Google has over 92% market share in the search engine and also comes as a default option on Mac. However, if you find that your Mac is changing its search engine from Google to Yahoo, then this is an issue worth fixing. If your Mac is affected by the search engine change, read on to learn how to change the search engine from Yahoo to Google on Mac.
Yahoo search results are mostly lower than Google and you want to use Google to get things done. The main reason behind the search engine change is browser hijacking code or extensions.
Browser hijackers are a threat to millions of users. While there are a few exceptions, some browsers are more affected by these.
Those who are in the habit of downloading PUAs (Potentially Unwanted Apps) are more vulnerable to browser hijackers. We will tell you how to change the search engine from Yahoo to Google in Safari and Google Chrome.
1. Change Default Search Engine in Safari
On paper, the Safari browser is more secure than Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. You can easily change the search engine from Yahoo to Google from the browser. Here’s how.
Stage 1: Open Safari browser on Mac.
Step 2: Click on the Safari name in the menu bar.
Stage 3: Select the Preferences menu.
Step 4: Go to Search > Search Engine and select Google from the drop-down menu.
2. Change Default Search Engine in Chrome
Those who use Google Chrome as the default browser on Mac can change the search engine from the Settings menu. Follow the steps below to change the search engine from Yahoo to Google in Google Chrome.
Stage 1: Open Google Chrome on Mac.
Step 2: Click the three-dot menu at the top and go to Settings.
Stage 3: Select Search engine from the left sidebar and select Google from the main menu.
This much. You have successfully changed the search engine from Yahoo to Google in Mac’s Safari and Google Chrome browser.
In Google Chrome, if you are still facing the search engine automatically switching from Google to Yahoo, try using the other tricks below.
3. Disable Chrome Extensions
Apple verifies every Safari extension and distributes only valid extensions from the Mac App Store. However, this is not the case with Google Chrome.
Extensions play an important role in the Chrome ecosystem. However, not every extension is actively maintained and may be out of date. Some malicious extensions can hijack your Chrome homepage and change the search engine to Yahoo.
Pinpointing a single extension can be difficult. You can disable all Chrome extensions and go back to Google.
Stage 1: Open Google Chrome and click the three-dot menu at the top.
Step 2: Go to More Tools > Extensions.
Stage 3: Click the Uninstall button from the extension menu or disable the Chrome extension.
4. Reset Chrome Settings
An incorrect settings setting in the Chrome browser can leave you with the Yahoo search engine as the default option. Google Chrome provides a handy option to reset Chrome settings on the go. Here’s how to use it.
Stage 1: Open Chrome and go to Settings.
Step 2: Choose the Advanced option.
Stage 3: Select Restore settings.
Step 4: Click on Restore settings to their original defaults.
Step 5: Press the Reset settings button to confirm your decision.
This will reset your start page, new tab page, search engine and pinned tabs. It also disables all extensions and clears temporary data like cookies.
Your bookmarks, history and saved passwords will not be deleted.
Tips for Safe Browsing on Mac
Apple calls the Mac a potential threat to security due to its open nature. Unlike iOS, anyone can install apps from the web. This puts the user at risk of installing unverified applications from the web. Follow the tips below to make sure you create a safe environment on Mac.
- Try to verify if the app you want to download is available in the Mac App Store.
- If the app is not available in the App Store, use the official website to download the app file.
- If the website looks suspicious to you, scan the web address with VirusTotal and make sure it doesn’t contain any malicious files.
- Try CleanMyMac X, which scans for corrupt files in the background and removes them periodically.
Use Google on Mac
Using Yahoo as a search is definitely a pain for Mac users. It’s a headache, especially if you don’t know what’s going on around and how the operating system changes the search engine without your permission. By following the steps above, you can take care of these browser hijackers and get back to using Google as the main search engine on Mac.
Next: Does your Google Chrome search engine automatically switch to Bing? Read the post below to learn how to fix the problem.
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