This article shows you how to remove the Bing search engine from the Windows operating system and internet browsers. Although Bing is often used as an alternative to Google's search engine, many dubious malware and software set Bing as the default search engine and make it impossible to change this setting using the browser's "Settings" menu. To solve the problem, you need to uninstall the program or the virus that caused it and restore the correct configuration of the internet browser installed on the system. Unfortunately, there is no way to stop Cortana from using Bing to search the web.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Run a Scan with Windows Defender
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Start Windows Defender
Type the keywords windows defender into the "Start" menu, then click on the icon Windows Defender Security Center appeared at the top of the results list.
Step 3. Go to the Virus & threat protection tab
It is located in the upper left of the program window.
If the card in question is not visible, press the button first ☰ located in the upper left corner of the window.
Step 4. Press the Start Analysis button
It is gray in color and placed in the center of the page. This way Windows Defender will start scanning your entire system for malware and viruses.
Step 5. Wait for the scan to complete
In normal situations, Windows Defender takes about ten minutes to scan your system, during which it will automatically remove any threats it detects.
If you are asked to confirm the deletion of any infected program or file, follow the instructions that appear on the screen
Step 6. Run an advanced system scan
If Windows Defender didn't find any viruses during normal computer scan, try running a full scan. Follow these instructions:
- Click on the link Run a new advanced analysis, located under the button Start analysis;
- Select the "Full Analysis" option;
- Push the button Start analysis;
- Follow any instructions that appear on the screen.
Part 2 of 6: Uninstall Programs That Use Bing
Step 1. Understand how this method works
Although Bing is not normally identifiable as a program or application itself, some software installs add-ons or toolbars that can modify the configuration settings of the internet browsers on the system. These programs can set Bing as the default search engine or browser start page, and it is often impossible to restore the normal configuration.
- Normally the solution to this inconvenience is to uninstall the program, application or toolbar you installed right before the problem occurred.
- If you've suddenly started seeing Bing as your browser start page or search engine, most likely the cause of the problem is the last program you installed on your computer.
Step 2. Access the "Start" menu by clicking on the icon
It features the Windows logo and is located in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 3. Launch the Settings app by clicking on the icon
It features a gear and is located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Click the App icon
It is one of the items in the "Settings" screen. The complete list of all applications installed on your computer will be displayed.
Step 5. Sort the list by date
Click on the option next to "Sort by" (normally it is First name), then choose Installation date from the drop-down menu that will appear. In this way the first item in the list will correspond to the last installed program.
If your Bing issue didn't show up for the first time recently, skip this step
Step 6. Look for suspicious programs
In this case there are no precise search criteria to follow to identify this type of software. Generally speaking, look for any program or app that you don't remember knowingly installing. Here is a list of programs that set Bing as the home page and search engine of browsers:
- Babylon;
- Bing Bar;
- Bing. Vc;
- Bing Protect;
- Conduit;
- Search Module;
- Search Protect.
Step 7. Select a program
Click on the name of the software you want to uninstall from your computer. A box will appear with some buttons inside.
Step 8. Press the Uninstall button
It is visible in the lower right part of the newly appeared box.
Step 9. When prompted, confirm your action by pressing the Uninstall button again
This will start the uninstallation procedure for the chosen program. After the uninstall is complete, you can try to reset your browser configuration by setting the search engine you normally use to check if the program you just removed was the cause of the problem.
- Depending on the program to be deleted, you may need to perform multiple steps related to the uninstall wizard.
- If your browser configuration changes are not saved or applied and the problem persists, try uninstalling another program or refer to this procedure.
Part 3 of 6: Changing Browser Shortcut Icons
Step 1. Locate the shortcut icon of the affected internet browser
It is usually placed directly on the desktop. If not, you can't use this procedure to fix the problem.
The solution proposed in this method cannot be applied to Microsoft Edge, as the shortcut icon properties of this program cannot be changed
Step 2. Select the shortcut icon with the right mouse button
The relevant context menu will be displayed.
- If you are using a one-button mouse, press the right side of the pointing device or press the single button using two fingers.
- If you're using a computer with a trackpad instead of a mouse, tap it using two fingers or press the lower right side.
Step 3. Select the Properties option
It is located at the end of the drop-down menu that appeared. The "Properties" window of the selected shortcut icon will be displayed.
Step 4. Go to the Link tab
It is located at the top of the "Properties" window.
Step 5. Examine the text string in the "Destination" field
It is placed in the center of the window. The indicated text should end with the extension.exe and there should be no additional text after the closing quotation marks.
