While browsing your favorite website on Chrome, if you've noticed that the browser's default search engine has been changed from your preferred 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, alters its settings, and sets Bing as the default search engine. This issue can be frustrating, especially when you depend heavily on your favored search engine for your internet searches but are continuously redirected to Bing instead.

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

How Does Bing Get Automatically Set as the Default Search Engine?

One possible reason is that you might have recently installed a free software program from the internet. This might have come with a pre-checked option to set Bing as your default search engine.

Another reason for this can be that a malicious extension or application may have changed your Chrome browser's settings. Usually, these malicious programs get installed on your computer when you click on fake pop-up ads or links. These adware programs change your Chrome settings in order to generate revenue for the developers by redirecting your search queries to Bing through sponsored links.

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

1. Reset the Default Search Engine in Chrome Settings

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

  1. Open Chrome and click on the three dots menu icon in the top-right corner.
  2. From the drop-down menu that appears, select Settings.
  3. In the Settings page, switch to the Search engine tab from the left.
  4. Expand the drop-down menu next to the Search engine used in the address bar and select your preferred search engine from the list.
    reset search engine used on address bar on Chrome
  5. Next, click on Manage search engines and site search below it.
  6. Scroll down and under the Search engine heading, click on the three dots next to your choice of search engine, for example, Google.
  7. Click on the Make default option.
    set Google as default search engine

Following the above steps would reset your search engine from Bing to your chosen one. However, sometimes the search engine might again be set to Bing automatically. To solve this, you need to completely remove Bing from the search engine list of Google Chrome.

2. Remove Bing From Chrome's Search Engine List

If the method mentioned above doesn't work, and you still see Bing as your default search engine in Chrome, try removing it from the list completely. Here's how to do that:

  1. Launch Chrome and click on the three dots menu icon in the top-right corner.
  2. Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
  3. In the Settings page, navigate to the Search engine from the left.
  4. Click on Manage search engines and site search.
  5. Look for Bing under the Search engine heading and click on the three vertical dots icon next to it.
  6. Choose the Delete option from the list.
    delete Bing from Chrome
  7. Confirm by clicking on the Delete button on the prompt.
    confirm delete

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

3. Uninstall Suspicious Extensions From Chrome

If you are still unable to reset your default search engine in Chrome, it is possible that some malicious extension might be preventing you from doing so. In such a case, the best solution would be to remove all the suspicious and unnecessary extensions from your browser. Here are the steps for that:

  1. Click on the three dots menu icon in the top-right corner of Chrome.
  2. From the drop-down menu that appears, select More tools and then Extensions from the list.
    navigate to Chrome Extensions settings page
  3. On the Extensions page, look for any suspicious or unknown extension and remove it by clicking on the Remove button next to it.
    remove suspicious Chrome extensions
  4. If you are not sure about an extension, you can disable it temporarily by toggling the Enabled switch next to it.

Once you have removed all the unwanted extensions, restart Chrome, and check if the problem is solved.

4. Run Chrome's Anti-Malware Scan

If Bing still remains on Chrome, a malicious program might have infiltrated your system and causing the problem. In such a case, you can use the built-in Chrome Cleanup tool to scan and remove any malicious software from your system. Here's how to do that:

  1. Open Chrome, type chrome://settings/cleanup into the address bar, and press Enter.
  2. On the Chrome Cleanup page, click on the Find button.
    find button Chrome Cleaner
  3. Chrome will now scan your system for any malicious software and if any is found, it will be listed.
  4. Click 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 solved.

5. Clear the Cache or Cookies in Chrome

If you still cannot find an answer to how to remove Bing from Chrome, clearing the cache and cookies in Chrome might help. Here's how to do that:

  1. Open Chrome, type chrome://settings/clearBrowserData into the address bar, and press Enter.
  2. In the Clear browsing data window that appears, select the time range as All time from the drop-down menu.
    clear Chrome data
  3. Now select all the options under the Clear data heading and click on the Clear Data button.
  4. Restart your Chrome browser and check if the problem is solved.

6. Reset Chrome to the Default Settings

One final option is to reset Chrome to its default settings. This will remove all the changes you have made to your browser, including the ones that might be causing the problem. Here's how to do that:

  1. Open Chrome, type chrome://settings/resetProfileSettings into the address bar, and press Enter.
  2. In the Reset settings window that appears, you will see a confirmation pop-up. Click on the Reset button.
    reset Chrome settings
  3. Restart your Chrome browser and check if the problem is solved.

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

7. Uninstall the Application which is Making Bing as Default Search Engine

If you are still figuring out how to remove Microsoft Bing from Chrome, perhaps you should look at the recent applications you have installed. It is possible that a recently installed application is making Bing the default search engine for the Chrome browser. Many free application developers do this to generate income.

Here are the steps to uninstall any such application:

  1. On your Windows system, click the search icon next to the start button.
  2. Type “control panel” and click on its icon to launch it.
  3. Now look for the “Programs” section and select the Uninstall a program option below.
    uninstall a program option under "Programs" section of Control Panel
  4. Search for recently installed applications or any suspicious application that might cause the issue.
  5. Right-click on it, and select Uninstall.
    uninstall suspicious application that might be adding Bing as default search engine

How to Stay Safe From Unauthorized Bing Redirection in the Future

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

1. Keep Your Browser and Extensions Updated

One of the main reasons why your browser gets hijacked is that it is not updated to the latest version. Similarly, any outdated extensions or applications can also be a security risk. That is why keeping your browser and all the installed extensions updated to the latest version is important.

2. Install Extensions From Trusted Sources Only

Another reason why your browser gets hijacked is that you have installed an extension from an untrustworthy source. That is why it is important to install extensions from trusted sources only.

You can also look at an extension's reviews and ratings before installing it.

Clicking on suspicious links or pop-ups is another way your browser can get hijacked. That is why you should always be careful about what you click on when you are online.

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

You Could Try Switching to Another Browser

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