Remove Microsoft Bing from Google Chrome: Simple Solutions and Tips

How to Remove Microsoft Bing from Google Chrome: Simple Solutions and Tips

If you have found yourself inadvertently using Microsoft Bing as your default search engine on Google Chrome, it is likely due to a variety of reasons, including the installation of malicious applications, bundled software, or suspicious browser extensions. Here are some detailed steps and tips to help you remove Bing and revert to your preferred search engine.

Reset the Default Search Engine

To start, you need to change the default search engine settings in Chrome. Here’s how you can do it:

Open Google Chrome and click on the three-dot menu button (⋮) located at the upper-right corner.
Select Settings from the dropdown menu.
In the left pane, click on Search engine.
Choose your preferred search engine from the drop-down list. If your desired search engine is not listed, click on Manage search engines, find your preferred search engine, and select Make default.
To remove Bing from the list of suggested search engines, click the three dots next to Bing and select Remove from list[2][3][4].

Remove Suspicious Browser Extensions

Browser extensions can often be the culprit behind unwanted changes to your search engine settings. Here’s how to manage and remove them:

Click the three-dot menu button (⋮) and select More tools > Extensions.
Review the list of installed extensions and look for any that are related to Bing, such as Microsoft Rewards, Give with Bing, or Bing Pages.
Click Remove to delete any suspicious or unwanted extensions. It is also a good idea to remove any other extensions that you do not use or recognize[2][3][4].

Clear Browser Cache and Cookies

Clearing your browser cache and cookies can help eliminate any lingering issues that might be causing Bing to persist as your default search engine.

Click the three-dot menu button (⋮) and select More tools > Clear browsing data.
In the Clear browsing data window, select the time range you want to clear.
Check the boxes beside Cookies and other site data and Cached images and files, then click Clear data[3][4].

Uninstall Suspicious Applications

Sometimes, the issue may not be limited to browser extensions but could be caused by malicious applications installed on your system.

Right-click on the taskbar and select Task Manager to monitor system memory usage.
Look for applications that are consuming system memory without your knowledge or consent.
Right-click on the suspicious application, open its file location, and delete the file from its root location.
Open Control Panel, go to Uninstall a program, and check for any suspicious apps. Uninstall them one by one[1].

Reset Chrome Settings

If the above steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to reset Chrome to its default settings.

Open Chrome and go to Settings.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on Advanced.
Under the Reset and clean up section, click on Reset settings.
Confirm that you want to reset the settings to their original defaults[4].

Use Antivirus Software

Malware can often cause browser hijacking issues. Using reliable antivirus software can help detect and remove any malware that might be affecting your browser settings.

Download and install a reputable antivirus program like TotalAV or Trend Micro.
Perform a full system scan to identify and remove any malware that could be causing the Bing redirection[1][3].

Manage Startup Pages

Ensure that Bing is not set as one of your startup pages.

In Chrome settings, click on the On startup tab in the left panel.
If Chrome is set to "Open a specific page or set of pages," check the list for any instances of Bing. To remove a page, click the three dots next to it and select Remove.
Alternatively, you can choose Open the New Tab Page or Continue where you left off to ensure that new tabs open to the default Chrome start page and not Bing[2].

By following these steps, you should be able to remove Microsoft Bing from Google Chrome and restore your preferred search engine settings.