6Aug
How to Remove Yahoo Search Engine From Chrome

Key Takeaways

  • Remove Yahoo from the list of search engines and set your preferred search engine, such as Google, as the default.
  • Check for and remove potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) on your device. Likewise, run a malware scan to remove viruses and threats.
  • If none of these solutions work, uninstall Chrome and its remaining files. After that, reinstall a fresh copy.



Google is the default search engine in the Chrome web browser since both are Google products. However, malware or potentially unwanted programs (PUPs) can automatically switch the default search engine from Google to Yahoo.

Here’s how to remove the Yahoo search engine and save yourself the hassle of repeatedly changing it back.


Set Your Preferred Search Engine as Default

Chrome allows users to use different search engines, with default options including Bing, DuckDuckGo, Yandex, and Yahoo. First, check what search engine your browser is using as its default. If that’s Yahoo, you can change Chrome’s default search engine and return it to Google.

  1. Click on three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select Settings.
  2. Navigate to the Search Engine tab from the left sidebar.
  3. Click on Manage Search Engines and Site Search
  4. If Yahoo is set as default, tap on three vertical dots next to Google and click Make Default.


Switching the default search engine to Google should temporarily fix the issue. However, it may automatically revert to its previous state after a few days. So, to make this change foolproof, you’ll have to remove Yahoo and other search engines.

Remove Yahoo’s Search Engine From Chrome

In Chrome, you can remove Yahoo from the search engine list to minimize the chance that your browser will default to Yahoo again.

Removing-Yahoo-From-List-Of-Search-Engines-In-Chrome

  1. Click on three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select Settings.
  2. From the left sidebar, navigate to Search Engine.
  3. Click on Manage Search Engines and Site Search.
  4. Tap on the three vertical dots right next to Yahoo.
  5. Hit Delete.


Additionally, you can remove all other search engines, except Chrome, from the list if they become defaults. After this, your browser cannot default to Yahoo again.

Identify and Remove Potentially Unwanted Programs

If Google’s search engine is replaced by Yahoo again, you should remove any Potentially Unwanted Programs (PUPs) that might be causing the issue, particularly those associated with Yahoo.

To do this, type Control Panel in Windows Search, open the Control Panel app, and go to Programs and Features. Here, look for any suspicious programs that may be associated with Yahoo, right-click on them one by one, and select Uninstall.

Uninstalling-Program-In-Control-Panel


Run a Security Checkup on Your Computer

If none of the previous fixes worked, it’s time to check your computer for browser hijackers or malicious files that need removal. Run the Microsoft Defender virus scan to eliminate hidden, potentially harmful files.

Microsoft Defender will detect threats and inform you of their severity. If it finds any malware or threats, remove them immediately. Depending on the amount of data on your system, the scan might take some time.

If you’re facing this issue on macOS, check your MacBook for malware and remove any you find.

None of the Fixes Worked? Reinstall Chrome

As a last resort, you can try reinstalling Chrome. First, uninstall Chrome and its associated files before reinstalling it.

Windows users can refer to this article on how to uninstall programs in Windows, while macOS users can refer to this guide on how to uninstall programs on a Mac.

After uninstalling Chrome according to these guides, delete any remaining files to ensure no junk data is left behind. Then, install a fresh copy of Chrome.