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Change default web when new tab is open, and etc.

13madotson
13madotson
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For whatever reason, my settings will get all wonky randomly. When I first start up my browser, the default page was a yahoo search engine. I changed that to be blank, but now I have the same problem when I open a new tab. It'll load the same search engine. I tried finding answers, but there are none.

Also, before when I typed in the URL bar something I wanted to google, it'd do it automatically. Now it's using Yahoo.

How do I change these back to Google?

For whatever reason, my settings will get all wonky randomly. When I first start up my browser, the default page was a yahoo search engine. I changed that to be blank, but now I have the same problem when I open a new tab. It'll load the same search engine. I tried finding answers, but there are none. Also, before when I typed in the URL bar something I wanted to google, it'd do it automatically. Now it's using Yahoo. How do I change these back to Google?

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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Please update to Firefox 41 via Help > About. That version doesn't allow to modify the new tab page via the browser.newtab.url pref.

The browser.newtab.url pref is no longer supported in Firefox 41 and later.

You can look at this extension:

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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A common reason for unwanted settings to persist is a bad add-on. Here's my suggested procedure for tracking down and cleaning up bad add-ons, hijackers, and ad injectors. I know it seems long, but it's not that bad.

(1) Open the Windows Control Panel, Uninstall a Program. After the list loads, click the "Installed on" column heading to group the infections, I mean, additions, by date. This can help in smoking out undisclosed bundle items that snuck in with some software you agreed to install. Be suspicious of everything you do not recognize/remember, as malware often uses important or innocent sounding names to discourage you from removing it. Take out as much trash as possible here.

(2) Open Firefox's Add-ons page using either:

  • Ctrl+Shift+a
  • "3-bar" menu button (or Tools menu) > Add-ons
  • in the Windows "Run" dialog, type or paste
    firefox.exe "about:addons"

In the left column, click Plugins. Set nonessential and unrecognized plugins to "Never Activate".

In the left column, click Extensions. Then, if in doubt, disable (or Remove, if possible) unrecognized and unwanted extensions. Bear in mind that all extensions are optional, none come with Firefox, and you can learn more about them by checking their reviews on the Add-ons site.

Often a link will appear above at least one disabled extension to restart Firefox. You can complete your work on the tab and click one of the links as the last step.

Any improvement?

(3) You can search for remaining issues with the scanning/cleaning tools listed in our support article: Troubleshoot Firefox issues caused by malware. These on-demand scanners are free and take considerable time to run. If they finish quickly and especially if they require payment, you may have a serious infection. I suggest the specialized forums listed in the article in that case.

Success?