How to Remove Bing From Chrome and Reset the Default Search Engine

If while browsing your favorite website in Chrome you find that the browser’s default search engine has been changed from your favorite search engine to Bing without your knowledge, don’t worry – you’re not alone.

This can happen when malicious web extensions or plugins infiltrate Chrome, change its settings and set Bing as the default search engine. This problem can be frustrating, especially if you rely heavily on your favorite search engine for your internet searches but are constantly being redirected to Bing instead.

Here we look at how to remove Bing from Chrome and set your preferred search engine as default again.

How is Bing automatically set as the default search engine?

One possible reason is that you recently installed a free software program from the Internet. This could come with a pre-enabled option to set Bing as the default search engine.

Another reason may be that a malicious extension or application might have changed your Chrome browser settings. Usually, when you click on fake pop-up ads or links, these malicious programs get install in your computer. These adware programs modify your Chrome settings to generate revenue for the developers by forwarding your searches to Bing via sponsored links.

Another possible explanation may be that you or someone else manually changed your default search engine to Bing. Alternatively, you may have previously used another browser, such as Firefox or Microsoft Edge, and imported your settings from there into Chrome, including the default search engine, Bing.

1. Reset the default search engine in Chrome settings

The first and most recommended way to remove Bing from Chrome and reset your desired search engine as default is to do it in Chrome settings. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open Chrome and click the Three dots menu icon in the upper right corner.
2. Make your selection from the drop-down menu that appears Settings.
3. On the Settings page, go to search engine tab from the left.
4. Expand the drop-down menu next to that Search engine used in the address bar and select your preferred search engine from the list.

5. Then click on Manage search engines and website search underneath.
6. Scroll down and click the under the Search Engine heading three points next to your search engine, for example Google.
7. Click on that Make standard Possibility.

Following the steps above will reset your Bing search engine to the one you chose. However, sometimes the search engine may automatically switch back to Bing. To solve this, you need to completely remove Bing from Google Chrome’s search engine list.

2. Remove Bing from Chrome’s search engine list

If the above method doesn’t work and you still see Bing as your default search engine in Chrome, try removing it from the list entirely. That’s how it’s done:

1. Launch Chrome and click the three dots menu icon in the top right corner.
2. Choose settings from the drop down menu.
3. On the Settings page, navigate to ” search engine from the left.
4. Click on Manage search engines and website search.
5. Seek Am under the Search Engine heading and click the three vertical dots icon next to it.
6. Select the Extinguish option from the list.

7. Confirm by clicking on Delete button. on the prompt.

Similarly, by following the steps above, you can remove any other suspicious or non-essential search engine from the list.

3. Uninstall suspicious extensions from Chrome

If you still can’t reset your default search engine in Chrome, a malicious extension might be preventing you. In such case, the best solution would be to remove all suspicious and unnecessary extensions from your browsers. Here are the steps for that:

1. Click on that Three dots menu icon in the top right corner of Chrome.
2. Make your selection from the drop-down menu that appears More tools and then extensions from the list.

3. On the Extensions page, look for any suspicious or unknown extensions and remove them by clicking the Remove button next to it.

4. If you’re unsure about an extension, you can temporarily disable it by toggling the enabled switch next to it.

After removing all unwanted extensions, restart Chrome and check if the issue is resolved.

4. Run Chrome’s anti-malware scan

If Bing still remains on Chrome, a malicious program may have entered your system and is causing the problem. In such a case, you can use the built-in Chrome Cleanup tool to scan and remove malicious software from your system. That’s how it’s done:

1. Open Chrome, type chrome://settings/cleanup in the address bar and press Enter.
2. On the Chrome cleanup page, click the Find Button.

3. Chrome will now scan your system for malicious software and if it finds it, it will list it.
4. press the Remove button next to the malware name to remove it from your system.
5. Restart your Chrome browser and check if the problem is resolved.

5. Clear cache or cookies in Chrome

If you still can’t remove Bing from Chrome, clearing Chrome’s cache and cookies may help. That’s how it’s done:

1. Open Chrome, type chrome://settings/clearBrowserData in the address bar and press Enter.
2. In the Clear browsing data window that appears, select the time period as All time from the drop down menu.

3. Now select all the options under the Clear data heading and click on the delete data Button.
4. Restart your Chrome browser and check if the problem is resolved.

6. Reset Chrome to default settings

A final option is to reset Chrome to its default settings. This will remove any changes you’ve made to your browser, including those that might be causing the problem. That’s how it’s done:

1. Open Chrome, type chrome://settings/resetProfileSettings in the address bar and press Enter.
2. A confirmation pop-up will appear in the Reset Settings window that appears. Click on that reset button.

3. Restart your Chrome browser and check if the problem is resolved.

This will reset your Chrome browser to its default settings and hopefully fix the problem.

How to protect yourself from unauthorized Bing redirect in the future

Now that you know how to remove Bing from Chrome, it’s also important to take some preventive measures to prevent your browser from being hijacked again. Here are some tips for that.

1. Keep your browser and extensions up to date

One of the main reasons why your browser gets hijacked is that it is not updated to the latest version. Likewise, any outdated extensions or applications can pose a security risk. That’s why it’s important to update your browser and any installed extensions to the latest version.

2. Only install extensions from trusted sources

Another reason why your browser gets hijacked is that you have installed an extension from an untrustworthy source. Because of this, it’s important to only install extensions from trusted sources.

You can also view an extension’s reviews and ratings before installing it.

3. Do not click on suspicious links or pop-ups

Clicking on suspicious links or pop-ups is another way to hijack your browser. That’s why you should always be careful what you click on when you’re online.

If you see a suspicious pop-up, do not click on it. If you receive an email with a suspicious link, do not click on it.

You could try switching to a different browser

The above fixes should help you remove Bing from Chrome. However, you can try switching to a different browser if the problem persists. There are many good browsers that you can use instead of Chrome. Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari are some of the most popular.