Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

How to get rid of Yahoo which has replaced itself as the search engine on safari . I have tried going to safari and changing the default search engine to google and the homepage to no avail can anyone PLEASE help

After updating Firefox . I notice Yahoo has taken over as the search engine on safari . I have gone into safari and changed the default browser and home page to google but yahoo is still there . Can someone Please tell me how to get rid of Yahoo . peter

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9), Latest Mavericks O.P.S

Posted on Sep 19, 2014 3:16 AM

Reply
19 replies

Sep 19, 2014 7:31 PM in response to peter .h

  1. Open Safari's Preferences... and select Extensions. Uninstall any Extensions that you are not certain you require by clicking the Uninstall button. If you are not sure what to uninstall, uninstall all of them. None are required for normal operation.
  2. Select the General pane in Safari's Preferences. Set the Default search engine to the one you want.


Determine if that fixes the problem.

Sep 20, 2014 6:38 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Thank you to everyone who has offered advice to eradicate this problem . I had tried for over 6 hours to get rid of this problem . I went to every file that I had and tried to find if it was hiding some where in secret . Finally I ran the Norton Anti-Virus in order to rid myself of the problem . I let the power run down to where it " clicked " off by itself , let it sit overnight and charged it fully ( 1044 cycles 72% ) I had read that Extensions might be the problem so I went to uninstall them . To my amazement no Extensions and No stupid Yahoo ! I refer to it as stupid because if I go to garage sales Melbourne It shows Melbourne In Florida U.S.A . Anyway I am glad that things are back to normal . once again Thank you to everyone kind regards Peter

Sep 20, 2014 6:51 AM in response to Linc Davis

Hi Linc , I use Firefox as an alternative search engine and have my normal shortcuts on Google . On the mac it has pop ups ? to advise me of latest updates from Apple , Auctions ending on ebay and Messages from Facebook . I received a message to update Firefox and did so but I think that this Highjacking was due to the Extensions or it might of been the firefox download . I did receive a warning that the down load was from the Net and I downloaded it . Anyway some how Things are back to normal . kind regards peter

Nov 19, 2014 12:49 PM in response to peter .h

Since I looked everywhere for this answer and never found it I decided I needed to help!

1. GO TO THE TOOL BAR WHERE IT SAYS SAFARI AND CLICK TO BRING DOWN THE MENU OF OPTIONS, CLICK ON PREFERENCES

2.INSTEAD OF JUST CLICKING ON THE GENERAL TAB AND CHANGING THE SEARCH ENGINE LIKE EVERY OTHER STUPID SUPPORT TELLS YOU TO DO LOOK AT THE TAB THAT SAYS EXTENSIONS.

3. Chances are you downloaded something that was made by a third party to "enhance" your web experience but really they just screwed you over, YOU CAN CHOOSE TO SIMPLY UNINSTALL ANY EXTENSIONS PUT ON YOUR COMPUTER BY CLICKING INSTALL, BUT TO BE SURE THAT THIS IS THE ROOT OF YOUR PROBLEM IN THE SECOND COLUMN SIMPLY CLICK ON THE UNDERLINED NAME OF WHO THE EXTENSION IS MADE BY IF CLICKING THE LINK BRINGS UP A YAHOO PAGE THIS IS THE SOURCE OF YOUR ISSUES AND SIMPLY UNINSTALLING THIS WILL RID YOU OF THIS DUMB PROBLEM!!

HOPE THIS HELPS!!!!

Jan 2, 2015 7:41 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Hello Carolyn,

I am having this exact same issue that Peter H. was having with yahooI seach engine inserting itself as my default. I have tried each of the suggestions on this page more than once, and none of them are working. When I click on the extensions tab, there are no extensions listed. I even tried sweitching extensions to "off." I have also tried searching and deleting the files that you have mentioned. I previously downloaded the medic app, which got rid of "Genieo" search engine, but I can not find any successful way to remove yahoo!. Do you have any other suggestions?

Jan 8, 2015 12:38 PM in response to peter .h

I had this problem today after (god knows why) installing the RealPlayer player. I guess both RP and Yahoo want to give us all reasons to hate both of them.


Anyway, yup, there was the stealthy extension in my Preferences. I uninstalled it, but like others here have said happened to them, it didn't work--the effect still persisted. Even did an AdwareMedic scan, which turned up nothing. But in its "other things to try" it reminded me--d'oh!--to check my homepage preference setting. I've been through this before, so I'd gone straight to the Extensions preference pane and forgot to also check the more obvious one. Ya gots ta do both. Hope this saves someone else a few minutes. Also too: yay AdwareMedic.

How to get rid of Yahoo which has replaced itself as the search engine on safari . I have tried going to safari and changing the default search engine to google and the homepage to no avail can anyone PLEASE help

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple ID.