warning box that comes up. but from what i think you are saying, i shouldn't be concerned that i can't remember what program used to come up with the message?

thanks again!

Question owner

i think its part of windows under "search settings" but i can't figure out how to get it back.

No its not from Windows. Its from on of those Security/Privacy/Registry softwares.

• Configure firewalls so that Firefox can access the Internet

Modified February 5, 2012 11:03:22 PM PST by mha007

Question owner

so just forget about it? i don't want a program to try and change it without me realizing it.

You will have to thoroughly check these programs' settings/options/preferences. In those settings, there will be a section of Applications or Programs which will list all the programs that Connect to the Internet, keep Cache, Homepage Settings, Search Engine Settings, etc.

• Remove Checkmark(unselect) Firefox in any of the settings you find. Apparently you will find out which program was causing the Firefox-controlling behavior.