In order to examine the contents of the "Destination" field, click on it with the left mouse button, then hold down the right directional arrow on the keyboard until you reach the end of the text
Step 6. Remove any text after the ".exe" "extension
If a URL or commands are visible in the "Destination" field after the wording ".exe", select the excess text and delete it. It also deletes any parameters characterized by the symbol "-" followed by a keyword or a letter.
Step 7. Press the OK button
It is located at the bottom of the "Properties" window. This will save and apply the changes and the dialog will close. At this point, when you launch your browser using the link icon under consideration, no specific program or website should be displayed anymore.
Step 8. Repeat the procedure for all the shortcut icons of the internet browsers installed on your computer
Even if you don't normally use them, it is a good idea to check them to make sure they have not been modified by malicious programs.
Remember that you cannot change the properties of the Microsoft Edge shortcut icon
Part 4 of 6: Reset Google Chrome Configuration
Step 1. Start Google Chrome by clicking on the icon
It is characterized by a red, yellow and green circle with a blue sphere in the center.
Step 2. Press the ⋮ button
It's located in the upper right corner of the Chrome window. The browser main menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Choose the Settings option
It is located at the bottom of the pop-up menu that appeared. A new tab will appear in which the Chrome "Settings" menu will be visible.
Step 4. Scroll down the page to select the Advanced ▼ link
It is placed at the end of the menu. An additional set of advanced settings will appear.
Step 5. Scroll down to the "Reset and Cleaning" section
It is located at the bottom of the page under consideration.
Step 6. Choose the Clean your computer option
This is the last entry in the "Reset and Cleanup" section of the "Settings" tab.
Step 7. Press the Find button
It is blue and is located to the right of the "Find and Remove Malicious Software" entry. Chrome will scan your computer for malicious programs that can interfere with the normal functioning of the browser.
Step 8. Press the Remove button if prompted
If Chrome has detected malicious programs or toolbars inside your computer, you will be prompted to delete them.
Step 9. Edit the Chrome start page
After you have removed all the programs from your computer that were somehow adversely affecting your browser, you can try to restore the start page you were using before the Bing problem appeared.
Step 10. Reset Chrome to default settings
To get rid of any traces left by the malicious program or virus, you may need to restore Chrome to its default configuration. Follow these instructions:
- Push the button ⋮;
- Choose the option Settings;
- Select the link Advanced;
- Scroll down to the "Reset and Cleanup" section and choose the option Restore the original default settings;
- Push the button Reset when required.
Part 5 of 6: Reset Firefox Configuration
Step 1. Launch Firefox
Double-click the blue globe icon surrounded by an orange fox.
Step 2. Press the ☰ button
It is located in the upper right corner of the window. The browser main menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Select the Help option
It is located at the bottom of the menu that appeared.
Step 4. Choose the Troubleshoot item
It is located in the center of the "Help" menu that appeared.
Step 5. Press the Reset Firefox… button
It is located at the top right of the "Troubleshooting Information" page.
Step 6. Press the Reset Firefox button when prompted
This will restore your browser's default settings, a process that includes removing all add-ons and extensions (regardless of whether they were installed by you or by malicious programs).
If the problem persists, repeat the procedure, but choosing the option Restart by disabling add-ons rather than Reset Firefox. If this solves the problem, you will need to manually uninstall all extensions and add-ons from Firefox.
Step 7. Change the Firefox start page
If you need to restore the start page you used before the Bing issue appeared, follow these instructions:
- Push the button ☰;
- Choose the voice Options (on Windows) or Preferences (on Mac);
- Type the address of the website you want to use as your home page in the "Home page" text field or press the button Restore Defaults.
Part 6 of 6: Reset Internet Explorer Configuration
Step 1. Launch Internet Explorer
Double-click the light blue Internet Explorer icon with the letter "e" surrounded by a gold ring.
Step 2. Open the Internet Explorer "Settings" window by clicking on the icon
It features a gear and is located in the upper right corner of the window. The browser main menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Choose the Internet Options item
It is located at the bottom of the menu that appeared. The "Internet Properties" dialog box will be displayed.
Step 4. Go to the Advanced tab
It is visible in the upper part of the "Properties - Internet" window.
Step 5. Press the Reset… button
It is located in the lower right part of the window.
Step 6. Press the Reset button when prompted
It is located inside the pop-up window that appeared.
Step 7. Press the Close buttons successively And OK.
Any changes made to the Internet Explorer options will be saved and the "Properties - Internet" window will close.
Step 8. Restart your computer
The new settings will be applied to the browser.
